DS8A00 TCT Disabled on DS8K R10.1 GA – Upgrade Guidance

Description

An important update regarding the DS8000 Release R10.1 and Transparent Cloud Tiering (TCT).  
TCT is disabled in R10.1.  While the release is now generally available, TCT is currently disabled in 10.1.

If your system is configured with TCT, upgrading to R10.1 at this time will result in loss of access to cloud-tiered data.

TCT is undergoing additional testing to ensure optimal performance and reliability. As a precaution, we recommend that clients currently using TCT defer upgrading to R10.1.

This restriction is expected to be lifted with the release of R10.1 Service Pack 1 (SP1), currently targeted for Q4 2025. 
We will keep you informed as we approach that milestone.

Upgrade Guidance Based on TCT Configuration: 

• Clients with TCT already configured  
  → You will not be able to store or retrieve data to object stores (e.g., cloud or TS7700) if you proceed to R10.1.  
  → Please evaluate whether to upgrade now or wait for R10.1 SP1 based on your business needs. We recommend discussing the impact of TCT disablement with your z/OS host software teams before proceeding
• Clients with a TCT license but not yet configured TCT  
  → You may proceed with the upgrade to R10.1. However, TCT cannot be configured until R10.1 SP1 is available.

Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need further guidance.