This document can be used as an index for topics related to upgrading an existing IBM i environment to IBM i 7.6.
IBM i 7.6 requires Power 10 or later hardware. Valid source releases are IBM i 7.4 and IBM i 7.5.
IBM i 7.6 Licensed Internal Code requires more storage on the load-source disk unit than IBM i 7.5 Licensed Internal Code. All server models with IBM i 7.5 or earlier releases installed require an additional 2 GB reserved storage before IBM i 7.6 can be installed. Your upgrade will stop during the installation if you do not allocate the additional space.
Ordering and Downloading upgrade media:
The upgrade media can be downloaded from the entitled systems support website. It will come down as zip files and will need to be decompressed before being transported to the IBM i partition that will host the media. The installation media will be placed into an image catalog either on the IBM i partition that will be upgraded or an IBM i partition that will host media for network installation using network file system.
If the system to be upgraded is running in the Power Virtual Server (PowerVS) environment, unless the virtual server instance (VSI) is utilizing virtual serial numbers, you will not have entitlement to the Entitled Systems Support (ESS) site to download installation media for the upgrade. In this instance there are several options:
- Spin up a Cloud Optical Repository (COR) virtual server instance to use as a network install server OR copy the installation media from the /install/V7RxM0 directory to the VSI to be upgraded and upgrade from a local image catalog. If you copy the media in this way, the COR VSI can be decommissioned saving on some cost and the upgrade itself is less complex, eliminating the network install server communication and configuration aspects.
- If you have any On-premises (on-prem) IBM i servers with a valid service maintenance agreement - you could use that to pass the entitlement check in ESS and get the desired software downloaded.
- You could create distribution media from a central system at the desired target version/release.
PTFs required to upgrade:
Memo to Users:
Memo to users describes the changes that might affect your programs or system operations. Read the memo to users document to ensure system requirements are met before an IBM i installation or upgrade. If you will be upgrading from IBM i 7.4 directly to IBM i 7.6, you should review the IBM i 7.5 memo to users in addition to the IBM i 7.6 memo to users.
Installing, upgrading, or deleting IBM i and related software:
This topic collection guides you through the concepts and procedures for installing, upgrading, or deleting IBM® i software on your system.
Use this information to install the IBM i release, part of the IBM i release, or licensed programs related to IBM i. This information also describes how to change a primary language, install a secondary language, or delete software that is related to the IBM i operating system
Planning to upgrade to IBM i 7.6 (Software):
This topic provides list of products and functions not supported on IBM i 7.6. Plans should be made to replace or discontinue use of these products and functions prior to upgrading to IBM i 7.6. If you will be upgrading from IBM i 7.4 directly to IBM i 7.6, you should review the IBM i 7.5 discontinued product listing in addition to the IBM i 7.6 discontinued product listing.
IBM Pre-Upgrade Verification Tool for IBM i
The IBM pre-upgrade verification tool for IBM i was developed to help ensure a successful upgrade. The tool ensures that the required pre-upgrade steps have been successfully completed and flags the steps that were missed or completed incorrectly. The person performing the upgrade then has the opportunity to successfully complete the required steps. The tool does not automatically perform the corrective actions.
In order to ensure all of the checks are up-to-date and enhancements included, it is important to always use the current build level for the tool. It is recommended that you regularly check for updates.
Data Migrations:
An IBM i data migration is the process of moving data from one system or logical partition that is running IBM i to another system or logical partition running IBM i. When migrating data between systems, the source system and the target system have different serial numbers.
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