What You Need to Know: IBM i 7.6 Overview and Fortra’s Compatibility

On April 8, 2025, IBM announced the release of IBM i 7.6. With the release set to be made available on April 18^th, those who adopt the latest version can expect a platform with improved security, streamlined application development, and more efficient system administration.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the major highlights from the release, important items to consider before upgrading, and how Fortra’s products allow customers to leverage the benefits supplied by IBM i 7.6.

Release Highlights

• Native Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): IBM i 7.6 will feature time-based one-time password (TOTP) MFA. This type of MFA does not require a network connection between the device used for authentication and IBM i. This capability applies to all authentication points – such as green-screen sign-on and FTP sign-on. IBM i 7.6 also introduces a new integration mechanism for solutions like Powertech MFA to tie into and extend this functionality for enhanced capabilities that are essential to many organizations. Read the full blog for more information on this functionality and how Powertech takes native MFA from IBM i 7.6 a step further.
• SQL Statement Updates: Among other SQL and database enhancements, IBM i 7.6 will offer support for UPDATE and DELETE statements in the data-change-table-reference clause of a SQL statement. By allowing programmers to write a query that simultaneously updates a row and deletes its existing data, this feature provides a major efficiency boost to database programming tasks.
• Configuration Host Server (CFGHOSTSVR) Command: Enables configuration of whether non-secured connections are allowed for each host server supported by the command. Options include disabling all non-secure connections (*SECURE), enabling all non-secure connection (*ALL), or allowing non-secure connection over only loopback interfaces (*SECLOOP).
• Function Usage ID QIBM_IOSYSCFG_VIEW: This new function allows administrators to assign users a read-only role for viewing input/output system configuration information without *IOSYSCFG – a special authority that, when granted excessively, presents security risks regarding the manipulation of critical IO and network configurations.

• Digital Certificate Manager (DCM) Enhancements : DCM added a number of improvements focused on security and user experience. Enhanced certificate hierarchy viewing allows administrators to trace the complete certificate chain up to the root certificate, with information about each parent certificate available. Other enhancements include the ability for DCM to communicate to host servers with TLS across the internal network, private keying for server/client certificate exports, and authentication panel login improvements.

   

Important Notes and Considerations

• To use native MFA in IBM i 7.6, your system must be operating at a security level of 40 and a password level of 4. With Powertech MFA, you do not need to meet these conditions in order to implement TOTP MFA.
• IBM i 7.6 is only supported on IBM Power servers with IBM Power10 technology-based processors.
• IBM i 7.6 does not support DB2 Web Query. Fortra’s Sequel is a perfect fit for organizations looking to modernize their IBM i business intelligence.
• IBM i 7.6 does not support Java 11.

Fortra’s Compatibility

We at Fortra have a longstanding relationship with IBM – and we strive to ensure our products are compatible with their platform at the onset of all major releases. Our development, support, and services teams have been testing our solutions on IBM i 7.6. Our support teams can assist with providing information on minimum software versions required for your upgrade.