Welcome to your IBM i update for September 2025. And for this month, it’s ‘time’s up’ for OS 7.4, with support end dates announced. But what does this mean for your IBM i strategy?
We also have a look at report from Kyndryl on the state of modernisation and discuss the ROI.
And finally, it’s a call to action to the IBM i community as I discuss the launch of the IBM i marketplace survey with IBM i champion and Fortra stalwart Mike Davison.
You can watch the video above or read the blog post below…
Support Ending for IBM i 7.4 on 30th September 2026
If you’re on IBM i 7.4, then support for this OS release officially ends on the 30th September 2026.
Before that, as of April 30, 2026, IBM i 7.4 will be withdrawn from marketing. That means you won’t be able to buy any new licenses for 7.4 or its associated LPARs after that date.
So, what does this mean for you?
Well, if you have a Power8, 7.4 is the last release that can be run on that server and you will need to plan for an upgrade to a later Power server.
If you’re on a Power 9, it’s time to update to 7.5… but beyond that, for OS 7.6 and any future releases, you’ll need a Power10 or 11.
Now, if you’re behind on your upgrade strategy, then support can be purchased by way of a service extension. However, in the past, these extensions have been offered at twice the cost of standard support.
So, if you’re still on IBM i 7.4, now is less “you might want to think about upgrading” and more “you really need to map a path forward.”
The clock is running, but you’ve got enough time to plan carefully.
Upgrades are never zero-pain, but they’re far cheaper and safer when you don’t leave them to the last minute.
The message from the IBM i Update? Don’t be caught off guard and do prepare accordingly.
Comparing Lifecycles of AIX, Linux, and IBM i
One item I thought about when writing this article was, ‘I wonder how IBM i stacks up against its Power stablemates when comparing lifecycles’.
And the results surprised me.
When it comes to end of support, IBM i is a bit different from the other Power operating systems.
Each release is supported for around seven years, but here’s the catch, upgrades are often tied to the hardware.
For example, 7.4 is the last version that runs on Power8, so moving forward usually means upgrading both the OS and the server.
Compare that with AIX, which gives you a longer 10 to 12 years of support and more flexibility to stay on the same hardware.
And then there’s Linux, Red Hat, where you get a 10 year support model, but you also have the flexibility to run this OS outside of the Power ecosystem.
In a nutshell, IBM i upgrades are big milestone events involving both software and hardware changes.
AIX and Linux on the other hand, may need more intermittent hand-holding but without the ‘once in a generation’ upheaval.
Good news from the Kyndryl Modernisation Report
Now, let’s talk modernisation. I’ve been looking at the Kyndryl Mainframe Modernisation Report, which was covered recently in IT Jungle.
And while the report focuses on mainframes, a lot of the findings apply directly to IBM i too.
Here are some key takeaways…
Modernisation costs are down
First, modernisation costs are coming down while the return on investment is going. The average cost of modernisation projects dropped nearly 20% year-over-year, while projected returns have soared above 300%. For IBM i shops, this suggests modernisation is becoming both more affordable and more beneficial.
Phased approaches becoming more popular
Phased approaches are becoming more popular than “big bang” transformations. The general feeling is that there’s less appetite for wholesale, all-in migrations that don’t realise results for many months or even years; instead, organisations are adopting a more incremental, approaches – delivering pieces as individual projects, delivering achievements quicker but with the flexibility to ramp-up or down depending upon the business climate.
AI is a key driver
AI and automation are playing a big role in modernisation, helping with code analysis and testing. Tools like X-Analysis from Fresche and the IBM Watsonx Code Assistant are already starting to make their mark on modernisation projects.
Skills shortages remain a real issue
Skills shortages remain a challenge, both on mainframes and IBM i. More organisations are turning to specialist partners and managed services, like ourselves, to bridge the gap.
Workload selectivity
And finally, workload selectivity: mainframe customers are keeping their core business logic on-platform – it’s proven and reliable. However, newer developments and cloud are integrated from off platform.
The 2026 Forta Marketplace Survey now open!
One of the biggest events in the IBM i calendar every year is the release of the Fortra IBM i Marketplace Survey. It’s a chance for our community to really take stock of where we are, our outlook into the years ahead plus, our greatest concerns too.
This year, the 2026 edition of the survey has just launched, and I spoke with IBM i Champion and Fortra stalwart, Mike Davison and discussed why this matters, and why your participation is so important.
Andy Nicholson: Mike, welcome back to the IBM i Update. The 2026 Fortra IBM i Marketplace Survey has just been launched, and it’s become a key reference point for the community over the years. Why do you think it’s so important for IBM i shops to get involved and contribute their voice?
Mike Davison: Hi Andy, thanks for having me back. Great question. IBM actually uses this survey heavily in their presentations worldwide. Alongside user group feedback, the results help shape the direction of the IBM i operating system. I’ve seen this firsthand at COMMON and other user group meetings where IBM leaders present slides showing the top concerns from the survey and explain how they’re addressing them. That’s why it’s so important for IBM i shops everywhere to take part, it ensures their voice is heard at the right levels within IBM.
Andy Nicholson: So, who are the right people within an organisation to complete the survey? Is it mainly aimed at C-level leaders, or can developers and IT managers get involved too?
Mike Davison: Anyone involved with IBM i can take part, developers, admins, infrastructure architects, IT managers, budget holders, and anyone working with the system day to day. We really want this year’s survey to be global and not so North America-centric. That’s why, for the first time, we’ve released German and Spanish language versions. Hopefully this encourages even more people worldwide to participate and have their voices heard.
Andy Nicholson: In recent years, security has always been the top concern. Looking ahead to the 2026 edition, do you think that trend will continue? And what other areas do you expect to emerge as hot topics?
Mike Davison: Based on the data from previous years, my prediction is that security will once again be the number one concern. The landscape keeps evolving, and businesses are constantly fighting against new threats.
Number two, I believe, will be skills shortages. This issue has been creeping up the rankings and is becoming a real concern. We’re seeing more companies offshoring system administration simply because they can’t find the skills locally.
And finally, modernisation. It has consistently been near the top of the list and will remain there, as many organisations are still struggling to achieve it.
Andy Nicholson: I think I’d agree with your top three, security, skills, and modernization, but perhaps AI could creep in as well. We’ll see when the results are published in early 2026. Before we wrap up, Mike, how long should people expect to spend completing the survey?
Mike Davison: Honestly, grab a coffee and a biscuit and you’ll be done in about five minutes.
Andy Nicholson: Perfect. I’ll share the survey link in the video description and in the newsletter. Mike, thank you again for joining me on the IBM i Update.
Mike Davison: You’re very welcome, Andy. Please share it far and wide – we want a massive response this year.
A big thank you to Mike for joining me today, and of course to Fortra for continuing to run the Marketplace Survey — it really has become a cornerstone for the IBM i community.
If you haven’t already, make sure you take a few minutes to complete the survey – it only takes around 10 minutes, and your input helps build a clearer picture of the platform’s future. You can find the 2026 Fortra Marketplace Survey here.
And that’s it for this edition of the IBM i Update. For now, I’m Andrew Nicholson, we’re Proximity, the IBM i partners that are in your corner. We’ll see you next time.
If you missed it, catch up on our August IBM i update. We’ve also got a summary of all the IBM i Updates published in 2024 here.
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