IBM i 2027 FORTRA Marketplace Survey

Sept 14, 2026 

Good day everyone.

It is THAT time of year - The 2027 FORTRA IBM i Marketplace Survey is now open.The survey runs from Monday, Sept 14, 2026 through Friday, Nov 20, 2026.

From AI and cybersecurity to modernization and cloud strategy, the insights gathered from this survey help tell the story of the IBM i community.Your voice matters!

Share your experience and help shape this year's industry insights.

Start the survey here.                                                                                        

 

 

 

 

IBM i ACS Version 1.1.9.16

Sept 11, 2026 

 

 

IBM has announced an update to ACS (Access Client Solutions) from current 

version 1.1.9.15 to new version 1.1.9.16   

 

The announcement looks like this:

 

 

 

Info on ACS can be found on this blog on the "Helpful Tips by Category" page here. 

Click open "IBM i Access - ACS Updates"

  

 

If your version of ACS is set to "Edit", "Preferences", "Notify when update is available":

 

 

 

 

The "IBM i Access Client Solutions" dialog box will be displayed showing

the Current Version and Available Version.

 

 It will also be displayed when opening ACS and utilizing the Help Tab and "Check for Updates".

 

 

IBM i User Profile Analysis Using QSYS2.USER_INFO

August 26, 2026 

  

Like many of you, I receive IBM Notifications via email multiple times per day. The IBM Notification Page can be found here. 

Take advantage of this if you haven't already. 

 

  Sign up: 

- Select IBM products in which you are interested.
- Choose daily or weekly notifications.
- Select a delivery method: e-mail and/or RSS news feed.    

 

In a recent notification, a topic and link about "IBM i User Profile Analysis" was presented. There is a lot of good material to review. Many admins already have SQL's and queries relating to this topic.

 

IBM summarizes the page as follows:      

 "IBM i User Profile Analysis Using QSYS2.USER_INFO explains how IBM i security administrators        can use SQL services to audit and analyze user profiles across the system".

 

 "The document focuses on the QSYS2.USER_INFO view, which provides detailed information about    all user profiles defined on an IBM i partition. By combining this view with related services such as        QSYS2.GROUP_PROFILE_ENTRIES and SYSTOOLS.AUDIT_JOURNAL_CP, administrators can      perform comprehensive security reviews directly through SQL, eliminating the need for traditional          green screen commands and manual profile inspections."

The link to the QSYS2.USER_INFO page can be opened here. 

There are 12 SQL's listed with related IBM i Services and References including 

composed SQL's that can copied off of the page and used. There is also recommended action for each SQL.

 

NOTE: Read the comments at the top of the SQL's. They show the V7Rx OS

the SQL's can be run on. In a couple of cases, I could comment out a field

on a V7R4 partition and get the SQL to run where it indicated it was a V7R5 / V7R6

SQL. Simple enough. 

 

 

IBM i SQL Services

August 23, 2026 

 

On Wednesday, August 19th, IBM STSM @Scott Forstie ran a webinar titled

"What’s New in IBM i Access Client Solutions: Modern Tools for Accessing, Managing, and Innovating with IBM i". It might have been 1 of the most informative webinars this year. 

 

A replay of that webinar can be found on the 2026 IBM i Guided Tours replay website 

here. Note that the IBM i Guided Tours site can be accessed here. IBM i Guided Tours are free, just register for them. To view a Guided Tour replay, registering with COMMON.org is required. That is free.

 

One of the best parts of the webinar was spent on IBM i SQL System Services.

The IBM i SQL Services page can be found here.

 

IBM Lifetime Champion @Pete Massiello recently composed an outstanding LinkedIn

post about these services. That post can be opened here with his permission.

 

This is free IBM i material at it's finest. 

 

If you have IBM i Access Client Solutions, the IBM i SQL Services can be found

as follows:

Bring up ACS and open "Run SQL Scripts".

Open the "Edit" tab, then "Examples", "Insert from Examples".

This will be displayed:

 

 

 

Use the down arrow indicated to open a dialog box of choices.

Open "IBM i Services" and this will be presented:

 

 

There are hudreds of IBM i SQL Services. Scroll through, click on any of them

to open an SQL Service that can be run as needed.

 

An example, would be "Work Management - Active Job Info - Largest Query".

Open that selection and copy it into an open Run SQL Scripts session. The SQL looks like this:

SELECT JOB_NAME, LARGEST_QUERY_SIZE, J.*
FROM TABLE(QSYS2.ACTIVE_JOB_INFO(
  subsystem_list_filter => 'QUSRWRK', 
  job_name_filter       => 'QZDASOINIT', 
  detailed_info         => 'ALL')) J
ORDER BY LARGEST_QUERY_SIZE DESC
LIMIT 10; 

 

The result will look something like this:

 

 

 

Take advantage of these free services. It's a great way to look deeply into your systems. 

 

 

IBM i ACS Version 1.1.9.15

 

Aug 22, 2026

IBM has announced an update to ACS (Access Client Solutions) from current 

version 1.1.9.14 to new version 1.1.9.15   

 

The announcement looks like this:

 

Info on ACS can be found on this blog on the "Helpful Tips by Category" page here. 

Click open "IBM i Access - ACS Updates"

  

 

If your version of ACS is set to "Edit", "Preferences", "Notify when update is available":

 

 

 

 

 

 This dialog box will be displayed when ACS is opened.

 

 

 

It will also be displayed when opening ACS and utilizing the Help Tab and "Check for Updates".

 

 

 

 

Modernizing IBM i Applications

August 13, 2026

This was brought to my attention by several IBM i professionals. Shout-out to IBM Champion @Steve Bradshaw of Rowton IT Solutions Ltd for posting about this on LinkedIn.

 

It is the "Modernizing IBM i Applications" Redbook. It was published on Aug 10, 2026. The list of contributors to this Redbook reads like a Who's Who of IBM i Expertise. This IBM i material is subject matter that should not be missed.

 

The Redbook can be opened here 

 

 

The Modernization Model - courtesy of the "Modernizing IBM i Applications" 

 

IBM i ACS Version 1.1.9.14

Aug 8, 2026

IBM has announced an update to ACS (Access Client Solutions) from current 

version 1.1.9.13 to new version 1.1.9.14   

 

The announcement looks like this:

 

 

Info on ACS can be found on this blog on the "Helpful Tips by Category" page here.

If your version of ACS is set to "Edit", "Preferences", "Notify when update is available":

 

 

 

 

 

 This dialog box will be displayed when ACS is opened.

 

 

 

 

It will also be displayed when opening ACS and utilizing the Help Tab and "Check for Updates".

 

 

 

IBM i Performance Page

July 24, 2026  

 

A new page has been added to this blog. It is the IBM i Performance Page.

It can be found on the right side of the blog under "IBM i Pages" list or here.   

 

The page looks like this:

 

 

 

If you have anything to add to this page related IBM i performance, please

reach out via the contact form.  

 

IBM i "Bob" Issues Site

July 23, 2026 

 

This site was brought to my attention by several IBM i professionals.

It is the IBM "Bob" GitHub Issues Site. It can found here. 

 

I have added the link to that page on both the IBM i Reference Pages Blog

"Bob and MCP Server" page and the "GitHub Resources Collection" page.

 

It looks like this:

 

 

 

   

July 14, 2026 

IBM has announced IBM i V7R6 TR2 and V7R5 TR8. The planned availability date is July 24, 2026.

  

The V7R6 TR2 page can be found here

The V7R5 TR8 page can be found here

 

 

 

 

Announcing the IBM "Bob" Premium Package for i

July 9, 2026 

 

  IBM "Bob" Announcement

 

 

"Today, IBM is announcing the general availability of the IBM "Bob" Premium Package for i, bringing   AI-Powered development and modernization capabilities directly to IBM i teams." 

 

The entire announcement can be found here. 

IBM "Bob" Meets IBM - Courtesy of @Sanjula Gonepola

"Bob" pricing can be found here.

IBM i on Power - Performance FAQ: June 2026

July 2, 2026 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IBM has released the latest "IBM i on Power - Performance FAQ" dated June 2026.

The online PDF to it can be found here

Note: It is also listed on the "IBM i Extras" page. 

 

 

IBM Bob Advocate 2026 Badge

June 26, 2026 

Introducing the IBM Bob Advocate 2026 Badge: Recognizing Advocacy that Drives Momentum.

Per @Kathryn DuPont - IBM User Advocacy Team - "

IBM Bob is gaining momentum and community advocacy plays a critical role in that growth.

" 

Meet the IBM Bob Advocate Badge here 

Open Letter to Every IBM i Professional

June 23, 2026 

 

Recently, I had the good fortune of running into this LinkedIn post. 

"An Open Letter to Every IBM i Professional" from @Prasanna Sesadri - IBM i System Admin. 

 

I purposely added this as a front page post as I thought it was that important. 

 

The post can be located here 

 

This is the diagram that was attached to the post.

 

 

 

 

Steve Will Retirement.

June 1, 2026

 

Good day all, especially the IBM i professionals. 

 

It's kind of a sad day in IBM i land. Mr. Steve Will, IBM i CTO & Chief Architect, DE at IBM has announced his retirement from IBM effective at the end of July 2026.

For Steve, it's a joyous day to go do what he wants to after so many years of being at the helm of IBM's IBM i division. It's a sad day since many if not all of us working in the IBM i ecosystem looked forward to Steve's LinkedIn posts and webinars.

Congrats on an amazing career @Steve Will. You will be sorely missed! 

 

Steve's LinkedIn post can be read here   

 

 

IBM i ACS Version 1.1.9.13.

May 27, 2026

IBM has announced an update to ACS (Access Client Solutions) from current 

version 1.1.9.12 to new version 1.1.9.13.

 

This ACS version is related to CVE's only. 

 

The announcement looks like this:

 

Info on ACS can be found on this blog on the "Helpful Tips by Category" page here.

If your version of ACS is set to "Edit", "Preferences", "Notify when update is available":

 

 

 

 

 

 This dialog box will be displayed when ACS is opened.

 

 

 

It will also be displayed when opening ACS and utilizing the Help Tab and "Check for Updates".

 

 

IBM Bob Premium Package for i

May 21, 2026 

 

IBM has announced the "Bob Premium Package for i." General availability is

June 24, 2026. 

 

 

 

"IBM offers a premium package ordering option for IBM Bob" can be 

viewed here. Courtesy of @IBM

 

"Announcing the IBM Bob Premium Package for i: Bringing AI-Powered Modernization to IBM i Development" can be viewed here. 

Courtesy of @Brandon Pederson 

 

IBM i Wiki Page (History and more)

May 11, 2026 

It's been relatively quiet in IBM i land recently. Power-Up 2026 has come and gone. People are getting back to work and implementing what they learned.

 

That being said, it seemed like a good time to post a page of info on the system. I'm sure it will bring back a few memories for people in IBM i nation. It may even bring a few smirks as well.

 

With that, please enjoy the IBM i Wikipedia Page here  

 

 

 

 

IBM i ACS Version 1.1.9.12

April 21, 2026 

IBM has announced an update to ACS (Access Client Solutions) from current 

version 1.1.9.11 to new version 1.1.9.12.

 

The announcement looks like this:

 

Info on ACS can be found on this blog on the "Helpful Tips by Category" page here.

If your version of ACS is set to "Edit", "Preferences", "Notify when update is available":

 

 

 

 

This dialog box will be displayed when ACS is opened.

 

 

 

It will also be displayed when opening ACS and utilizing the Help Tab and "Check for Updates".
 

 

IBM Software Download Tips: Three Easy Steps to Make Download Director Work Again

April 10, 2026

IBM's Download Director news:

 

"Over the past few years, customers who have relied on Download Director to let 

 them download PTFs and software from IBM Fix Central often report that it has 

 stopped working."

 

 "The primary reason for this is that Download Director relies on Java Web Start 

 (javaws) technology which has been removed in the more recent versions of Java."

  

"This link and video describe the three main tasks customers need to complete to be 

  able to download PTF's and software from IBM websites that use Download 

  Director technology." Please click here.