The IBM i Reference Pages Blog

IBM i MG (Must Gather) Toolkit.

Jan 13, 2026

Sometimes we forget about some of the FREE tools that IBM provides. One of the most important IBM i tools is the MG (Must Gather) Toolkit. It is an integral piece of software that includes tools to help on the job along with tools to assist in the diagnosis of problems.

If your shop doesn't have this installed, it is easy to obtain. If your shop does have it, it is easy to update.

NOTE: In the last update of the Toolkit on Dec 11, 2025, the main page shown above changed significantly from the previous version.

Once installed, it is easy to bring up the menu:

1- addlible qmgtools

2 - go mg

Any and all information about the QMGTOOLS Must Gather Toolkit can be

found here. This is the "IBM i Helpful Tips by Category" page on this blog. Page down to locate the QMGTOOLS section.

IBM i Webinars of Importance

Dec 29, 2025

Please note these 2 IBM i Webinars of Importance.

The first is the FORTRA "2026 IBM i Marketplace Survey Results" which will be revealed on Thursday, Jan 22nd, 2025 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am CST. The link to register for this can be found here

The second is the IBM i Guided Tours "IBM i in 2026 - A Strategic Preview" on

Wednesday, Jan 28th, 2026 from 9:00 am - 10:00 am CST. The page to register for the webinar can be found here

IBM i Navigator Q1 2026 - Moving Toward Requiring all TLS connections

Dec 19, 2025

Take note !!

IBM Champion @Rob Berendt brings us this important info from IBM heading into

Q1 2026 about IBM i Navigator here.

The corresponding IBM i site page can be found in Rob's post.

IBM Database Expert Query for i

Dec 12, 2025

IBM recently held a webinar via Common about the new

"IBM Database Expert Query for i"

It is the replacement for DB2 Web Query. Looks like it'll be subscription type pricing. The IBM announcement will be in Jan 2026.

You can find the replay of that webinar here

It can also be found by opening the "IBM i Extras" page. Click on the "Guided Tours 2025 Replays" link.

Note: You must be registered with Common to view the replay. It is easy to join and

create yourself a logon ID / Password.

Common PowerUp 2026

From April 27 - 30, 2026, The Largest IBM i Community Event in the World will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Info can be found here

IBM Support - Upcoming Migration of Secure File Transfer Service

Dec 2, 2025

From IBM:

As part of IBM CIO’s ongoing commitment to enhancing platform security, streamlining operations, and optimizing infrastructure resources, we wish to inform you of the upcoming migration of the Secure File Transfer (SFT) service infrastructure, scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.

The support page for this announcement can be found here

IBM "(A)i on GRC - ISO 42001"

Dec 1, 2025

John Flack - IBM i Engineer / GRC & Quantitative Risk Specialist has written the "(A)i on GRC" which has explored ISO / IEC 27001 clause by clause translating one of the world’s most influential governance frameworks into the language of IBM i security, audit, and modernization.

There was an ISO / IEC 27001 posting on this blog on Oct 21st, 2025 which can be found here

John states "ISO 27001 gave us a blueprint for control: how to protect data, ensure confidentiality, and maintain integrity."

If ISO 27001 secures the system, ISO 42001 governs the intelligence that system produces.

ISO 42001 is defined as: "The first international management system standard for artificial intelligence (AI), providing a framework for organizations to develop, deploy, and manage AI systems responsibly and securely. It helps organizations establish a governance system for AI, ensuring ethical use, managing risks, and promoting transparency and accountability throughout the AI lifecycle. The standard is applicable to any organization involved with AI systems, whether they are providers or users."

Key aspects of ISO 42001 AI Governance:
It provides a structured approach to AI governance, helping organizations to comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

Risk Management: It helps organizations identify and assess risks associated with AI systems, such as bias and security vulnerabilities, and implement strategies to mitigate them.
Ethical and Responsible Use: The standard promotes the responsible and ethical use of AI by ensuring systems are explainable, auditable, and free from unfair bias.

Lifecycle Management: It provides guidance for managing AI systems across their entire lifecycle, from design and development to deployment and operation.
Continuous Improvement: It includes processes for monitoring, auditing, and continuously improving AI systems to maintain compliance and reliability.
Compatibility: ISO 42001 is built on the same high-level structure as other management system standards, such as ISO 27001 (information security) and ISO 9001 (quality management), allowing for seamless implementation alongside them.
In order, the clauses are: (Right click to open each clause in a new tab).

Context of the Organization

Leadership and Accountability

Planning for AI Governance

Support as the "Infrastructure of Intelligence"

Operations & "Governance in Motion"

Performance Evaluation & When Governance Audits Itself

The "Hard Edge" of Real Governance

IBM i V7R5 TR7, V7R6 TR1 & ACS Version 1.1.9.10

Nov 21, 2025

IBM announced IBM i V7R5 TR7 and V7R6 TR1 Technology Rrefreshes in early Oct 2025. They are available today (11.21.2025)

The V7R5 TR7 page can be found here

The V7R6 TR1 page can be found here

IBM has also announced the latest version of ACS (1.1.9.10).

The details page for that can be found here

The Paradigm Shift

Nov 12, 2025

@NealWhittle brings us "The Paradigm Shift" - SDLC vs ADLC.

Neal states: "When IBM announced a strategic partnership with Anthropic to accelerate the development of enterprise-ready AI, it released a first-of-its-kind guide focusing on the Agent Development Lifecycle (ADLC). The report describes a paradigm shift from SDLC (Software Dev Life Cycle) to ADLC (Agent Dev Life Cycle). If you understand the three fundamental differences, you are well ahead of the crowd."

"From deterministic to probabilistic: software follows predictable execution paths, while agents make dynamic decisions."

"From static to adaptive: Software has fixed functionality while agents can learn and evolve."

"From code-first to evaluation-first: Traditional software metrics can't predict agent success, so the ADLC must rely on systematic measurement of agent behavior and evaluation of business outcomes."

Here is a cheatsheet to help visualize "The Paradigm Shift"

There is a corresponding IBM document titled:

"Architecting Secure Enterprise AI Agents with MCP (Model Context Protocol) - A Strategic Guide to Agentic Development" which can be found here

@Gemini defines SDLC vs ADLC this way:

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Definition: A process used in the software industry to design, develop, and test high-quality software.
Focus: A broad, traditional approach to software development, often viewed as more linear.
Phases: Typically includes phases like planning, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
Goal: To produce high-quality software, minimize costs, and complete the project in the shortest possible time.
Agent Development Life Cycle (ADLC)
- Definition: A new lifecycle specifically for developing AI agents, addressing their unique probabilistic and adaptive nature.
- Focus: Building reliable, robust, and adaptive AI agents, with a strong emphasis on tuning and optimization.
- Phases: Combines continuous loops for experimentation (between build and test) and runtime optimization (between operate and monitor) with traditional phases like design, build, and deploy.
- Goal: To ensure successful, reliable, and secure AI agents, with continuous adaptation and governance integrated throughout the process.

IBM i on Power - Performance FAQ: November 2025

Nov 7, 2025

IBM has released the latest "IBM i on Power - Performance FAQ" dated Nov 2025.

The online PDF to it can be found here

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

IBM Unveils Beta MCP Server to Transform AI on IBM i

Oct 31, 2025

"IBM's release of the beta MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server for IBM i marks a groundbreaking moment ... " Read the article here

ITJungle article "Beta Of MCP Server Opens Up IBM i For Agentic AI"

can be found here

GitHub MCP Server site can be found here

IBM "(A)i on GRC - ISO 27001"

Oct 21, 2025

John Flack - IBM i Engineer | GRC & Quantitative Risk Specialist has written the

"(A)i on GRC" which has explored ISO / IEC 27001 clause by clause translating one

of the world’s most influential governance frameworks into the language of IBM i

security, audit, and modernization.

John states "Together, these articles form a complete walk-through of the ISO

27001 management system as applied to IBM i."

ISO 27001 is defined as: The leading international standard that formally specifies the requirements for

establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information

Security Management System (ISMS).

In essence, it provides a systematic, structured, and risk-based approach to

managing and protecting an organization's sensitive information assets to ensure

their:

Confidentiality: Ensuring information is accessible only to those authorized to have access.
Integrity: Safeguarding the accuracy and completeness of information and processing methods.
Availability: Ensuring authorized users have access to information and associated assets when required.

The standard is applicable to organizations of all types and sizes across all sectors, helping them manage security risks, reduce vulnerabilities to threats like cyberattacks, and meet contractual and regulatory obligations.

In order, the clauses are: (Right click to open each clause in a new tab).

Leadership

Planning

Support

Operation

Performance

Improvement

John goes on to say:

"Each installment follows the same principle: governance only matters when it

lives in the system.

I hope you'll see in this series that a 'legacy platform' running decades-deep

workloads in some cases can meet modern standards of governance, risk, and

compliance when we learn to speak both its technical and organizational dialects.

Together, these articles form a complete walkthrough of the ISO 27001 management system as applied to IBM i from intent to implementation, and from evidence to improvement."