BRMS went subscription. Half of IBM i shops haven't moved
BRMS 5770-BR2 costs $400 per core per year, nearly double the old license. What breaks on 7.5 and 7.6, and why September 30 forces the question.
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Power8 can't run IBM i 7.5. That makes this a hardware bill
Power8 caps at IBM i 7.4, which loses standard support on September 30, 2026. What the Service Extension misses, and what new Power iron actually costs.
Your IBM i is patched. The laptops connecting to it aren't
IBM i shops patch the server and never patch the clients. CVE-2026-7770 is a CVSS 8.8 RCE in ACS, and IBM ships security updates only for the current version.
IBM Bob's IBM i free trial: pay $20 for month one, not $60
The IBM Bob free trial does not cover IBM i. The first-month waiver does. The path to a $20 month, what 50 Bobcoins buy, and what month two costs.
IBM i 7.4 end of support is September 30. Here is the bill
IBM i 7.4 end of support lands September 30, 2026. The exact Service Extension multipliers, what the money stops covering, and why 28 days is not enough.
IBM i security PTFs, August 2026: three things they break
The August 2026 IBM i security PTF batch carries 40 CVEs. Three of the fixes break things, and IBM has published a fix for none of them yet.
IBM's new IBM i modernization Redbook: what's actually in it
IBM published 810 free pages on IBM i modernization as Redbook MD260020. What it covers, how it reads, and two ways to download the wrong file.
IBM i Migrate While Active: what it costs and what it won't do
IBM i Migrate While Active costs $2,000 per core per year, and IBM says it is not a DR solution. What the summer TRs added to MWA, BRMS, and tape.
IBM i 7.6 can now lock your own IPL behind an encryption key
IBM i 7.6 TR2 adds bring-your-own-key encryption via IBM Key Protect. It can also stop your system from IPLing without the right key. What to check first.
Will AI replace your ERP? The IBM i answer is different
Agentic AI is supposed to end the ERP era. But 73% of IBM i shops run homegrown apps, not packaged ERP, and that changes the question entirely.
Steve Will retired as IBM i chief architect. What changes
Steve Will retired after 41 years. Kris Whitney is now IBM i chief architect. What the handoff means for your roadmap, and the deadline that matters.
The IBM i skills gap is now a bigger worry than security
Fortra's 2026 IBM i Marketplace Survey shows the skills shortage has overtaken security as shops' top concern, while AI use jumped from 43% to 55% in a year.
IBM i's first 2026 tech refresh lands, with a new entry server
IBM i 7.6 TR2 and 7.5 TR8 finally shipped July 24, alongside the Power S1112. Here's what's actually in it and what IBM i shops should do now.
IBM i PTF management in 2026, what this month's CVEs mean
Six CVEs landed in one IBM i Java update this month. A practical look at ibm i ptf management and the checklist to run before the next Guide drops.
AI just killed security through obscurity on IBM i in 2026
IBM i security through obscurity is dead in 2026. Here's what the Fortra and IBM X-Force data show shops need to lock down now, with AI in the mix.
AS/400 to modern architecture: what actually happens
Every AS/400 migration guide reads like a sales brochure. Here is the honest view of what really happens when IBM i shops move to modern architecture.
What happens when the last RPG developer leaves
When the last RPG developer retires, your IBM i programs keep running. That is the trap. Here is what actually breaks, and what you can recover.
The IBM i retirement wave: what to do before 2030
IBM i runs to 2035, but your RPG developers don't. A priority-ordered plan for the IBM i developer retirement wave and what to do before 2030.
RDi vs VS Code for IBM i development in 2026
VS Code just surpassed RDi in usage among IBM i developers. Here's what that means for your team and which IDE you should actually be using.
Documenting COBOL code with AI: a practical guide for mainframe developers
How to use Claude, ChatGPT, and specialized tools to document COBOL code in 2026. Prompt templates, honest AI limits, and a realistic workflow for mainframe teams.
IBM i modernization with AI: tools, pricing, where to start
Bobcoin pricing, ARCAD MCP, Fresche, and a practical starting sequence for IBM i shops moving to AI in 2026. Honest about what works and what doesn't.
How to Automate Repetitive Coding Tasks with AI in 2026
A practical guide to identifying and automating the repetitive parts of software development using AI tools and workflow automation. With real examples and tool recommendations.
AI Tools for IBM i Developers in 2026: What Actually Works
A practical guide to AI tools for IBM i and AS/400 developers in 2026. IBM Project Bob, watsonx Code Assistant, and how general-purpose AI handles RPG IV, CL, and DDS.
Documenting RPG IV Code with AI: A Practical Guide for IBM i Developers
How to use Claude, ChatGPT, and IBM Project Bob to document RPG IV and legacy IBM i code. Prompt templates, what works, what doesn't, and a realistic assessment.