What's new for IBM i 7.1

Operations Console directly attached to the system is not supported

Attention: An Operations Console directly attached to the system is not supported in IBM i 7.1. If you currently have an Operations Console directly attached to the system, you must change the console before you start to install or upgrade the IBM i software on your system. Failure to do so will cause the installation to fail with unpredictable results. For more information about changing consoles, see Changing consoles in the IBM systems Hardware Information Center.

DVD installation media is consolidated

The DVD installation media is consolidated. Previously there were 51 sets of unique language version media. Now there are three sets of multiple language version media. For information about the media, see Media labels and their contents.

Automatic installations or upgrades that are using IBM i 7.1 IBM supplied consolidated optical media and that are changing the primary language during the upgrade or installation, need to set the installation language using the QINSTLNG API. For information about the QINSTLNG API, see the Set Install National Language Version (NLV) (QINSTLNG) API.

IBM i 7.1 supports POWER5 and later hardware

For more information, see Releases supported and system model information for IBM i upgrades.

Upgrade or replace software with virtual optical storage using the Network File System

You can use virtual optical storage using the Network File System to perform an IBM i software upgrade, to install PTFs (fixes), or to install single licensed programs that you receive on media. For more information, see Preparing to upgrade or replace software with virtual optical storage using the Network File System.

What's new for V5R4-to-IBM i 7.1 upgrades

Program conversions and other object conversions

To adequately prepare your system for your upgrade to the new release, you will need to allow extra time beforehand to analyze your system and possibly readjust your programs for conversions. The length of time required to analyze your system depends on the type, number, and size of your libraries and directories. You also need to plan in advance for possible down times.

Conversions occur during a software upgrade or during normal operations after the upgrade.

Note: If any of these preparations are normally done by a third party, contact your application provider for advice and assistance.

You will need to install planning PTFs for the release from which you are upgrading to assist you in the conversion process. These PTFs do not convert your objects but rather enable you to run the Analyze Object Conversion (ANZOBJCVN) command to assist you in preparing for the upgrade. After you run the ANZOBJCVN command, you receive information to help you determine the effect that object conversions will have on your system such as identifying potential conversion difficulties, if any, and supplying estimates on the time required for program conversion. For an overview and timeline on how the conversion tasks fit into the overall upgrade process, see Software installation process. Also review the information Installing PTFs and analyzing your system for object conversions (V5R4 to IBM i 7.1 upgrade) and the topics under Times for conversions (V5R4 to IBM i 7.1 upgrade) to determine how the conversions might affect your system.

IBM i can now be installed from optical images on the network

An IBM i 6.1 environment on POWER6® processor-based server can be upgraded to IBM i 7.1 with an image on the network file server. This function takes advantage of the 632B-003 virtual optical device that supports virtual image files on a remote system in a network. An image directory identifies a network path on the central system that contains the virtual image files that are prepared for use with a target system. For more information, see IBM i Network Install using Network File System.

What's new as of 10 September 2010

Embedded media changer

The 632C-002 client virtual device now supports an embedded media changer. This embedded media changer function extends the automatic media switching capability of virtual optical device types 632B-001 and 632B-003 on IBM i virtual I/O server partitions to client partitions virtual optical device type 632C. One application of this function is the use of image catalogs for unattended installations of client partitions. See Types of software installation devices for more information on optical device 632C-002.

How to see what's new or changed

In PDF files, you might see revision bars (|) in the left margin of new and changed information.

To find other information about what's new or changed this release, see the Memo to users.