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Technical Bulletin: Critical Update on IBM i 7.4 Lifecycle – Planning for Version 7.6 Migration
Following the recent release of IBM i 7.6, Big Blue has published the anticipated lifecycle announcements concerning the older IBM i 7.4 operating system release. It is important for our customers running IBM i 7.4 understand the forthcoming changes to service and support levels to ensure seamless continuity and proactive roadmap planning.
This announcement provides timely preparation for an upgrade to a newer release, such as IBM i 7.6, or acceptance of the increased operational expenditure and reduced service levels associated with IBM i Extended Service.
Key Dates for IBM i 7.4 Change of Service
Please note the following critical dates affecting your IBM i 7.4 environments:
| Date | Announcement | Implication for Your Business |
| 30th April 2026 | End of Marketing (EOM) | From this date, you will no longer be able to purchase new subscriptions or licenses for IBM i 7.4 or its associated Licensed Program Products (LPPs). |
| 30th September 2026 | Change of Service Level (COS) | The IBM i 7.4 release will transition from standard support to Extended Service coverage. This will incur substantially higher costs and will be delivered under a reduced service level. |
Operating IBM i 7.4 beyond the September 2026 date will inherently increase your total cost of ownership while introducing potential operational risk due to the change in service quality. Upgrading to the latest release ensures continued standard service support, access to new features, and a superior foundation for your infrastructure.
Ancillary End of Support Announcement
In addition to the core OS changes, IBM has announced the complete withdrawal of support for a key component:
- Db2 Web Query for i: This product will reach its End of Support (EOS) date on 31st December 2026.
While new licenses for Db2 Web Query for i have not been available for some time, this definitive final date provides clear notice for customers to finalise their migration strategy away from this product.
Your Roadmap and Next Steps with Covenco
The window for proactive migration planning is now open. To mitigate the financial impact of Extended Service and leverage the performance, security, and feature enhancements offered by IBM i 7.6, we strongly urge you to talk to Covenco about your options for an upgrade programme without delay.
Covenco is here to assist.
Our expert team can help you define a robust migration roadmap, manage the upgrade process to IBM i 7.6, and ensure a risk-free transition for your mission-critical applications.
Please contact your Covenco Account Manager or our technical services team today to schedule your IBM i 7.4 migration assessment and begin planning your upgrade well in advance of the deadline.
For full details, please refer to the official IBM announcement letter.