IBM i 7.4 End of Support (September 2026): Upgrade to 7.5, 7.6, or Buy the Service Extension?
IBM i 7.4 leaves standard support September 30, 2026 — what are your options?
You have three realistic paths, and your current Power hardware decides which are actually free. (1) Upgrade to IBM i 7.5 — it runs on your existing Power9, Power10, or Power11 hardware at no capital cost, but only buys a few more years before you face this decision again. (2) Upgrade to IBM i 7.6, the current release — it requires Power10 or Power11, which forces a hardware refresh if you're still on Power8 or Power9. (3) Buy IBM's paid Service Extension, which keeps 7.4 receiving critical and security fixes only (no new features) through September 30, 2029, typically starting around double standard maintenance cost and rising from there. There's a fourth silent option, too: Power8 shops have no OS upgrade path at all without new hardware, since 7.5 dropped Power8 support.
At a glance
Key takeaways
The deadline is real, and part of it already happened
IBM i 7.4 leaves standard support September 30, 2026. IBM already withdrew it from marketing on April 30, 2026 — new installs are no longer possible, though existing systems keep getting standard fixes until the September date.
Your hardware decides which upgrade is free
IBM i 7.5 runs on Power9, Power10, or Power11 at no hardware cost if you already qualify. IBM i 7.6 requires Power10 or Power11 only — a forced hardware purchase for anyone still on Power8 or Power9.
A Power8 shop hits a wall here, not a fork
IBM i 7.5 dropped Power8 support entirely. If you're running 7.4 on Power8, there is no OS upgrade path — only the Service Extension or new hardware get you past September 2026.
The Service Extension buys time, not features
It covers critical and security PTFs only through September 30, 2029, commonly priced from roughly double standard maintenance and rising in later years — a bridge, not a destination.
What Actually Ends September 30, 2026
IBM i 7.4 — the operating system release running a large share of the AS/400, iSeries, System i, and IBM i installed base — leaves standard support on September 30, 2026. IBM had already withdrawn 7.4 from marketing on April 30, 2026, so it can no longer be ordered as a new install. Up to the September date, existing 7.4 systems keep receiving standard program temporary fixes (PTFs), including security fixes, exactly as before.
After September 30, 2026, that standard fix stream stops. IBM offers a paid Service Extension that keeps a subset of fixes flowing through September 30, 2029, but it is narrower than standard support and priced at a premium — covered in Option 3 below. Doing nothing after the date means no new PTFs of any kind, including security fixes, for a production IBM i partition.
What makes 7.4's deadline different from Power9's hardware end-of-support (which hit in January 2026) is that this one is a software date, not a hardware one — the server keeps running regardless of OS support status. But the OS decision and the hardware decision are tangled together, because of the hardware ceiling each release carries. That's the part vendors selling a single path tend to skip, and the part covered next.
The Hardware Ceiling: Power8, Power9, Power10+
Every IBM i release supports a specific band of Power hardware, and that band only moves forward — it never moves back. That creates a ceiling for each generation still in the field:
- Power8: tops out at IBM i 7.4. IBM i 7.5 dropped Power8 support entirely, so a Power8 shop cannot upgrade its way past the September 2026 deadline — the Service Extension or a hardware refresh are the only two paths.
- Power9: tops out at IBM i 7.5. IBM i 7.6 requires Power10 (firmware FW1060 or later) or Power11 (FW1110 or later) and is not supported on Power9 or earlier hardware at all.
- Power10 and Power11: the only hardware that can run IBM i 7.6, the current release, today.
In practice, that means the same September 2026 deadline forces three different conversations depending on what's under the covers. A Power10/11 shop is picking between 7.5 and 7.6 on hardware it already owns. A Power9 shop can move to 7.5 for free but is quietly one release from hitting the same ceiling again. A Power8 shop is not really choosing an OS release at all — it's choosing between paying for time (the Service Extension) or paying for hardware, full stop. Our Power9 end-of-support guide and hardware refresh vs. cloud guide cover that hardware-side decision in more depth.
Option 1: Upgrade to IBM i 7.5
IBM i 7.5 is supported on Power9, Power10, and Power11 — not Power8. If your current hardware already qualifies, this is the cheapest way to restore full standard support: no new server, just the OS upgrade project (planning, PTF prerequisites, testing, and cutover).
The honest downside: 7.5 is not IBM's current release, and it is the last release Power9 can run. Choosing 7.5 on Power9 hardware buys support continuity now, but doesn't reset the clock — you'll face a similar decision again once 7.5 approaches its own end of standard support, and Power9 hardware will need replacing before you can move to whatever comes after 7.6.
Best for: shops on Power9, Power10, or Power11 that want the lowest-cost path to restored full support right now, and are comfortable revisiting the OS question again in a few years. For a broader view of what a Power hosting or hardware decision involves beyond the OS release itself, see our IBM i cloud and hosting options overview.
Option 2: Upgrade to IBM i 7.6
IBM i 7.6, generally available since April 2025, is the current release and requires Power10 (firmware FW1060 or later) or Power11 (FW1110 or later) — it is not supported on Power9 or earlier hardware. A direct upgrade from 7.4 to 7.6 is a supported path; you do not need to stage through 7.5 first, though IBM recommends reviewing both releases' memos to users and discontinued-feature lists before making the jump.
For a shop already on Power10 or Power11, this is a straightforward OS upgrade with no hardware cost. For a shop still on Power8 or Power9, it means the 7.4 end-of-support deadline effectively becomes a hardware-refresh decision — the same one already forced on Power9 owners by that platform's own end of standard support in January 2026.
Best for: shops already on qualifying Power10/11 hardware, or shops that were already planning a hardware refresh on a similar timeline and would rather fold the OS upgrade into that same project than upgrade twice.
Option 3: Buy the Service Extension
IBM's Service Extension keeps IBM i 7.4 receiving fixes through September 30, 2029 — three additional years beyond standard support. But the coverage is narrower than standard maintenance: it delivers critical and security PTFs only, with no new functional enhancements and no extension of 7.4's feature set. Pricing is by quote, and IBM i community commentary commonly puts the starting premium at roughly double standard software maintenance cost, climbing further in later extension years — verify current pricing with IBM or your business partner before budgeting.
The Service Extension doesn't resolve the underlying hardware ceiling described above — it just postpones the decision. That makes it most valuable as a deliberate bridge rather than a default: a Power8 shop buying time to plan and budget a hardware refresh, or any shop mid-way through a budget cycle, an ERP decision, or waiting to see whether IBM announces a smaller entry-tier Power11 model.
Best for: shops that need 12-36 months before committing to an upgrade path — especially Power8 shops, for whom the Service Extension is the only way to stay supported without immediately buying new hardware.
The Three Options Compared
Ranges below are directional, drawn from published third-party figures and typical quotes — confirm your own hardware's exact release compatibility and current pricing with IBM or your business partner before deciding.
| Option | Hardware required | Upfront cost | Ongoing cost | What you get | Runway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upgrade to IBM i 7.5 | Power9, Power10, or Power11 (not Power8) | None if already on qualifying hardware; a full refresh if currently on Power8 | Standard software maintenance | Full standard support restored, one release behind current | Until 7.5's own end of standard support — expect this decision again |
| Upgrade to IBM i 7.6 | Power10 (FW1060+) or Power11 (FW1110+) only | None if already on qualifying hardware; a hardware refresh (entry systems roughly $22k-$35k, mid-size well into six figures) if on Power8/Power9 | Standard software maintenance | Current release, full support, and new feature enhancements | The longest runway available today |
| Service Extension | None — keeps existing hardware and OS release as-is | None | Priced by quote; commonly cited around 2x standard maintenance, rising in later years | Critical and security PTFs only — no new features | Fixed: through September 30, 2029 |
How to Decide
- 1
Identify your current Power generation
Power8, Power9, Power10, or Power11 — this alone eliminates one or more options before anything else matters.
- 2
Map your hardware ceiling against your target release
7.4 is the ceiling on Power8, 7.5 on Power9, and 7.6 is open on Power10 or Power11 only.
- 3
Decide whether a hardware refresh is already due
If yes, fold the jump to 7.6 into that same project rather than upgrading the OS twice.
- 4
Price the Service Extension as a bridge, not a destination
Get a real quote and weigh it against the 12-36 months of planning time you actually need, with a written date to revisit.
- 5
Confirm third-party software certification first
Check that ISV applications are certified on your target release before committing to an upgrade date, not during cutover weekend.
- 6
Set the decision date, not just the decision
Whichever path you choose, especially the Service Extension, write down when it gets revisited.
Risks and Common Mistakes
Use caution
Assuming 7.5 keeps you fully current
7.5 is not IBM's current release, and it's the last release Power9 can run. Choosing it restores support today but doesn't reset the clock — plan for this decision to recur.
Use caution
Treating the Service Extension as a long-term plan
It's capped at September 2029, delivers no new functional enhancements, and gets more expensive in later contract years. It's a bridge with a fixed end date, not a strategy.
Use caution
Discovering the hardware requirement after budgeting the upgrade
Shops on Power8 or Power9 that plan on 7.6 without pricing new hardware first will blow the budget. Confirm your Power generation before you scope the project, not after.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IBM i 7.4 still supported?
IBM i 7.4 remains in standard support until September 30, 2026. IBM already withdrew it from marketing on April 30, 2026, meaning it can no longer be ordered as a new install, but existing installations keep receiving standard fixes until the September date. After that, the only way to keep receiving fixes on 7.4 is IBM's paid Service Extension, which covers critical and security PTFs (not new features) through September 30, 2029.
Can I run IBM i 7.4 on a Power8 server?
Yes — Power8 is fully qualified hardware for IBM i 7.4, which is exactly what makes the September 2026 deadline a hard wall for Power8 shops. IBM i 7.5, the next release, dropped Power8 support entirely. A Power8 shop cannot upgrade its way out of the 7.4 end-of-support deadline; the only options are the Service Extension or a hardware refresh to Power9 or later.
Do I need to install IBM i 7.5 before upgrading to IBM i 7.6?
No. A direct upgrade from 7.4 to 7.6 is a supported path on qualifying hardware (Power10 or Power11) — you don't have to stage through 7.5. IBM does recommend reviewing both the 7.5 and 7.6 memos to users and discontinued-feature lists before a 7.4-to-7.6 jump, since you're absorbing two releases' worth of changes at once.
What does the IBM i Service Extension actually include?
Critical and security program temporary fixes (PTFs) only — no new functional enhancements, and no extension of the operating system's feature set. It is priced by quote and, based on published IBM i community pricing commentary, commonly starts around double the cost of standard software maintenance and climbs further in later contract years. It keeps a 7.4 system patchable; it does not keep it current.
Is IBM i (the AS/400, iSeries, System i) still being actively developed?
Yes. IBM i 7.6 shipped in April 2025 with new base enhancements, and IBM's own roadmap commitments run out roughly a decade — the platform has carried the AS/400, iSeries, and System i names over its history, but active development and a new release cadence continue under the IBM i name today.
What happens if we do nothing after September 30, 2026?
The system keeps running, but without a Service Extension contract, IBM stops producing new PTFs for IBM i 7.4 — including security fixes — from that date forward. Unlike the Power9 hardware deadline, this is a software-only risk: it affects patchability and compliance posture, not whether the box powers on, but for an internet-adjacent or audited environment it's still an unpriced and growing exposure.
Sources
- IBM Support: IBM i_7.4.x lifecycle page
- IBM Support: Planning to upgrade to IBM i 7.6 (Hardware)
- IBM Support: Planning to upgrade to IBM i 7.5 (Hardware)
- IT Jungle: And Then There Were Two: Big Blue Withdraws IBM i 7.4
- IBM Community: Stay Current, Stay Secure — Why IBM i 7.4 End of Standard Support Means It's Time to Upgrade
- Verify current release compatibility, hardware requirements, and Service Extension pricing with IBM or your business partner
Not Sure Which Side of the Hardware Ceiling You're On?
Get an independent read on which IBM i 7.4 path fits your Power hardware, budget, and timeline — including whether the Service Extension is worth it for your environment.