• IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 28, Number 36

  October 19, 2026 Doug Bidwell

  Just a reminder that with IBM i 7.6 TR2 and IBM i 7.5 TR8, there is a virtual Ethernet connectivity advisory. IBM is currently investigating a reported issue affecting systems running IBM i 7.6 TR2 or IBM i 7.5 TR8. Installing the Technology Refresh (TR) can cause a complete loss of network connectivity on partitions using Virtual Ethernet adapter type 268C. IBM is actively working to identify the root cause and appropriate corrective action.

  Development has identified the root cause of the issue and has released the following HIPER PTFs to address it. You can read more about this issue …

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• IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 28, Number 35

  October 12, 2026 Doug Bidwell

  Another week, another bunch of things to ponder about the IBM i platform and get fixed or re-fixed. This is ever the way with systems software, which is constantly changing, and despite the fact that Big Blue is not Meta Platforms and it is not interested in “moving fast and breaking things” sometimes things don’t work right or stop working due to unintended consequences.

  This is life on an Earth with an icing of software on it.

  First up, here is something to look out for: NTP Client job can’t start after applying latest PTF (SJ11498). More information is available …

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• IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 28, Number 34

  October 5, 2026 Doug Bidwell

  This week, you have a bunch of things to look at and ponder, as well as patches to Rational Developer for i and a bunch of security bulletins.

  First, there is a Virtual Ethernet Connectivity Advisory for IBM i 7.6 TR2 and IBM i 7.5 TR8. IBM is investigating a network connectivity issue that can affect IBM i 7.6 TR2 and 7.5 TR8 systems using Virtual Ethernet adapter type 268C. Read this link for further details and do so before putting on the latest cume and groups.

  And in the whoops column, there is also a note that Security PTF …

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• IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 28, Number 33

  September 28, 2026 Doug Bidwell

  Welcome to the 33^rd edition of 2026 of the IBM i PTF Guide. The good news is that there are lot fewer security vulnerabilities for the IBM i platform that we reported on last week. There are, once again, updates to IBM i 7.3 through IBM i 7.6 for various PTF groups.

  We will start with the security issues and patches, and count them off to keep track of them.

  1. Security Bulletin: Multiple Vulnerabilities in IBM Java SDK affect IBM WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere Application Server Liberty due to August 2026 CPU, which is available to …

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• IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 28, Number 31

  September 14, 2026 Doug Bidwell

  Big Blue is dumping a bunch of security vulnerabilities into your lap again, this time just ahead of the Labor Day holiday in the United States. We did not publish that week because we were on holiday, so we are playing catch up just like you now will be.

  Let’s start with the Security Bulletin: IBM i is Affected By Improper Authorization and Authentication Vulnerabilities in DDM / DRDA [CVE-2026-18175, CVE-2026-18221], which you can find HERE. Affected Products and Versions:

  IBM i Release	5770-SS1 	PTF Number(s)
  7.6			        SJ11231
  			        SJ11230
  7.5			        SJ11232
  			        SJ11233
  7.4			        SJ11262
  			        SJ11261	
  7.3			        SJ11234
  			        SJ11235
  

  Security …

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• IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 28, Number 30

  August 31, 2026 Doug Bidwell

  After the deluge of the past two weeks with so many security vulnerabilities and patches for the IBM i platform, you are going to get an easier week now. This may or may not have to do with the vacation schedules of IBMers who try to kill bugs, or it may have to do with the impending Labor Day holiday in the United States.

  Who knows? Take the easy week while you have it. We are off next week for the holiday, and we will catch you up on the patches and vulnerabilities when we return on September 14.

  Here …

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• IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 28, Number 27

  August 10, 2026 Doug Bidwell

  Welcome to this week. You have some issues with IBM i Access Client Services to deal with as well as a new security bulletin.

  Let’s start with the ACS updates, which are rolled up into ACS 1.1.9.14 and which you can read more about at this link. All prior versions are vulnerable to:

  • Arbitrary code execution on Windows when installed for all users due to publicly writeable directory and configuration file.
  • Injection of rogue certificate authority due to publicly writeable truststore.
  • Zip slip path traversal exploit when importing a configuration.
  • Versions 1.1.8.3 through 1.1.9.13 are vulnerable to downloading unverified

  …

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• IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 28, Number 26

  August 3, 2026 Doug Bidwell

  It is a relatively quiet week in IBM i PTF Land, which is a bit of a relief after all the stuff that was going on last week with s slew of updates and patches as well as the release of the summer batch of Technology Refreshes for the IBM i platform.

  To begin with, the latest System Planning Tool, version 6.26.212.0, is now available for download at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/632531. So have at it and have fun configuring up those new Power11 machines. . . .

  We also have a new security vulnerability in the IBM i stack. Check it …

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• IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 28, Number 25

  July 27, 2026 Doug Bidwell

  Brace yourself, there is a lot of IBM i Technology Refreshes, patches, security vulnerabilities, and other stuff you need to deal with this week.

  Let’s start by pointing you to the Technology Refreshes. You can get more detailed information on the IBM i 7.6 Technology Refresh 2 enhancements at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-76-tr2-enhancements and on the IBM i 7.5 Technology Refresh 8 enhancements at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-75-tr8-enhancements.

  There are also cumulative packages for the currently supported IBM i releases, as follows:

  • The latest cumulative package for 7.6 is C6190760
  • The latest cumulative package for 7.5 is C6197750
  • The latest cumulative package for 7.4 is

  …

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• IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 28, Number 21

  June 15, 2026 Doug Bidwell

  The flow of security vulnerabilities and PTF patches has been kind of spotty for the past several weeks. Which is good, because we were in transit across the United States. We have successfully relocated from California to Pennsylvania, and are settling in. We are almost unpacked, and my Network Operations Center, or NOC, is coming together. Thanks for your patience!

  Here is the rundown of PTF Groups by IBM i release level since we last published:

  PTF Groups 7.6:

  • HIPERs (High Impact/Pervasive)
  • Security
  • WebSphere Application Server V8.5
  • QMGTOOLS
  • Visual Studio Code for IBM i

  PTF Groups 7.5:

  • HIPERs (High Impact/Pervasive)

  …

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