Supported Versions

Find out which releases of BRMS are supported

The current supported releases of BRMS are:

The overviews below highlight the features and enhancements that appeared in each release. For information about older BRMS releases, visit 

Release information about the latest releases and new PTFs can be found at IBM and at this location.

Version 7.6 Overview

New Product ID 5770-BR2

• IBM Backup, Recovery and Media Services for i (BRMS) is only available with the new subscription pricing option that enables clients to acquire this licensed program product (LPP) on a term basis. The new subscription term option for BRMS provides all features of the product in one package.

Enhancements to Backup and Restore

• BRMS save command special value support has been added for the DTACPR() parameter to match the native save command values.

• SETFNCBRM and DSPFNCBRM command support to view and enable BRMS functions.

SQL services

• BRMS continues to provide additional SQL services to view, order, and subset BRMS information. More information can be found here BRMS SQL Services.

Security enhancements

• New SETUSRBRM command option USAGE(*REMOVE) to help administrators control users access to BRMS functions.

BRMS Web interface

• The BRMS Web Interface provides at-a-glance health information and allows easy monitoring of BRMS backup and media information from a web browser. More information can be found here Configuring the BRMS Web Interface.

Version 7.5 Overview

New Features/Functionality

• The default authority for BRMS shipped functional usage is changing from default authority *ALLOWED to *DENIED. Use the SETUSRBRM command as a starting point to grant system operators and administrators access to BRMS functions and components. Then use the functional usage model to customize access by user.

• The default assigned to the database shipped with BRMS is changing from *PUBLIC *USE authority to *PUBLIC *EXCLUDE.

• The data authority for BRMS shipped flight recording is changing from data authority *RWX to *WX.

• BRMS is introducing SQL Service interfaces as a new way to view, order, and subset BRMS information.

• VTL iSCSI attached device support.

• New support for Ultrium 9 (LTO9) tape drives and media.

Enhancements to Backup and Restore

• The default for the Save Object using BRM (SAVBRM) command parameter Asynchronous bring (ASYNCBRING) is changing from *NO to *YES to match the SAV command default.

• Backup control group support for IFS backups using SAVACTOPT(*ALWCHKPWRT)and SAVACTOPT(*ALL).

• Backup control group entry support for Save active message queue library.

• RSTLIBBRM has been enhanced with the STRJRN() and SELECT() parameters.

• RSTOBJBRM has been enhanced with the STRJRN() parameter.

Enhancements to Media Service

• WRKMEDBRM has been enhanced to select multiple From locations and multiple Media class names.

• WRKMEDBRM has been enhanced to support OUTPUT(*OUTFILE)and OUTPUT(*OUTSTMF).

• The Work with Media using BRM (WRKMEDBRM) parameter Select volumes(TYPE) special value *BOTH has been removed and is replaced by special value *ALL.

Enhancements to Logging and Reporting

• Recovery report (QP1ARCY) steps have been enhanced to include cloud recovery support for Network Install Using Network File System(NFS) and using DSI VTL iSCSI attached devices.

• PRTRPTBRM has been enhanced with an EXPDATE() parameter to select which records to include in the report.

• DSPLOGBRM has been enhanced to support OUTPUT(*OUTFILE)and OUTPUT(*OUTSTMF).

Enhancements to BRMS Policies

• WRKPCYBRM *SYS option for BRMS to include all messages that occur during BRMS command processing in the BRMS log.

• WRKPCYBRM *RCY option for check the size of the restore.

• WRKPCYBRM *BKU option for automatic virtual volume attributes.

• The Work with Policies using BRM (WRKPCYBRM) TYPE(*BKU) default value for Asynchronous bring is changing from *NO to *YES to match the Save Object (SAV) command.

API and Exit Program Enhancements

• Reclaim Media (Q1ARCLMED) API gives users the ability to programmatically reclaim a single tape volume.

• Change Control Group Attributes (Q1ACHGCGA) API enables users to change programmatically the control group attributes.

• Control Group exit program support for new format BKUI0200.

• APIs have a default assigned functional authority of *DENIED.

Version 7.4 Overview

Enhancements

• Turn-key cloud control group deployment which allows customers to easily set up custom cloud control groups.

• Enable the green screen command to change control group attributes which were previously only available in the GUI.

• Backup for journaled objects changes is now the default setting: the default parameter value for SAVLIBBRM command has been changed to OBJJRN(*YES).

• New *OBJ list named QALLSPLF to backup all spooled files which improves restore performance.

• Support for the 3592-60F tape drive with *FMT3592A6 and FMT3592A6E densities.

• Enhanced log information: uses the system timestamp to preserve message order when messages are logged at the same second are displayed using DSPLOGBRM.