Quick guidance on upgrading to i/OS 6.1

Before converting your system to i/OS 6.1, you must update Help/Systems products to the i/OS 6.1 compatible release or modification level. Almost all products are now compatible. To look at the Product/OS compatibility chart, click here.

According to IBM's Web site, "With IBM i 6.1 (i5/OS V6R1), IBM will require conversion of all programs created under previous releases that use the IBM i Machine Interface (MI). This conversion upgrades and refreshes programs to take advantage of the latest system enhancements, including enhanced system integrity, improved performance, and a range of new operating system and processor capabilities. In order for a program to be converted, its creation data (sometimes referred to as observability) must be available. Programs created for IBM i V5R1 or later automatically retain creation data sufficient for conversion. Clients and ISVs with programs created for OS/400 V4R5 and earlier need to ensure that creation data is available for the conversion process."

Because some of Help/Systems programs had been compiled before OS/400 V5R1, they needed to be recompiled in order to allow them to convert to i/OS 6.1. Others required more extensive changes due to i/OS 6.1 operating system changes. Help/Systems subjected all of our products to extensive testing on i/OS 6.1, as well as testing for backward compatibility with the other OS levels that we support (V5R3 and V5R4). For more information, download the Help/FACTS “Compatibility Information for Help/Systems products moving to i5/OS V6R1 (IBM i 6.1)”.