Release Levels for IBM i Services (SQL)

IBM i Services are a growing, innovative use of SQL on the IBM i platform. These services are SQL-based functions and views that provide convenient access to system functionality. For example, VS Code for i uses the LIBRARY_INFO table function.

Because these SQL-based services are added and enhanced over time, each service has an operating system release and Group PTF level at which it became available. Our LIBRARY_INFO example was provided in IBM i 7.3 with Group PTF SF99703, Level 18, and enhanced with  SF99703 Level 22. For IBM i 7.4, it was SF99704, Level 7, and enhanced with SF99704 Level 10. Starting with IBM i 7.5, LIBRARY_INFO no longer required a Group PTF.

I had wished there was a list of minimum release levels for all the IBM i Services. As it happened, at our latest Code for IBM i Fridays meeting, Scott Forstie, the DB2 for i Business Architect, provided the resources that I’d been looking for.

Determining minimum release and Group PTF levels for an IBM i Service

Scott informed us that the IBM i Services (SQL) page contains a list of minimum IBM i releases and Group PTF levels for each service.

Once we identify which Group PTF level is required, the GROUP_PTF_INFO view can tell us whether our IBM i includes that required Group PTF level. It provides information similar to the output of the Work with PTF Groups (WRKPTFGRP) CL command.

Example: We are on IBM i 7.5. Say I need to find out if COMMAND_INFO is supported on our server. I learn from the IBM i Services (SQL) page linked above that it needs Level 3 of Group PTF SF99950.

I would run the GROUP_PTF_INFO service using the following SQL:

This returns:

Eight (8) is higher than three (3), so my Group PTF level supports COMMAND_INFO.

IBM i Services at your service

• To find minimum release levels for IBM i Services, go to IBM i Services (SQL)
• To determine whether your IBM i server has those required release levels, run GROUP_PTF_INFO

For consultants like us, who work on many different client machines at different releases and PTF levels, this information is invaluable. We appreciate the work by Scott and his team to make it easier to determine minimum support levels for IBM i services.