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 7.5 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.

Version 7.3 Overview

BRMS Web Client

Key panels converted to Dojo – better filtering and usability
Multi-task navigational tree added to the main panel
Improved backup list editing (sorting)
Improved Include panel selection on “ok”
Newer infrastructure support (Liberty)

BRMS Server

PRTRPTBRM FROMSYS support w/help text
INZBRM network checker options w/help text
Modernization of Storage Tiering using BRMS Migration
IFS lists supported
SSD < HDD support

I-ASP support

I-ASP can be marked migration eligible and support *LIB, *LNK, and *OBJ control group entries.
Available in 7.2 using command:
QSYS/CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM('SETMGRELIG' 'asp-name' 'asp-class' 'Y')
IFS Suport
Migration (*MGR) list support for link lists (*LNK).
Restriction: Only first level directory path names allowed. Example: ‘/dirName’
Restriction:Only one directory entry allowed in an *LNK list.
Restriction: IBM product directories (directories starting with /Q) not supported
Non IBM product directories not supported:
/
/tmp
/dev
Directory tree contents must all be in the same file system.
Displays *LNK list control group entry statistics as the Migration *LNK list name.
Migration (*MGR) list support for object lists (*OBJ).
Moves objects within same ASP or IASP. (Solid state disk storage support - SSD)
Restriction: Specific library names (special values and generics not supported)
Restriction: Only supports DB files (Object type *FILE and Object Attribute PF or LF) Specific member names (no generics)
Displays *OBJ list control group entry statistics on first line.
Breaks out individual objects from the migration object list.
CHGMEDBRM movement support of 1 volume with help text.
SAVBRM now supports Pattern parm.

Version 7.2 Overview

Enterprise

BRMS Enterprise allows administrators to monitor backup operations for their BRMS systems from a central site called an Enterprise Hub. The systems being monitored by the Hub are called Enterprise Nodes. The Enterprise Network is comprised of Nodes that can be stand-alone BRMS systems, part of a BRMS Network or any combination of stand-alone and BRMS Networked systems. Configuration and management of the Nodes are handled through the Hub and does not impact the existing operations of traditional BRMS Networks.

The Hub can monitor Node backup activity in several ways:

Reporting
- Reports generated by BRMS commands
  - Display Log for BRM (DSPLOGBRM)
  - Print Report using BRM (PRTRPTBRM)
  - Start Maintenance for BRM (STRMNTBRM)
  - Start Recovery using BRM (STRRCYBRM)
- Manually run or scheduled
- Store on the Hub
- Optionally stored on the Node
- Email
- Email notifications for report errors
Display status for backup control group runs
Display connectivity status
Display and filter the BRMS log

Enterprise function that is not available in IBM i 7.1 PTFs:

Auto refresh of the Hub’s node status (dashboard)
Failed Control Group View to identify backup problems faster
Q1ABRMENT subsystem that runs Enterprise function independent of the traditional Q1ABRMNET subsystem

IBM Navigator for i enhancements

Redesigned how policies are handled by IBM Navigator for i to be more consistent with green screen.
The global policy properties panel has been redefined with the following panels:
- Archive policy (*ARCPCY)
- Backup policy (*BKUPCY)
- Recovery policy (*RCYPCY)
- Retrieve policy (*RTVPCY)
- System policy (*SYSPCY)
Property panels will display values resolved from policies
Auxiliary storage pools (ASP) can be used for object selection in Control Group and Save Item wizards
Media pool (class) can be updated on the Volume Properties screen
All objects from a library can be omitted from a backup
Support manual and scheduled movement of media
Confirmation message on the Add Media Wizard
All save history can be marked for duplication
Support right-to-left languages for reports

Backup enhancements

Allow setting spool file expiration dates during backups
BRMS object lists indicate whether to include or exclude objects during backups
BRMS object lists can select objects using the object attribute
Support the Asynchronous bring (ASYNCBRING) parameter on integrated file system backups to improve performance
Support the Abnormal end delay time (ABNENDDLY) parameter on End Subsystem (ENDSBS) to force restricted state
Support the Queue data (QDTA) parameter to backup the contents of queue objects
Support the Sort by (SORT) parameter to allow sorting backups by library size
Support the Update history (UPDHST) parameter to prevent object updates during backups
Use creation date for incremental backups of spooled files
Online domino backups with new Weekly Activity types
Control groups defined for parallel backup operations will dynamically change to serial backups for control group entries that require serial backups
Support auxiliary storage pool (ASP) value * for backup operations, * includes the system ASP, user ASPs and independent ASPs in the current job’s ASP group
Allow retry of backups to Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) when TSM failures occur
Automatically IPL the system if subsystems cannot be started after a restricted state backup
Allow auto-restart when Start Backup using BRM (STRBKUBRM) ends abnormally
Support media and save item expiration dates after the year 2038
Enhanced tape library selection based on resources and media
Support saving to save files located on independent storage pools (IASP)
Automatically omit system libraries QPTFOBJ1 and QPTFOBJ2 from backups

Recovery enhancements

Support the Restore list of libraries (RSTLST) parameter on the Restore Library using BRM (RSTLIBBRM) command to restore objects using a BRMS object list
Support the Show deleted libraries (SHWDTLLIB) parameter on the Start Recovery using BRM (STRRCYBRM) command to omit deleted libraries from recovery report
Support the List (LIST) parameter on the Restore Object using BRM (RSTBRM) command to restore objects using names contained in a stream file generated by a Domino Server for Domino Attached and Object Service (DAOS) objects
Support the Volume summary order (VOLSUMORD) parameter on the Start Recovery using BRM (STRRCYBRM) command to sort volumes based on create date
Support up to 12 parallel media files for fast positioning during restores, only 4 are supported in releases prior to IBM i 7.2
Information added to the recovery report for the Update TCP/IP Information (UPDTCPINF) command
Information added to the recovery report for the Configure Device ASP (CFGDEVASP) command
Information added to the recovery report for turning off Flashcopy

Media services enhancements

Volume selection reuses media more efficiently
Support *RESET as a Duration in a move sequence for a move policy to reset the move pattern to the first move sequence when new data is written to the media
Support multiple values for the From location (LOC) parameter on the Move Media using BRM (MOVMEDBRM) command to process movement for more than one location
Support the Submit batch options (SBMOPT) parameter on the Duplicate Media using BRM (DUPMEDBRM) command to run media duplication in batch and indicate the number of media files to be produced
Support the Data compaction (COMPACT) parameter on the Duplicate Media using BRM (DUPMEDBRM) command to indicate whether data compaction should be used on target media
Support generic names for the File group (FILEGRP) parameter on the Duplicate Media using BRM (DUPMEDBRM) command
Increase the number of volumes to 1000 for message BRM1553 sent from the Duplicate Media using BRM (DUPMEDBRM) command
Support of LTO5 and LTO6 tape devices
Support of Virtual Optical Library
Support the Move marked for duplication field for move policies to allow media that is marked for duplication to be moved
Support the Initialize media on expiration field for media classes to indicate that media should be initialized after it is expired, this is particularly useful for virtual media technologies so that storage can be freed when media is not being used
After a response is provided for an inquiry message, tape media that was previously rejected by the job will be available for selection

BRMS network enhancements

Support the Relational database (*RDB) value for the Communication method field in the network policy network group, this allows Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDN) to be used for BRMS communications through RDB entries
Formatting improvements to the report generated by the Audit system media (AUDSYSMED) parameter on the Start Maintenance for BRM (STRMNTBRM) command

Install enhancements

Performance improvements to the *RUNPRDINZ value for the Option (OPTION) parameter on the Initialize BRMS (INZBRM) command

Maintenance enhancements

Support more specific object level detail for the Remove media information (RMVMEDI) parameter on the Start Maintenance for BRM (STRMNTBRM) command and the Object level detail (OBJDTL) parameter on the Remove Media Info from BRM (RMVMEDIBRM) command
Change media owner for expired media when the owning system is not in the BRMS network
Support the *BATCH value for the Reorganize BRMS database (RGZBRMDB) parameter on the Start Maintenance for BRM (STRMNTBRM) command to improve STRMNTBRM performance

Miscellaneous enhancements

Support in system policy to control flight recorder size for first failure data capture.
Support the BRMS flight recorder size field in the system policy to aid with BRMS problem determination
Support *CTLGRPSTAT value for the Report type (TYPE) parameter on the Print Report using BRM (PRTRPTBRM) command for additional backup report information
Enhance the Display ASP Information (DSPASPBRM) and Work ASP Information (WRKASPBRM) commands to indicate that independent auxiliary storage pool (IASP) information is unknown, if an IASP is varied off.

Version 7.1 Overview

Graphical interface enhancements

Support for the IBM Systems Director Web browser environment.
Scheduling support for IBM Systems Director Navigator for i Web browser environment.
High Availability independent auxiliary storage pools enhancement.
Enhanced e-mail notification to support multiple e-mail addresses.
Enhanced the BRMS log to provide the option to filter on control groups.
BRMS maintenance feature in the Backup Policy now allows the user to run movement, expire partial volume sets and reorganize BRMS database files.
Note: BRMS graphical interface refers to both the IBM i® Navigator BRMS plug-in and the IBM Systems Director Web environment BRMS plug-in.

Recovery enhancements

New outfile support parameters have been added on the BRMS restore commands as well as the BRMS recovery policy.
New *COMPATIBLE special value has been added for the Allow object differences parameter on BRMS restore commands.
A new parameter Saved auxiliary storage pool (SAVASP) has been added on the BRMS restore commands to provide better control on the selection of which library or object was saved.
On the work with object displays the "Objects saved" columns have been increased to support more than 999,999 objects.
New Recovery report enhancements:
- The "Verify System Information" step in the recovery report has been updated to include new instructions to use the Update System Information (UPDSYSINF) command.
- The "Recover User Profiles" step in the recovery report, under the "Attention" section where the user is instructed what restore defaults to use, the user is asked to use *COMPATIBLE now for the Allow object differences prompt.
- On the Start Recovery using BRM (STRRCYBRM) command, a new parameter Recovery element override has been added to allow the user to override specific sections on the recovery report.
- Note: Currently only system data can be overridden with this new parameter.
- The objects saved column on the recovery report has been increased to support more than 999,999 objects.

Media services enhancements

Better handling of non-BRMS media when a customers inventory has a mixed media pool of BRMS media and non-BRMS media.
Increased protection on backups saved to virtual media that have not been saved off to physical media.
The Print Media Movement (PRTMOVBRM) command now includes media scheduled to move and media that are at the beginning of the media rotation.

Advanced Feature enhancements

A new High Availability enhancement has been added for independent auxiliary storage pools.

Network enhancements

Increased management of media information between the BRMS networked systems has been added.

Install enhancements

For new installs of BRMS, the *SYSGRP control group will now have a new BRMS IFS list that contains all the IBM directory information.
A new BRMS IFS list named QALLUSRLNK will be created on install. This list will have all of the IFS directory information except /QIBM/ProdData and /QOpenSys/QIBM/ProdData.