Change in how TR's are delivered starting in 2025

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-technology-refresh

Since the General Availability (GA) of IBM i 7.1, IBM i has been delivering
new function using a delivery mechanism called a Technology Refresh. A
Technology Refresh is a collection of operating system software that is
developed together, packaged together, and tested together.

*Prior to 2025:*

- All content for a Technology Refresh was announced together and
delivered in the same quarter.
- The Technology Refresh contained support for new hardware and firmware
as well as software enhancements.
- Hardware support was provided by the Technology Refresh PTF group.
- Software enhancements were provided by PTF groups, individual PTFs,
product refreshes, and other delivery mechanisms.
- A Resave associated with the Technology Refresh was also made
available. This Resave provided the ability to IPL the system
with the new
hardware.
- A new Cumulative PTF package containing software fixes was also
made available.

*Beginning in 2025:*

- A Technology Refresh is divided into two deliverables:
- A Hardware Technology Refresh containing new hardware and firmware
support.
- A Software Technology Refresh providing software enhancements.
- These deliverables may be announced and delivered separately and in
different quarters.

*Hardware Technology Refresh*

Hardware Technology Refresh contains IBM i support for new Power hardware
and new hardware-related functions that can be installed on an existing
release. The delivery mechanism is the *Technology Refresh PTF Group*.
This PTF group contains a Technology Refresh PTF plus related PTFs,
including the most recent pre-GA fixes. The Technology Refresh PTF is
Machine Code / Licensed Internal Code (57xx-999) and is part of the code
stream of the base release.

A *Resave* associated with the Technology Refresh is also available. This
Resave includes IBM I hardware support that is needed to IPL the system
with the new hardware.

The Technology Refresh PTF Group, Resave, or PTF may be downloaded,
requested on media, and installed using standard procedures and tools.

A detailed description of the Hardware Technology Refresh content can be
found in the Support Pages, under IBM i Technology Updates topic Hardware
and Firmware <https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/1128525>.

*Software Technology Refresh*

A Software Technology Refresh contains new software enhancements for an
existing release. There is *no single package* containing all the software
enhancements associated with a Software Technology Refresh. Some of the
enhancements are delivered by new levels of PTF groups, while others may be
delivered by product refreshes, individual PTFs, or other mechanisms.

A *Cumulative PTF package* associated with the Software Technology Refresh
is also available.