A message from the new IIUG president Tom Beebe:

 

There have been many changes in the Informix community since the start of 2025.  This year I have accepted the role of IIUG president and hope to continue the long tradition working with the IIUG directors, membership, IBM and HCL to continue to keep Informix as viable business solution now and into the future.

 

The saddest change in 2025 was the loss of our dear friend and longtime Informix supporter, Carlton Doe. He will be greatly missed. IBM is still working to fill the massive Informix hole left by Carlton’s passing. The IIUG is very happy to welcome Anup Nair to the IIUG, as our board representative from IBM as well as an integral part of the Informix team within IBM.

 

This round of board elections brought two new board members. Karen Qualley who is an old friend of the community and is helping build tighter connections between IIUG and HCL. HCL has become more integral to Informix and we greatly welcome working closer with them in the support of the product.  Our second new board member is Tom Girsh. Tom had been a part of the Informix Community for years, as a speaker at our IIUG conferences,  a Tech Talks presenter and longtime Informix user.  Both should prove to be valuable additions to our team.

 

Informix continues to be actively developed and supported, with the release of version 15.  This brings the next chapter of the product to market. Also, with two options: IBM Informix and HCL Informix, this helps everyone. Our hope is to bring more users into the IIUG community with the IIUG’s support Informix.

 

After several years of virtual only events, we are discussing the possibility of a full in-person event. In the meantime, we are committed to participating at IBM TechXchange in October 2025, in Orlando, Florida.   We are working with IBM to offer the strongest lineup of Informix sessions we can. We recently sent a survey to our members regarding IBM TechXChange.  Thanks to those who completed the survey.  Sadly, only some of our membership has indicated their interest in attending this event. We had hoped to see many of you there. We would appreciate hearing from you, our members, regarding the type of engagement you would be interested in for in-person or virtual events. We would also love to hear more about how people are using Informix and what skills would be valuable to them in their organization.

 

Overall, the organization continues to be strong.  Our focus, as it always has been, is for the Informix community. While we work with both IBM and HCL, our mission is to our members, that has not changed. We would love to see more of the Informix community actively engaged in what IIUG does. We are always looking for speakers for our tech talks, articles to publish in the monthly IIUG Insider or anything Informix that we can share with the Informix Community.  As a reminder the call for speakers is still open for TechXchange through April 11th.

 

 

Tom Beebe
IIUG Board of Directors – President

Highlights

Clarifying the End of ‘Continuing Support’ for IBM Informix – What It Means for You

Introduction:
In 2024, we shared an important update regarding the end of IBM Informix’s Continuing Support tier, effective April 30, 2025. Unfortunately, some of our customers have misinterpreted this change to mean that IBM will be ending support for IBM Informix entirely. We want to take this opportunity to clarify the situation and reassure our customers that support for IBM Informix as a product is not ending.

In this post, we’ll provide more context on what the end of Continuing Support really means and outline the support options available moving forward.

What is ‘Continuing Support’?
The Continuing Support tier provided limited, best-effort assistance for versions of IBM Informix products, including Informix Database Server (IDS), CSDK, JDBC, and 4GL, that had reached their End of Support (EOS) date. This support allowed customers to get help with non-defect issues, but it did not include full defect fixes or new features. This tier was offered to provide some level of support while customers planned their upgrade path.

When and why is ‘Continuing Support’ Ending?
As of April 30, 2025, IBM will officially retire the Continuing Support tier for all IBM Informix products, including IDS, CSDK, JDBC, and 4GL. We are making this change to provide a clearer, more sustainable support structure moving forward.

What Happens After April 30, 2025?
While Continuing Support will end, IBM Informix itself is not going anywhere. IBM will continue to provide support for product versions of IBM Informix that have reached their End of Support (EOS) date through the new IBM Extended Support program. The IBM Extended Support program, available for an additional fee, offers the following benefits:

• Defect Fixes & Security Patches: For the first year after a version’s EOS date, IBM will provide defect fixes, security updates, and critical defect fixes. After this year, support will continue but will focus on “how to” questions and usage issues.
• Upgrade Assistance: To help customers transition to a supported version, IBM offers several upgrade options and services.

IBM Extended Support is available for select IBM Informix programs where a customer has active IBM Software Subscription and Support (S&S) in place.

• IBM Informix Express Edition 12.10.x and later
• IBM Informix Workgroup Edition 12.10.x and later
• IBM Informix Enterprise Edition 12.10.x and later
• IBM Informix Advanced Enterprise Edition 12.10.x and later
• IBM Informix Advanced Developer Edition 12.10.x and later
• IBM Informix Storage Optimization Feature for Informix Enterprise Edition 12.10.x and later
• IBM Informix Client Software Development Kit 4.10.x and later
• IBM Informix JDBC Driver/Embedded SQL 4.10.x and later
• IBM Informix 4GL Rapid Development System 7.51.x and later
• IBM Informix 4GL Compiler 7.51.x and later
• IBM Informix 4GL Interactive Debugger 7.51.x and later
• IBM Informix SQL 7.51.x and later
• IBM Informix Standard Engine 7.25.x
• IBM Informix Standard Engine Developer 7.25.x
• IBM Informix Standard Engine Personal Edition 7.25.x
• Informix Standard Engine Runtime Edition 7.25.x
• IBM Informix C-ISAM 7.26.x
• IBM Informix ESQL/COBOL 7.25.x
• IBM Informix Workgroup Edition Modernization 14.10.x and later
• IBM Informix Enterprise Edition Modernization 14.10.x and later
• IBM Informix Advanced Enterprise Edition Modernization 14.10.x and later
• IBM Informix Workgroup Edition Cartridge 14.10.x and later
• IBM Informix Enterprise Edition Cartridge 14.10.x and later
• IBM Informix Advanced Enterprise Edition Cartridge 14.10.x and later
• IBM Informix ESQL 12.10.x and later
• IBM Informix on IBM Cloud Pak for Data 14.10.x and later

What Does This Mean for You?
If you’re using a version of IBM Informix that is nearing its EOS date, we always recommend planning your upgrade to a supported version. Newer versions offer better performance, security, and stability.

What Are Your Options for Continued Support?
Once Continuing Support ends, you have the following options:

1. Upgrade to a Supported Version: Upgrading to a version that is within its full support lifecycle ensures comprehensive defect and security support.
2. IBM Extended Support: If upgrading immediately isn’t possible, the IBM Extended Support program can provide continued assistance for up to four years after a version reaches its EOS date. However, please note that this is a paid service.

How Can IBM Help with the Transition?
We understand that upgrading can take time. IBM Expert Labs offers a range of resources and expert services to help you plan and execute a smooth transition, including expert consultations for planning your upgrade or migration. We encourage you to contact your IBM sales representative or business partner to discuss the best options for your specific needs and ensure a smooth transition to supported versions.

Conclusion:
We hope this post clarifies the changes regarding the end of Continuing Support for IBM Informix. While this tier is retiring, IBM is committed to providing continued support for IBM Informix through the new IBM Extended Support program and offers a variety of resources to help you stay up to date. Please reach out to us with any questions or if you need assistance planning your next steps.

 

 

 

 

 

Conference Corner

IBM TechXchange 2025 – Call for Speakers Closes April 11

IBM TechXchange 2025

October 6-9, 2025

Orlando, FL USA 

Your opportunity to share your Informix knowledge at TechXchange is ending soon. 

The Call for Speakers is closing April 11, 2025!

 

Share Your Expertise and Claim Your Complimentary Pass: 

As a speaker, you’ll have the opportunity to share your technical product journeys, use cases, and lessons learned with IBM’s most engaged technical audience. By speaking at TechXchange 2025, you’ll not only gain exposure and development opportunities, but also receive a complimentary conference pass (a $1,599 value).

Benefits of Speaking: 

• Collaboration Opportunities: Connect with experts and solve your most challenging technical problems together
• Exposure & Development: Showcase your expertise and build your professional brand as a technical expert
• Bring a Colleague: Additional complimentary passes are available for client speakers to bring a teammate

 

Session Types: 

We invite you to explore the following session types:

Session Type	Description	Duration
Technology Breakouts	In-depth, technical sessions on IBM products, architectures, client case studies, and best practices	60 minutes
Tech Talks	Quick, interactive discussions on use cases and special topics regarding IBM technologies	20 minutes

 

Key Dates:

Mark your calendars with the following key dates:

• April 11: Proposal submission deadline for IIUG
• June 3: Acceptance notifications sent to IIUG
• July 24: Session schedule released to IIUG

Don’t miss this opportunity to share your expertise and connect with the IBM community. Start your submission now and complete your proposal any time before the deadline.

If you need any help with topics or creating content, please reach out the the IIUG for help.

We look forward to joining you at IBM TechXchange 2025!

 

Rhonda Hackenburg
IIUG Board

 

Informix Corner

Informix Fix Pack 15.0.0.1 Now Available, Including Windows Support

Informix Fix Pack 15.0.0.1 has been officially released and is now available on the Windows platform. This update includes all enhancements and minor defect fixes from version 15.0.0.0. You can find the list of APARs for this release here.

A key change in this release is that, starting with 15.0.0.1, the .NET Framework will no longer be bundled with the Client SDK package, allowing for greater flexibility in deployment.

 

 

Informix Adopts IBM’s Simplified Versioning Standard

Informix users upgrading may notice a significant change in the product’s version numbering. Informix has moved away from its previous versioning scheme, which followed the aa.bb.xCn[W|X]n notation:

• aa.bb – Major and minor release number
• x – Platform identifier (U: 32-bit, F: 64-bit, J: Java, T: Windows)
• Cn – General Availability (GA) Fix Pack number
• Wn – Interim cumulative defect fix release
• Xn – Patch build

Examples:

• 12.10.FC9 – Informix 12.10, 64-bit UNIX, Fix pack 9
• 14.10.FC11W1 – Informix 14.10, 64-bit UNIX, Fix Pack 11 cumulative release 1

With this transition, Informix has adopted a simpler versioning approach aligned with IBM’s V.R.M.F (Version, Release, Modification, Fix Pack) standard. Under this new format:

• The initial release is labeled 15.0.0.0
• The first fix pack is 15.0.0.1*

* For version 15, we will continue to have Cumulative Special Builds, which will extend the number of the fix pack build.

For more details on IBM’s versioning standards, visit: IBM Software Product Versioning Explained.

Anup Nair
IBM

 

 

 

Informix Tech Talks on YouTube

Upcoming Informix Tech Talks

April currently has no scheduled Tech Talks.

 

Rhonda Hackenburg
IIUG Board

 

Last Informix Tech Talks Replay

Replay of the Last Informix Tech Talks:  User-Friendly External Smartblobs – Mary Schulte of Actian – a division of HCL Software- February 2025

 

Informix Tech Talks YouTube Channel

Our YouTube Channel now has:

• 550 subscribers (4 new subscribers)

• 112 videos (No new video)

• 22,366 views (492additional views)

 

Informix Tech Talks YouTube Channel Videos

Past Informix Tech Talks Replays

 

In Search of Tech Talks Speakers

We are looking for additional speakers and especially any new speakers to share your Informix knowledge with our user Community via the IIUG Tech Talks. We will assist you in preparing for your Tech Talks presentation by prerecording your session. This will allow you to be available to answer any questions that come up in the chat during you presentation.

If you are interested in producing a 15 – 45-minute presentation, please contact either Art Kagel or Bruce Simms for additional information.

 

Rhonda Hackenburg
IIUG Board

 

Informix Training

Free Informix Tutorials Videos – a step by step approach to using Informix Database Servers are available at https://advancedatatools.com/tech-info/informix-tutorials/

 

RFE Corner

IBM has an RFE – Request For Enhancements website.
Please visit the RFE site to vote for your favorite enhancements and place new requests. It is friendly and has a nice look and feel.

Recent

HDR shall handle blobs which are located in a blob space

Increasing LO_hdr_partn size limit in every chunk in sbspace Metadata partition

Automated Update Statistics and FORCE

Adjusting Edition Limits

session setting to make an index invisible just for the current session

Client SDK Release For Linux Repositories

Provide “time to complete” estimations for specific operations

onaudit for informix user – exclude system databases from the audit trail

 

Popular (Over 50 votes)
Informix should be able to change owner on tables and any other objects
If user=informix creates all database and all tables, then programmer creates table but user=informix cannot change it. Only drop it.

Votes: 107 (+0)
Created: December 24, 2018
Status: Future consideration

 

Backup Individual database, not entire instance
Need a mechanism, similar to ontape, to backup a live database (as opposed to entire instance), without locking it.

Votes: 93 (+0)
Created: December 24, 2018
Status: Future consideration

 

IBM Informix Forum Corner

Join and visit the IBM Informix community forum

Recent Posts:

HDR shall handle blobs which are located in a blob space

Increasing LO_hdr_partn size limit in every chunk in sbspace Metadata partition

Automated Update Statistics and FORCE

Adjusting Edition Limits

session setting to make an index invisible just for the current session

Client SDK Release For Linux Repositories

Provide “time to complete” estimations for specific operations

onaudit for informix user – exclude system databases from the audit trail

 

Gary Ben-Israel
IIUG Board

 

Informix Resources

IIUG Website
Not an IIUG member, become an IIUG member and keep updated on all things Informix. It’s free.

 

IBM Informix Community
Not an IBM Community member, join the IBM Informix community and connect with other Informix data experts.

Blogs

Art Kagel –Informix My-View 

Mary Schulte – ACTIAN – User FriendlyExternal Smartblobs Uins a Shadow Directory

IBM Informix RFE

IBM Informix RFE – Informix Requests for Enhancements.

 

Technical Articles

Oninit Group: https://www.oninitgroup.com/technical-articles/
WAIUG (Washington Area Informix User Group) Tech Tips
Over 10 Years of Informix Webcast Replays
Over 30 Years of Informix Blog Posts

 

Social Media

YouTube

LinkedIn

X (Twitter)

Facebook

IIUG’s own Art Kagel was recently features on the Tech Sharmit Podcast to talk about his life and involvement with Informix and database systems.
Catch the podcast here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l81pLa7i-J0)

Forums, Groups, Videos, and Magazines

Informix Marketing channel on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/informixmarketing?feature=results_main

 

 

Closing and Credits

The International Informix Users Group (IIUG) is an organization designed to enhance communications between its worldwide user community and IBM. The IIUG’s membership database exceeds 25,000 entries and enjoys the support and commitment of IBM’s Information Management division. Key programs include local user groups and special interest groups, which we promote and assist from launch through growth.

Sources: IIUG Board of Directors

IBM Corp.

Editors: Gary Ben-Israel, Rhonda Hackenburg

For comments, please send an email to gary@iiug.org or rhonda@iiug.org