AS/400 (Application System/400) – June 21st 1988

Initially we had mainframe but it was very expensive, therefore, IBM introduced Midrange server which
offers more availability, performances, security than commodity server (Standard server). Mostly, it’s
been used in financial related companies.

It is less huge than Mainframe servers (originated in 1950’s and used z/OS, linux)

Midrange server was originated in 1969 by IBM. First midrange server was System/3. Again in 1988,
several midrange servers were originated as AS/400 and used OS/400.

In 2000, it was called as I series. In 2006 changed to System i

From 2008, it is called as Power System, so all these were constraints on HARDWARE (computing
power, disk, data center management, power supply, how much heat it is going to generate, how much
A.C. you need to buy).

Initially, it’s Operating System was called as AS/400. Then, i5OS. And now, it is called as IBM i.

IBM i servers are also used by business which has requirement more than commodity server and less
than mainframe. But, then these business don’t use cloud as it is more expensive and due to security
issues.

System Structure (Major concern: The system needs to be independent)

There are five layers:

Application
OS 400
Technology Independent Machine Interface
License Internal Code
Hardware
Application  give instructions OS 400  give instructions Hardware

License Integrated Code is an interface between Operation System and Hardware. OS does not
communicates with the Hardware.

Database Server is not separate and is baked inside the OS 400.

Application is segregated from the operating system. And can be easily removed when in want.

OS 400 comes with default Database, Security tools, Communication related stuff, application runs
independently.
When The OS 400 is upgraded, everything will be upgraded, and application is able to connect with the
OS.

Storage: Other databases like SQL, Oracle uses address as the location of data. Whereas, in AS 400, it
uses objects. Everything is object here, therefore, it is called as object oriented. There are approximately
80 objects.

Certain things like messages are not stored as object.

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Why it is still used?

AS 400 is 22 yrs old Legacy.

Along with OS400, IBM has also introduced AIX. The usage of AIX is 30% reduced. AS400 is more reliable
with no performance issues. IBM has created AS400 Cloud as getting AS400 Cloud is very costly.

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Software and Hardware

OS:

Model was used between V3 to V6. Then a new version came, TR- Technology Refresh (Patch).

V7R2 is capable of doing Hosting. It can host another OS also.

V7R4 after, AS 400 Cloud came.

Hardware: Type and Model

9406 is Type and 840 is Model. Rack and Tower Model.

Power System model was turning point. Power 9 is latest model which we are using.

PERFORMANCE, STABILITY, RELIABILITY, LOW DOWNTIME

It was later migrated to RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) from CISC.

An important feature LPAR (Logical Partitioning) which allows to run multiple operating system
simultaneously on separate partitions.

SLIC (System Licensed Internal Code) is a program that act as an interface between an operating system
and hardware.