What Is As 400 Software
What Is AS/400 Software, and Why Does This IBM Legend Still Power Global Enterprises?
If you work in finance, logistics, manufacturing, or government, chances are your critical business data is managed by a system whose origins date back to the late 1980s. That system is the IBM AS/400—a name that, despite its age, still represents one of the most reliable and powerful midrange computing platforms ever created.
The question, "What is AS/400 software?" is more complex than it first appears. It's not just about an old piece of code; it's about a fully integrated architecture, a philosophy of reliability, and a continuously evolving platform that IBM still heavily supports today. Let's dive deep into this legendary machine, understand its history, and see why it's the quiet backbone of modern industry.
The Legacy: Understanding What Is AS/400 Software
The AS/400 (Application System/400) was introduced by IBM in 1988 as a replacement for the System/36 and System/38 platforms. It was designed to be an all-in-one business computer suitable for small, medium, and large enterprises. Unlike today's fragmented ecosystems (where you buy a server, an OS, a database, and middleware separately), the AS/400 offered an integrated solution.
When people refer to "AS/400 software," they are usually talking about the core operating system, the applications built on it, and the integrated database management system. This platform was famous for its stability; the joke in the industry was that you needed a calendar, not a stopwatch, to measure its uptime.
From AS/400 to IBM i: A Naming Timeline
One of the reasons the name "AS/400" persists is tradition, even though the hardware and software have been massively upgraded over the last three decades. To understand the software today, you must know its evolution:
- **1988:** AS/400 (Operating System: OS/400)
- **2000:** eServer iSeries (OS: OS/400 and later i5/OS)
- **2006:** System i (OS: i5/OS)
- **2008–Present:** IBM Power Systems running the **IBM i** operating system.
So, while your system might be running the highly advanced IBM i 7.5 on modern Power hardware, the legacy applications and the fundamental architecture are direct descendants of the original AS/400 software. Wikipedia offers a fantastic historical overview of the platform's lineage.
The Architecture That Built Empires: Key Features of IBM i
What sets the AS/400 software architecture apart from Windows or Linux servers is its deep integration and hardware independence. This structure is the key to its legendary reliability.
Object-Based Architecture
Everything on an IBM i system is treated as an object—a file, a program, a user profile, or a library. This object orientation, managed by the underlying hardware and the operating system, provides an extremely high level of integrity and security. Programs don't access raw memory or hardware addresses directly; they interact with objects via the OS, which prevents many common security vulnerabilities found in other systems.
Integrated Database (DB2)
The AS/400 (and modern IBM i) comes with a built-in relational database, DB2 for i, which is integrated directly into the operating system kernel. You do not need to install, license, or patch a separate database like Oracle or SQL Server. This integration simplifies administration, boosts performance, and significantly reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO).
This integration also means that data recovery and backup processes are much simpler and faster than in multi-tier environments, which is crucial for mission-critical applications.
[Baca Juga: Strategi Modernisasi Legacy IBM i Systems]
Why Companies Still Rely on IBM i Power Systems
The persistence of the AS/400 legacy, now embodied in IBM i, isn't about nostalgia. It's a purely business decision based on performance, security, and stability.
Unmatched Reliability and Security
The architecture is designed for nearly continuous operation, often reaching 99.999% uptime—a metric known as "five nines." Businesses running supply chains, banks processing transactions, or hospitals managing patient data cannot afford downtime. The AS/400/IBM i platform excels here. Furthermore, its object-level security architecture has historically made it exceptionally resistant to external malware and viruses compared to systems based on commodity operating systems.
Scalability and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
The platform is highly scalable, handling massive workloads from thousands of concurrent users. More importantly, the TCO is often lower over the long run. While the initial hardware purchase might be high, the reduced need for dedicated database administrators, fewer security incidents, and less system maintenance means operational costs are significantly lower.
A study on IT infrastructure reliability published in a reputable engineering journal often highlights the long-term cost benefits of highly integrated, proprietary systems like IBM i when evaluating uptime.
Programming Languages and Development on the Platform
While the classic AS/400 was dominated by native languages, modern IBM i is a fully open platform. Developers have a wide variety of tools at their disposal:
- **RPG (Report Program Generator):** The primary native language, which has evolved massively from its fixed-format origins (RPG/400) into free-form, modern RPGLE, capable of interacting with web services and modern APIs.
- **COBOL & CL (Control Language):** Still used for legacy application maintenance and system automation tasks.
- **Open Source & Modern Stacks:** Today, IBM i fully supports PHP, Python, Java, Node.js, and frameworks like Angular and React, allowing modern front-ends to interface seamlessly with the robust DB2 backend.
This hybrid approach ensures that decades-old business logic remains stable, while companies can rapidly build modern interfaces and integrate with cloud services.
[Baca Juga: Essential RPG Code Best Practices for New Developers]
AS/400 Software: Evolution Comparison
To truly grasp the modernization effort, it helps to see how the platform components have changed from the original "AS/400 software" definition to today's IBM i.
| Feature | Legacy AS/400 (1988) | Modern IBM i (Today) |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware Base | CISC Processors, Custom Buses | IBM Power Microprocessors (Modern RISC) |
| Operating System | OS/400 | IBM i (Runs natively on PowerVM) |
| Database | Integrated DB2/400 | DB2 for i (Supports complex SQL & JSON) |
| Connectivity | Twinax Terminals, SNA | TCP/IP, HTTP/S, REST APIs, Cloud Integration |
| Open Source Support | Minimal to none | Full support for Python, Node.js, Java, Git |
Conclusion: The Enduring Strength of IBM i
Understanding "What Is AS/400 Software" requires looking past the 1980s moniker and recognizing the sophisticated, robust enterprise platform it has become. The IBM i operating system, running on Power Systems hardware, remains a highly secure, reliable, and scalable environment.
For businesses that prioritize stability and data integrity—especially in regulated industries—the continuous evolution of the AS/400 architecture proves that modernizing does not always mean ripping and replacing. Sometimes, the best solution is built on a foundation of reliability decades in the making. If you want to learn more about the current official stance and capabilities, check out IBM's official documentation on IBM i.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About AS/400 Software and IBM i
Is the AS/400 system still used today?
Yes, absolutely. While the physical AS/400 hardware is retired, the operating system lineage continues as IBM i, running on modern IBM Power Systems. Thousands of major corporations worldwide rely on this platform for their mission-critical ERP, manufacturing, and financial applications due to its security and stability.
What programming language is primarily used on AS/400/IBM i?
The primary native language is RPG (Report Program Generator). However, modern development heavily utilizes free-form RPGLE, along with open-source languages like Python, Node.js, PHP, and Java, all running natively within the IBM i environment.
Is IBM i considered a legacy system?
It depends on the context. The architecture has deep "legacy" roots, but the system itself is continuously updated by IBM with modern features, virtualization, cloud capabilities, and support for the latest open-source tools. It is best described as a robust, long-standing platform that is actively modernizing.
Is AS/400 a server, an operating system, or a database?
It's all three, integrated into one. The original AS/400 was the hardware (server), and OS/400 was the operating system, which included the integrated DB2 database. This integration is the defining feature of the entire platform.
What Is As 400 Software
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