AS400/ iSeries – Here’s Everything You Need to Know
If you are a techie, you must have heard this name, i.e., AS400 / iSeries earlier. The AS400 is a mid-range server developed by IBM. The server was launched into the market in 1988, and it was expected to be used by large firms having big database records. According to IBM – “The AS400 systems incorporates a trusted combination of interactive database, security, networking, web services, and storage management abilities. Furthermore, it also provides a comprehensive and highly stable database and middleware foundation.
Commonly AS400 services are used for data warehousing, web and e-commerce serving, and Java application development.
Also, if you are already familiar with AS400 experience but confused with multiple terms associated with it- you should look at this.
The AS400 applications are known by various names- System i, iSeries, and IBMi. IBM uses all these names as a brand initiative over the years. It was renamed as iSeries in 2000 and was renamed to System i in 2006, as a part of a brand initiative. However, they all refer to the same AS400 and can be used interchangeably.
IBM shared the news of its integration with the System p platform in the year 2008. And the unified product line is called IBM power systems and features support for the IBMi.
The operating system has undergone several name changes by the IBM server line. It was first called OS400 and later became i5/OS after introducing eServer i5 that features POWER5 processors. And finally, it became IBMi.
Now the thing comes to – how does it operate?
To bring the AS400 system up to today’s standards, it must be used with custom applications. Any feature and functional enhancement on AS400 help must come from a packaged app. Moreover, AS400 applications must be programmed into the server before they are usable, i.e., it’s not plug-and-play.
The AS400 experience can be written in several programming languages, like – JAVA, COBOL, and RPG.
Characteristics of AS400 Systems:
1. It Uses an Object-Based Kernel
AS400 systems have been created using an object-based kernel. It means you will find some unique features such as single-level storage in the AS400 systems that you will not find in any other OS. Such features are necessary and increase stability and security for businesses.
2. AS400 Services has Broad Integrated Component Offerings
Several underlying operating system tasks come with the IBM AS400. They are –
- Web application servers
- Web services servers (fully integrated file system)
- DB2 for i RDBMS (relational database management system),
- And other tools also
Moreover, the incorporated modules can execute over 300 tasks, from backup and improvement to operations and security.
3. AS400 Application Offers More Efficient Apportioning
Server application like – VMware, Hyper-V, and Xen have their limitations. It means their virtualization methods are software-based instead of firmware-based. It means that your assigned features will not be incorporated as closely with your allocated setup and will lead to performance degradation. To get the most out of it, you need a firmware virtualization solution like AS400 systems.
4. Provides Efficient Administrator interfaces
Generally, you need a comprehensive tool from different vendors to get the most out of your systems administrator if you are working on a Windows or Linux environment. But with AS400 systems, you will get reliable technologies to perform routine tasks without any hassle and can get a simplified interface for the rest of your organizational needs.
5. It Lets You Have Fewer Physical Servers
Like PowerVM, virtualization technologies make you realize that you do not need as much hardware covering up the data center. This, in turn, reduces the complication of management as well as your momentum costs. You can balance your capabilities across all your system assets, like – processor, memory, and I/O. You cannot do that regularly on an x86 server. In turn, you will experience a substantial boost in your general capacity.
AS400 SYSTEMS SECURITY:
The AS400 systems are assumed to be the most secure setup. IBMi platform is adaptable enough to meet the needs of a range of users. The AS400 systems
AS400 application security has three important objectives:
Confidentiality:
- Protect revealing information to unauthorized people
- Restrict access to confidential information
- Protect users from curious outsiders
Integrity:
- Protect from unauthorized alteration to data
- Restrict manipulation of data
- Provide a guarantee that information is trustworthy
Availability:
- Prevent data destruction and accidental changes
- Protection from outsiders trying to destroy system resources
Frequently Asked Questions About AS400 Services
1. What does the share access path mean?
Ans: It means to share the accessible data path by numerous programs in the same job.
2. Differentiate between multiple occurrence data structure and an array?
Ans: The value stored does not vary in the array, while we can store different values in multiple occurrence data structures at various stages.
3. Why *INZSR is used?
Ans: *INZSR is a particular type of RPG/400 subprogram implemented inevitably at the program’s initial stage. It is the right place where code modifies the variables.
4. How to execute a command from within an RPG program without calling a CLP program?
Ans: You can execute a CL command within an RPG program by calling the QCMDEXC application program interface.
5. What does “N” denote in the calculation specification written below?
Ans: C KEY CHAIN FILE N 99
It’s a way of avoiding the record block, and if you specify “N” in the 53rd position and try to read the lock record, the record will not be locked.
If your business already runs on the AS400 applications, then you must be aware of the shortage of skilled developers who can manage this software. And the reason for this shortage is that AS400 systems services can be learned on-site, one cannot understand it outside the system. Also, the system is expensive, and the only resources who can learn AS400 systems are the people who have worked at a company using this technology.
So, maintenance and enhancement are the two significant challenges for the people currently running on AS400. Due to the limited availability of expertise in the field, companies look to outsource the services to third-party vendors, mainly to keep the focus on their in-house projects.
In case you have any specific questions regarding AS400 systems or looking for a company for your support in AS400 management and setup, you have landed at the right place.
We at Integrative Systems have more than 20 years of experience in AS400 services.
Either you need to hire a team of developers for your project or work on-site for your project, we fulfil all our clients’ requirements.
We are a silver business partner of IBM and one of the INC 5000 company in the USA. At Integrative systems, customer success comes before company success.
Feel free to contact us at contact@integrative-systems.com, and we would be happy to help you!
