(Why the "AS/400" system has more future than many believe)
A system that quietly achieves great things
In many companies, business-critical processes have been running for decades on a platform that hardly anyone outside of IT knows - and yet it forms the backbone of countless organizations: IBM i, formerly known as AS/400.
Whether banks, insurance companies, industry or retail - wherever data needs to be processed with absolute reliability, it is highly likely that a system from this family is running.
Nevertheless, IBM i is often labeled as "old-fashioned". A relic from the 1980s, according to many. But if you take a closer look, you will see that the platform is not only ultra-modern, but also economically and strategically relevant - especially at a time when stability, security and sustainability are important again.
From the AS/400 to IBM i - a short journey through time
The birth of 1988: One system for all cases
In 1988, IBM launched a system on the market that became a game changer for companies: the AS/400 ("Application System/400").
Their idea was revolutionary: an integrated system that seamlessly combines database, operating system and applications.
While other servers relied on complicated installations, database licenses and operating system configurations, the AS/400 offered an "all-in-one" concept.
This made it easy to administer, extremely stable and designed for longevity right from the start.
iSeries, System i and IBM i - change of name, same DNA
IBM changed the name several times over the years:
- End of the 1990s: iSeries
- Mid-2000s: System i
- Since 2008: IBM i - the operating system that runs on IBM Power Systems today
Under the hood, the principle remained the same: integration, stability and security.
However, hardware, virtualization technology and the integration of modern interfaces - from web services and APIs to cloud architectures - continued to evolve.
From the AS/400 to IBM i - a short journey through time
Many companies underestimate the technological progress that has taken place on IBM i in recent years. While other systems have had to be laboriously modernized or completely replaced, IBM i has continued to evolve - without giving up its proven architecture.
The integrated architecture: database, security and applications in a single package
At the heart of IBM i is DB2 for i, a relational database that is firmly integrated into the operating system. This means: no external database installation, no compatibility problems, no unpredictable dependencies.
The security concept is also deeply embedded in the system - with role-based access, audit functions and a unique object architecture that virtually rules out manipulation from outside.
Stability as a strategic advantage
Today, many systems are patched, migrated or restarted several times a year. IBM i, on the other hand, runs for months without interruption. This stability is a clear economic advantage: less downtime, lower maintenance costs and a high degree of predictability in IT operations.
It is not for nothing that IBM i is regarded as the "workhorse of the economy" - robust, reliable, unspectacular, but irreplaceable.
IBM i today: modernization instead of replacement
The modernization paradox
- REST APIs for integration with cloud or web applications
- Open source languages such as Python, PHP or Node.js on the platform
- Web interfaces for former green terminals
- and native support for containerization and hybrid cloud scenarios
These possibilities make IBM i a bridge between tradition and innovation - ideal for companies that want to retain their existing business processes but at the same time become more digital and agile.
Cost factor vs. investment protection
IBM i systems are considered to be long-lived - with life cycles of ten, fifteen or even twenty years. This means that companies that invested in AS/400 early on are still benefiting from the same platform today. The total cost of ownership (TCO) is therefore significantly lower than with many modern cloud solutions, whose running costs are often underestimated.
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Typical areas of application - where IBM i still shines today
Believe it or not, the operational heart of many industries still runs on IBM i.
Finance
Banks and insurance companies have been using IBM i for decades - for core banking processes, bookings and risk analyses. Here, stability counts more than fashion trends.
Production and logistics
In industry, IBM i controls warehouse processes, ERP systems, production planning and invoicing. Thanks to its high transaction speed, it is ideal for real-time processes.
Public administration & trade
Authorities and retail chains also trust IBM i - primarily because of its data security and availability. In short: IBM i is successful where flawlessness is more important than surface gloss.
IBM i and the topic of output management
One aspect that is often overlooked in modern IT strategies is document output - so-called spooling. In IBM i environments in particular, thousands of reports, labels, delivery bills and invoices are generated every day.
Spooling: the underestimated bottleneck
Traditionally, these documents end up in spool files on the system.But without centralized control, bottlenecks quickly arise: print queues, incorrect formats, lost documents or compliance problems.
Modern solutions create efficiency
This is where specialized tools such as SpoolMaster come into play.They make it possible:
- Automated spool processing and forwarding,
- Conversion to PDF, e-mail or archive formats,
- rule-based distribution to users, systems or cloud services,
- and centralized control across all printing processes.
This turns a supposedly "old" system into a modern, transparent output infrastructure - without sacrificing the proven IBM i stability.
Future prospects - IBM i in the age of the cloud
IBM itself continues to invest heavily in the further development of the platform. New generations of IBM Power Systems bring more performance, energy efficiency and cloud integration.
Today, companies can use IBM i
- on-premises,
- hybrid or
- operate completely in the cloud
With the IBM Power Virtual Server service, you can even virtualize your own IBM i environment in data centers around the globe - including the usual stability and security. This makes IBM i a building block of modern IT strategies, not a contradiction in terms.
Why decision-makers should get involved with IBM i
Even if IBM i rarely makes the headlines, decision-makers should take a close look.Because the platform stands for values that are in demand again today:
- Reliability
- Security
- Sustainability through
- Longevity
- Cost efficiency
Especially in times of a shortage of skilled workers and increasing complexity, a system that "just works" is worth its weight in gold.
Those who think IBM i modern - i.e. remain open to API integration, web interfaces and new output management solutions - will have a stable foundation for the coming decades.
IBM i - Tradition meets the future
The history of the IBM i is an example of how real innovation does not always have to be loud. It shows that technological evolution can also take place quietly and steadily - and that "tried and tested" is sometimes the most modern principle.
Companies that use IBM i have no reason to hide - on the contrary: they have one of the most robust and future-proof IT systems in the world.
And anyone who supplements their processes - for example in spooling or document workflow - with modern tools such as SpoolMaster turns proven stability into a new form of efficiency.
About Spoolmaster
SpoolMaster is a modern output management solution for IBM i that helps companies to efficiently control, automate and digitize their print and spool processes. Further information can be found at www.spoolmaster.io.