I attended a technical college in Canada in 1998 and OS/400, RPG 400 and COBOL 400 were part of the curriculum. Boy this brings back memories. It took your machine only 12 minutes to boot, our teacher told us it takes about 30 minutes for the school AS/400. I believe it also had a heavy duty power plug, like a drying machine. It was a pretty big beast.
I cut my I.T. teeth on AS/400 (iSeries) and I'm jealous that you have one at home! :) Not that I have a ton of use for one, but it would be super nostalgic to have one. Enjoy learning (I know this is nearly a year old now).
That extra long expansion slot looks like it would have been for the video card. I had a VL Bus video slot on one of my PCs that looked like an ISA butted up against a PCI expansion slot all in the same expansion card slot. On the back of those expansion cards it looks like custom SCSI connector on the 1st card, either wide serial port or parallel printer ports (one white, the other black), 5 9 pin serial ports (4 female receptacles), two NICs, but plenty of other expansion slots to add more functionality. It appears the motherboard or the side panel could have been swapped out at some point. I've trained on these things for Terminix and Prime Pharmaceutical. I hear there are still loads of people forced into using the old terminal UI for these things. Because they've dropped so much money into them over the decades when this was cutting edge tech.
The servers don't tend to have video outputs - it's all configured and then accessed through serial (hence lots of serial ports) or over the network, it's definitely not VLB, but probably a 64bit PCI slot. Not sure why the side panel would have been swapped but I guess that makes sense :) Thanks for watching!
@@StevesTechShedIf If isn't for a video card could it be for a SBC like the other one with the PowerPC processor and battery backup? With the posts in the comment section stating that IBM made things differently I wouldn't be too surprised that their expansion slots are kinda weird too. I'm about 25 minutes into the video. Too tired to watch it all. Will come back to it sometime later.
Your video reminds me of my first steps on an AS/400. The system is very interesting, but completely different to any other computer. BTW there is no chance to use a standard SCSI drive. It must be IBM branded and made for AS/400 or System i, because the sector size is 522 byte (not 512) to store the AS/400 specific pointer information. Even the RAM is 36 bit wide (plus extra 4 bit ECC = 40 bits total) to handle the pointers. That's why the system is considered as not hacked until now.
@@jonathanbuzzard1376 I know about this possibility, e.g. with the sg3_utils package. This works very well for NAS systems, but unfortunately not for the AS/400. In addition to the unusual sector size, the AS/400 also requires special SCSI functions (VPDs) that are not documented by IBM. That's why no SCSI HDD emulator, such as SCSI2SD or BlueSCSI (v2), works on this system so far.
@@Desmaad That's quite true. Sometimes IBM complicates things unnecessarily, for example with the PS/2 PCs. In this case, however, the extra bytes serve a specific and useful purpose. They give the AS/400 or IBM i system an inherent security layer that no other system has to date. The idea is that a (malicious) user program cannot create/modify pointers to cause damage. Only the operating system (a very deep layer of it) can create valid pointers and make them available to the user program after checking its permissions. This mechanism is consistently ensured by hardware from CPU to RAM to hard drive. As already mentioned, this architecture is fundamentally different from all other computer architectures and it has some advantages (security, exceptional hardware abstraction, portability of installations to new hardware, etc.). But the designated range of uses is somewhat limited to databases and business applications. It's a workhorse.
The AS400 is still in use by many companies around the world. IBM still maintains them. Costco uses it in their vast network of warehouses. I had a chance to administer as AS400 about 15 years ago. Good times. Because of the security the 400 would make a wonderful web server. JustSaying
I was an AS/400 sysadmin for some years. I've forgotten most of it, but was interested in how you got on. I think without the know how here - you have done very well to get it up and running. I have the red books on CD if you want - reach out to me. The 400 uses a database based file system, so in all my years - it was always sensitive to IO, disk arms and speed. I have forgotten the full details, but at one point I ran I think a 620, and it had 2 large disk arrays loaded with a lot of 4GB SCSI drives. From what I remember, the small PC sized AS/400 models were never really performant, and were more like edge office, or training systems, or very small workloads. At one point I absolutely wanted one - but looking back now, its so clunky - but still fun in its own way. There isn't really from what I know - a workable AS/400 emulator that people can spin up - which is a shame.
@@StevesTechShed I think its more to do with the bespoke hardware and 'unknowns'. There are a fair number of emulators for their mainframe stuff. I don't think the I Series is sold into any large market now. If it is sold its a niche market. Its very clunky now, and the age of green screens is over. Even when I was last working - things like the seagull WEB UI was still a very clunky way of working. I suspect the only places its still used is in banking and similar where legacy code is important - and some cobol or similar stuff is still doing transaction or similar workload. Out of interest, I just looked around to see if there were any ops jobs. Found one which is terrible - 3 days ago Full-time • AS400 IBM i iSeries Operator • SHIFT WORK - Within every 28 day period, you will work a total of 7 day shifts and 7 night shifts, with 14 days rest. • £24,000 - £28,000 + £3,000 Shift allowance • Onsite in Telford • Driving licence is essential IBM i Operator - Responsibility for the IBM i (iSeries AS400) Infrastructure, resolving faults, incidents and problems and performing approved changes across the customer base. Experience: Previous experience in a technical role primarily focussed on IBM i Previous experience in a managed services or service provider environment Demonstrable technical capability on IBM i Demonstrable experience of working in a complex enterprise-level IBM i Skills and Abilities: Required - IBM i OS, BRMS, Work Management, Performance Management Highly Advantageous - Good working knowledge of MIMIX and iTERA Desirable - Perform operating system upgrades and installation of patches and fixes (PTFs) Preferred - CL, SQL and Automation products (AOS preferred... Anyhoos
waterstones and hmv still use 400 for their catalogue, database system (possibly emulated somehow?). they’ve developed a mouse-based gui system for it but those who learned on the original keyboard-only interface are still super super fast at navigating it!
I'm very familiar with this. Been working on AS/400 and it's successors for decades. You found the unix like file system. But there is also the legacy QSYS name space. It is where the database is and likely any applications that might have been left on the machine. Do you still have it?
Yes I still have it but I've not done anything with it since doing this video! Maybe I'll boot it back up and have another look for software. I do have two backup tapes that came with it - these probably have some software on them?
Hi John! Could you help me a little bit? I recently bought an AS/400 which is in this picture: cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-017c0/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/7635/26915/2290-9406_3__89597.1628801739.jpg?c=2 I only got the computer, no keyboard, no monitor, no cables, nothing else. So, basically I'd need a list of items (the type of monitor, the type of keyboard, the cables...) that I need in order to turn this machine on :) Thank you very much in advance!
Actual AS/400s or iSeries? Given how long ago the rebranding took place I would be very surprised (and I guess a little concerned and impressed) if it was really an AS/400. At my shop we use the term AS/400 sometimes to refer to the iSeries, I guess out of habit from some of the more senior programmers and operators, but they are generally less than 3 year old POWER 9s.
Hi Dan! Could you help me a little bit? I recently bought an AS/400 which is in this picture: cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-017c0/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/7635/26915/2290-9406_3__89597.1628801739.jpg?c=2 I only got the computer, no keyboard, no monitor, no cables, nothing else. So, basically I'd need a list of items (the type of monitor, the type of keyboard, the cables...) that I need in order to turn this machine on :) Thank you very much in advance!
@@mrgadget1485 The AS/400 line is so broad that it's difficult to tell much just from a photo. There should be a model number on it, like 9406-015 or 8286-41A or something similar, look for a label on the back. With the model number you can look up to see exactly what you have and go from there. Although without any cables I'm not sure how far you can go towards getting it up and running. The minimum you would probably need is a PC with an ethernet port, but if you don't know how the AS/400 is configured, what IP address it's set to use, what IP functions are enabled, etc., you may not be able to connect to it. The most basic way to would be using a Twinax, "green screen" terminal, but you'd also have to have the twinax cable to go that route. Either way you'd have to know the log-in credentials, or hope that the original owner left the default logins for system operator or system administrator.
@@dansmith5524 , hi Dan, and thank you for taking time to answer. The model is: 9406-I AS/400e server 170. I don't care if I need to buy cables, keyboards and such, I just don't want to buy incompatible items. Please tell if the model rings a bell... I start to watch eBay for hardware :) Thank you!
@@jirehla-ab1671 Assuming this was released in exactly 2000, then in terms of raw MIPS probably not. Really depends if those 2 cores 4 threads are higher end or laptop grade though, and it depends on the model of AS/400. They would be comparable, but the AS/400 would definitely get a boost in real world performance from its lighter weight more performance focused software, as opposed to Windows Vista or whatever abomination is on that 2010 computer. There have definitely been AS/400 and even more so mainframes that have continued to perform acceptably with lifetimes of 10 or so years. Of course, mainframe and as/400 software and operating systems havent generally tended towards fancy graphics and bloat like consumer computers, so in terms of responsiveness I would argue its very likely the AS/400 would win. If we cheat and say it was a top of the line AS/400 versus the lowest end dual cores of 2010, then the AS/400 may very well come out on top even numerically. Keep in mind that isn't saying all that much though, a lower end AS/400 would cost 10-20x a consumer PC easily. It ought to be competitive for quite a while for how big a premium your paying for ahead of its time tech.
Somebody gave a similar server like this to me like almost 20 years ago and i could not get it to work. it had a vga card installed so i could connect a regular monitor, came with tape drive and 4 very heavy scsi discs each holding 4 gb i think. i got an error message similar to system not found when booting up and i guess they wiped the system completely before selling it.
I've never seen an AS/400 with a VGA card! Many of the old IBM servers looked similar but some were 'normal' PC servers - I wonder if that's what you had? Everything is very heavy on this old IBM kit :)
@@StevesTechShed it looked similar to yours very heavy and had a risc processor i don't remember much i think it was made in 1994 or 1995. it came from a financial institution. i only remember that it showed me a green error screen with varios errors and back then i could find much information online and also didnt know anyone to ask so i sold it on ebay.
Hi I got one power 6 8203 I’m trying to set up the LAN console but when I try to do 25+26 in the panel control for get 65 and then 21 I don’t get the 65 just 64! Do you know why 64 and not 65? I need 65 Thanks to all
Spending free time to “play” with an as400 is such an oxymoron. That machine is the manifestation of frustration and rage. Someone has to develop a system that is more modern and more reliable than AS400 ASAP!!! So finally AS400 can go extinct.
I attended a technical college in Canada in 1998 and OS/400, RPG 400 and COBOL 400 were part of the curriculum. Boy this brings back memories. It took your machine only 12 minutes to boot, our teacher told us it takes about 30 minutes for the school AS/400. I believe it also had a heavy duty power plug, like a drying machine. It was a pretty big beast.
Yeah the bigger ones would probably use a 16 amp plug which went off to a commando socket
I'm still working on as/400. Lots of French banks still use it. I can coding RPG and Cobol as well as DB2 SQL. I have one as/400 at home
Have one at home to , a 9406-800. I'm thinking about reinstalling os/400 but i forgot the procedure. I have the dvd's and licenses.
DHL is using it still today.
We still have one at work. They're crazy fast but very limited resources to code against it.
I cut my I.T. teeth on AS/400 (iSeries) and I'm jealous that you have one at home! :) Not that I have a ton of use for one, but it would be super nostalgic to have one. Enjoy learning (I know this is nearly a year old now).
That extra long expansion slot looks like it would have been for the video card. I had a VL Bus video slot on one of my PCs that looked like an ISA butted up against a PCI expansion slot all in the same expansion card slot. On the back of those expansion cards it looks like custom SCSI connector on the 1st card, either wide serial port or parallel printer ports (one white, the other black), 5 9 pin serial ports (4 female receptacles), two NICs, but plenty of other expansion slots to add more functionality. It appears the motherboard or the side panel could have been swapped out at some point. I've trained on these things for Terminix and Prime Pharmaceutical. I hear there are still loads of people forced into using the old terminal UI for these things. Because they've dropped so much money into them over the decades when this was cutting edge tech.
The servers don't tend to have video outputs - it's all configured and then accessed through serial (hence lots of serial ports) or over the network, it's definitely not VLB, but probably a 64bit PCI slot. Not sure why the side panel would have been swapped but I guess that makes sense :) Thanks for watching!
@@StevesTechShedIf If isn't for a video card could it be for a SBC like the other one with the PowerPC processor and battery backup? With the posts in the comment section stating that IBM made things differently I wouldn't be too surprised that their expansion slots are kinda weird too. I'm about 25 minutes into the video. Too tired to watch it all. Will come back to it sometime later.
Your video reminds me of my first steps on an AS/400. The system is very interesting, but completely different to any other computer.
BTW there is no chance to use a standard SCSI drive. It must be IBM branded and made for AS/400 or System i, because the sector size is 522 byte (not 512) to store the AS/400 specific pointer information. Even the RAM is 36 bit wide (plus extra 4 bit ECC = 40 bits total) to handle the pointers. That's why the system is considered as not hacked until now.
Most SCSI drives can be reformatted to different sector sizes, so 520, 522, 528 are common options over 512. It is generally not quick mind you.
@@jonathanbuzzard1376 I know about this possibility, e.g. with the sg3_utils package. This works very well for NAS systems, but unfortunately not for the AS/400. In addition to the unusual sector size, the AS/400 also requires special SCSI functions (VPDs) that are not documented by IBM. That's why no SCSI HDD emulator, such as SCSI2SD or BlueSCSI (v2), works on this system so far.
Usually IBM has one more bit than the others.😁
IBM always has to complicate things, don't they?
@@Desmaad That's quite true. Sometimes IBM complicates things unnecessarily, for example with the PS/2 PCs.
In this case, however, the extra bytes serve a specific and useful purpose. They give the AS/400 or IBM i system an inherent security layer that no other system has to date. The idea is that a (malicious) user program cannot create/modify pointers to cause damage. Only the operating system (a very deep layer of it) can create valid pointers and make them available to the user program after checking its permissions. This mechanism is consistently ensured by hardware from CPU to RAM to hard drive.
As already mentioned, this architecture is fundamentally different from all other computer architectures and it has some advantages (security, exceptional hardware abstraction, portability of installations to new hardware, etc.). But the designated range of uses is somewhat limited to databases and business applications. It's a workhorse.
The AS400 is still in use by many companies around the world. IBM still maintains them. Costco uses it in their vast network of warehouses. I had a chance to administer as AS400 about 15 years ago. Good times. Because of the security the 400 would make a wonderful web server. JustSaying
Oh yeah we use them at my work still... the financial world runs on them!
I was an AS/400 sysadmin for some years. I've forgotten most of it, but was interested in how you got on.
I think without the know how here - you have done very well to get it up and running. I have the red books on CD if you want - reach out to me.
The 400 uses a database based file system, so in all my years - it was always sensitive to IO, disk arms and speed. I have forgotten the full details, but at one point I ran I think a 620, and it had 2 large disk arrays loaded with a lot of 4GB SCSI drives.
From what I remember, the small PC sized AS/400 models were never really performant, and were more like edge office, or training systems, or very small workloads. At one point I absolutely wanted one - but looking back now, its so clunky - but still fun in its own way.
There isn't really from what I know - a workable AS/400 emulator that people can spin up - which is a shame.
I haven't heard of an AS/400 emulator. I think IBM might lose out on some revenue if it existed !
@@StevesTechShed I think its more to do with the bespoke hardware and 'unknowns'. There are a fair number of emulators for their mainframe stuff. I don't think the I Series is sold into any large market now. If it is sold its a niche market. Its very clunky now, and the age of green screens is over. Even when I was last working - things like the seagull WEB UI was still a very clunky way of working. I suspect the only places its still used is in banking and similar where legacy code is important - and some cobol or similar stuff is still doing transaction or similar workload.
Out of interest, I just looked around to see if there were any ops jobs. Found one which is terrible -
3 days ago
Full-time
• AS400 IBM i iSeries Operator
• SHIFT WORK - Within every 28 day period, you will work a total of 7 day shifts and 7 night shifts, with 14 days rest.
• £24,000 - £28,000 + £3,000 Shift allowance
• Onsite in Telford
• Driving licence is essential
IBM i Operator - Responsibility for the IBM i (iSeries AS400) Infrastructure, resolving faults, incidents and problems and performing approved changes across the customer base.
Experience:
Previous experience in a technical role primarily focussed on IBM i
Previous experience in a managed services or service provider environment
Demonstrable technical capability on IBM i
Demonstrable experience of working in a complex enterprise-level IBM i
Skills and Abilities:
Required - IBM i OS, BRMS, Work Management, Performance Management
Highly Advantageous - Good working knowledge of MIMIX and iTERA
Desirable - Perform operating system upgrades and installation of patches and fixes (PTFs)
Preferred - CL, SQL and Automation products (AOS preferred...
Anyhoos
waterstones and hmv still use 400 for their catalogue, database system (possibly emulated somehow?).
they’ve developed a mouse-based gui system for it but those who learned on the original keyboard-only interface are still super super fast at navigating it!
I wonder how similar it is to what ran on this one?
The port on the second slot down is most likely a SCSI card.
VERY cool machine. I wish I had the space and some software to run one.
And the electricity bill :D
I'm very familiar with this. Been working on AS/400 and it's successors for decades. You found the unix like file system. But there is also the legacy QSYS name space. It is where the database is and likely any applications that might have been left on the machine. Do you still have it?
Yes I still have it but I've not done anything with it since doing this video! Maybe I'll boot it back up and have another look for software. I do have two backup tapes that came with it - these probably have some software on them?
Hi John! Could you help me a little bit? I recently bought an AS/400 which is in this picture: cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-017c0/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/7635/26915/2290-9406_3__89597.1628801739.jpg?c=2 I only got the computer, no keyboard, no monitor, no cables, nothing else. So, basically I'd need a list of items (the type of monitor, the type of keyboard, the cables...) that I need in order to turn this machine on :) Thank you very much in advance!
@@StevesTechShed , Steve, so it accepted the QSECOFR login, but how did you know the password? (I have the same problem). Thank you!
You're going to need a twinax terminal and keyboard (check the AS/400 you have has a twinax interface though)
Username and password were QSECOFR for me
I had this server running TF2 Game Server and Garry's Mod 20 years ago!
There were game servers for the AS/400? I never knew that!
we still have a bunch of customers with this servers up and running in production environment
I'm not surprised really, I bet the uptime is measured in years too!
is this server still more powerful than a laptop released in 2010 with 2 cores 4 threads?
Actual AS/400s or iSeries? Given how long ago the rebranding took place I would be very surprised (and I guess a little concerned and impressed) if it was really an AS/400. At my shop we use the term AS/400 sometimes to refer to the iSeries, I guess out of habit from some of the more senior programmers and operators, but they are generally less than 3 year old POWER 9s.
@Skurt88 and how fast is the IO of the AS/400
I've been an AS/400 programmer and sys adm for 27 years. What do you want to know about it?
is this machine more powerful than a laptop released in 2010 with 2 cores 4 threads?
Hi Dan! Could you help me a little bit? I recently bought an AS/400 which is in this picture: cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-017c0/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/7635/26915/2290-9406_3__89597.1628801739.jpg?c=2 I only got the computer, no keyboard, no monitor, no cables, nothing else. So, basically I'd need a list of items (the type of monitor, the type of keyboard, the cables...) that I need in order to turn this machine on :) Thank you very much in advance!
@@mrgadget1485 The AS/400 line is so broad that it's difficult to tell much just from a photo. There should be a model number on it, like 9406-015 or 8286-41A or something similar, look for a label on the back. With the model number you can look up to see exactly what you have and go from there. Although without any cables I'm not sure how far you can go towards getting it up and running. The minimum you would probably need is a PC with an ethernet port, but if you don't know how the AS/400 is configured, what IP address it's set to use, what IP functions are enabled, etc., you may not be able to connect to it. The most basic way to would be using a Twinax, "green screen" terminal, but you'd also have to have the twinax cable to go that route. Either way you'd have to know the log-in credentials, or hope that the original owner left the default logins for system operator or system administrator.
@@dansmith5524 , hi Dan, and thank you for taking time to answer. The model is: 9406-I AS/400e server 170. I don't care if I need to buy cables, keyboards and such, I just don't want to buy incompatible items. Please tell if the model rings a bell... I start to watch eBay for hardware :) Thank you!
@@jirehla-ab1671 Assuming this was released in exactly 2000, then in terms of raw MIPS probably not. Really depends if those 2 cores 4 threads are higher end or laptop grade though, and it depends on the model of AS/400. They would be comparable, but the AS/400 would definitely get a boost in real world performance from its lighter weight more performance focused software, as opposed to Windows Vista or whatever abomination is on that 2010 computer. There have definitely been AS/400 and even more so mainframes that have continued to perform acceptably with lifetimes of 10 or so years. Of course, mainframe and as/400 software and operating systems havent generally tended towards fancy graphics and bloat like consumer computers, so in terms of responsiveness I would argue its very likely the AS/400 would win.
If we cheat and say it was a top of the line AS/400 versus the lowest end dual cores of 2010, then the AS/400 may very well come out on top even numerically.
Keep in mind that isn't saying all that much though, a lower end AS/400 would cost 10-20x a consumer PC easily. It ought to be competitive for quite a while for how big a premium your paying for ahead of its time tech.
Did you try emergency command override 100375?
Somebody gave a similar server like this to me like almost 20 years ago and i could not get it to work. it had a vga card installed so i could connect a regular monitor, came with tape drive and 4 very heavy scsi discs each holding 4 gb i think. i got an error message similar to system not found when booting up and i guess they wiped the system completely before selling it.
I've never seen an AS/400 with a VGA card! Many of the old IBM servers looked similar but some were 'normal' PC servers - I wonder if that's what you had? Everything is very heavy on this old IBM kit :)
@@StevesTechShed it looked similar to yours very heavy and had a risc processor i don't remember much i think it was made in 1994 or 1995. it came from a financial institution. i only remember that it showed me a green error screen with varios errors and back then i could find much information online and also didnt know anyone to ask so i sold it on ebay.
Super
I can't even figure out how to get a monitor hooked up to this, lol.
You don't :) You need to connect a terminal over a network connection - can be TCP/IP or I initially got this going using TWINAX!
Hi I got one power 6 8203 I’m trying to set up the LAN console but when I try to do 25+26 in the panel control for get 65 and then 21 I don’t get the 65 just 64!
Do you know why 64 and not 65? I need 65
Thanks to all
Make sure your system is in D Manual. You can change it at 02
How tall is it.... is the IO shield built into the case? And now I want one..... The things I could build in this
It's about 60cm tall and VERY heavy :)
Spending free time to “play” with an as400 is such an oxymoron. That machine is the manifestation of frustration and rage.
Someone has to develop a system that is more modern and more reliable than AS400 ASAP!!! So finally AS400 can go extinct.
Last couple of places I've worked we have been decomissioning the iSeries "next year" and decades on, they're still in use and being refreshed :)
The symmetry system AS/400