Glossary
IBM i
IBM's operating system for Power servers running traditional AS/400-lineage business applications, with Db2 for i built directly into the OS.
Original nameOS/400
Runs onIBM Power servers
DatabaseDb2 for i, built in
Main languagesRPG and COBOL
How the name changed
Four names for one platform
- AS/400Introduced by IBM in 1988.
- eServer iSeriesThe first rebrand of the hardware.
- System iThe next name in the line.
- IBM Power running IBM iToday's hardware and operating system.
Which IBM i release new hardware needs
IBM i releases by Power generation
| Hardware | Supported IBM i releases |
|---|---|
| Power 11 | IBM i 7.6 with the Power11 GA PTF Group, 7.5 Technology Refresh 6, or 7.4 Technology Refresh 12 |
| Power 10 | IBM i 7.5, 7.4 Technology Refresh 6, or 7.3 Technology Refresh 12 |
Related Terms
AS/400
IBM's original 1988 midrange business computer platform; the term is still used informally to refer to IBM i systems and shops even though IBM has rebranded the hardware and OS multiple times since.
Db2 for i
The relational database management system built into every IBM i operating system, tightly integrated with IBM i rather than a separately installed database product.
RPG
Report Program Generator, the primary business application programming language on IBM i and its AS/400 predecessors, still running the majority of production logic in most IBM i shops.