IBM 1994 "AS 400 Advanced 36" Computer Unboxing, Installation, System Training 9402 A/S, (iSeries)

[@justethical280]

Hmmm, worked on as400 / iseries for some years , back in 99 till 2004. Rock solid system.

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Yes, quite an improvement over the System/36 and S/38. : )

[@frankrizzo7454]

AS/400 was the best machine I ever used.

[@listohan]

So thoughtful to supply a ramp. It is unfortunate they are omitted from today's computer boxes. You need stamina to last to the end.

[@jeffreyplum5259]

This brings back memories of my old friend Howard " Gus" Gradin IBM Field Service. He is gone, but not forgotten. Ex-US Navy and an expert from the days of card punches sorters and when IBM Machines used gears instead of ICs. Many thanks for keeping this history alive. God Bless IBMers everywhere. Like those I knew from DEC< they should not be forgotten.

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Hi @jeffreyplum5259, yes, I can relate to that too. I had a friend who repaired old IBM printers. He had to carry around 200 pounds of spare parts in his truck since the machines had so many gears to replace. Thanks very much for your great feedback! ~ Victor, CHAP

[@ACBMemphis]

The company where I worked in the mid-90s had one of these AS/400 systems. My job was to "get the data off this thing" and into a SQL database, then present it in desktop applications executives could use in Windows. I was a PC programmer, but ended up gaining experience writing very basic CL programs, starting jobs, I think maybe even some C on the AS/400. Never did RPG programming, which was for the true AS/400 programmers, but called lots of RPG someone else had written. Eventually, we got an IBM ODBC driver and then I could treat the whole thing like a database. I remember when the Web came out, IBM tried to re-brand this as "eSeries" and one of the AS/400 programmers actually was able to generate a basic Web page with it.. Thanks for uploading, this was very interesting for me since I worked with an AS/400 but never really was involved with the hardware!

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Hi @ACBMemphis , thank you very much for your comment and interesting back story. I appreciate the feedback. Glad this was interesting to you. We are always looking for even more interesting material to share. ~ Victor, at CHAP

[@ruadeil_zabelin]

2:30 I love how they just kept that take. They were like yep thats good.

[@alienxna6511]

From across The Pond ... worked at UK computer systems firm, ICL, in the '80's. Even though this is IBM kit, brought back many happy memories of unpacking, installing, and configuring a myriad of ICL kit from VME 2966 mainframes, CLAN 4/5/6s, DRS300s, DRS 20-80s, and my favourite, DRS6000s. IPLing was fun ranging from entering Hex codes, running SCL batch, or mnemonic codes/commands on the ol' TTYs. Loved every minute of it ... really appreciated this vid being uploaded.

[@captainkeyboard1007]

The AS 400 Advanced 36 computer would have been the next best thing to happen next to the microcomputer. Yet, the 9402 is smaller than a minicomputer. The Computer History Archives Project did a wonderful job.💙

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Thank you again!.... VK

[@noele8884]

Thank you for the upload! AS/400 has evolved since then and it’s still supported and upgraded to this day 2024. I’ve programmed in many other languages but I came back to these now called IBMi machines because it’s so much easier and you get all in one package, software and database, so it’s really inexpensive overall. It’s so much easier to manage database and other objects like programs and display files aka user screens. Plus the security built into these things and stamina is out of this world. You will never hear news that an AS/400 has been hacked. When you lose access to these servers you’d think it’s down but these machines don’t go down. Check the network that’s the culprit most of the time.

[@ettoreatalan8303]

7:28 The ramp is my favorite part of this computer system.❤

[@brswggr]

That back cover is something I didn't know I needed for my tower PC.

[@jimp6624]

Did this a few times back in the day! Had forgotten about the data transfer box :)

[@lawrenceshadai4966]

A brand new 8" drive in 1994 ! OMG !

[@Chevroletcelebrity]

The 8" disk was software to allow the transfer for the old system to the new system. 8" drives were not commonly in use at the time this machine was released.

[@lilblackduc7312]

Wow! A string of procedures. Thank you for posting this tutorial...

[@suzannebolick4044]

This is awesome...lol! God bless Ed Neitge. My, how times have changed!

[@fiddley]

The company I work for is still as of 2024 using this exact model for stockkeeping. One of the power supplies failed last year and they had to source a spare from a computer museum in the States 😆According to the Manufacturing date sticker, it's its 29th birthday in 3 days. 🥳🎉

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

HI @fiddley, that is a pretty impressive run! Sounds like you have a working museum piece right there! Thanks for sharing that story. ~ VK

[@neilugaddan]

We’re still using this today.

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Good longevity. Cool.

[@eprohoda]

Woohoo! that is super sharing-

[@syferdet]

What is this "System Council"? Do I have to appear before it to petition changes to the System?

[@Parakinese]

awsome vid!

[@psikeyhackr6914]

Where is benchmark data? There is a benchmark with source code in the Jan 1983 BYTE magazine. The IBM 3033 running Assembly language beat the list. Tests of the 3033 running PL/1 and COBOL are included.

[@PHUSHEY]

Coincidentally enough, I worked with a guy at big blue who also didn't know the difference between "council" and "console".

[@karlpottie7399]

This so alien compared to any modern computing system.

[@Chevroletcelebrity]

no

[@Spookieham]

Pcs yes. Once you get to the big stuff it's still similar in concept

[@Chevroletcelebrity]

@@Spookieham no

[@AxelWerner]

"... press enner key"

[@michaelturner4457]

But it doesn't cover installing and playing DOOM.

[@douro20]

I don't think I've heard anyone with such a thick northeastern accent in a long time.

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Yes, and loving to hear it too... : )

[@normundsx8991]

I type in search box "horror movie" and got this video. Just nigthmare!

[@cygil1]

Lots of gratuitous IBMese in this video, eg IPL (initial program load, what everyone else just calls a "boot".)

[@tomduke558]

people might better sit and wait 10 years

[@5argetech56]

Hmmm, new car and down payment on a house, or a A/S 400? What a conundrum! 😆

[@PHUSHEY]

Small change and tax write off for an enterprise business doing millions yearly.

[@cornwallonline]

Hmmm...still easier than setting up Windows 11 on a new machine 😜

[@jeffwads]

The clowns today would never allow a middle-aged dude to demo anything.

[@lilblackduc7312]

That's their loss.😰 😫

[@Chevroletcelebrity]

this video lacks a hip hop soundtrack, lack of diversity in actors and no dancing 🤔

[@FenderSidekick]

Would be nice to have an actual human voice instead of synth.. easier to listen to.

[@volvo09]

That is a real voice. He's not a professional voice actor...

[@miserj]

@@volvo09I think they were referring to the intro part before the proper video starts?