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PoC: /* Why? */ Better wording

2025-01-25T13:55:22Z

Why?: Better wording

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:55, 25 January 2025
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	== Why? ==		== Why? ==
	The AS/400 is a huge area to explore. As you probably wouldn’t expect to learn ''everything Linux'' from reading three Wikipedia articles, ~~you may possibly understand that this~~ Wiki has a lot of content ~~and is constantly~~ growing ~~and being filled with more information~~. Also, existing content is prone to being enhanced and corrected of errors. You may help with this by writing me to <[mailto:webhamster@pocnet.net webhamster@pocnet.net]>.		The AS/400 is a huge area to explore. As you probably wouldn’t expect to learn ''everything Linux'' from reading three Wikipedia articles, the same is true for the AS/400 platform. This Wiki has a lot of content but maybe never enough. But it's slowly growing. Also, existing content is prone to being enhanced and corrected of errors. You may help with this by writing me to <[mailto:webhamster@pocnet.net webhamster@pocnet.net]> and submit correction requests, enhancement requests, or even ask for write access.

	I had a hard time to learn and I want to make it easier for you to just get started.		The basic motivation for this Wiki is: I had a hard time to learn the basics, and I want to make it easier for you to just get started.

	Most content in this Wiki is based on my own experiences with an older 9401-150 machine, running OS/400 V4R5 with latest patches~~, that is~~ from the early 2000’s. When I describe different machines or OS releases, I‘ll indicate that in the text.		Most content in this Wiki is based on my own experiences with an older 9401-150 machine, running OS/400 V4R5 with latest patches from the early 2000’s. When I describe different machines or OS releases, I‘ll indicate that in the respective text.

	Please read '''[[The Naming of the System]]''' for my thoughts regarding the regularly fought battle about ''It’s not an AS/400 anymore!''.		Please read '''[[The Naming of the System]]''' for my thoughts regarding the regularly fought battle about ''It’s not an AS/400 anymore!''.
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	<blockquote>But why should you care for V4? The current version is V7.something!</blockquote>		<blockquote>But why should you care for V4? The current version is V7.something!</blockquote>

	Every OS does evolve over time. So does OS/400, or IBM i, as it’s called today. Windows Server ~~2019~~ bears a certain resemblance to Windows 2000 (not counting the UI changes!). Much stuff you learned in the 2000’s era is outdated and never needed again in modern systems, though. Mac OS 9 from 2001 bears only a slight resemblance to today’s OS X (or ''macOS'' as it’s now called). Most conventional platforms don’t just evolve, they change, often in incompatible ways.		Every OS does evolve over time. So does OS/400, or IBM i, as it’s called today. Windows Server 20something bears a certain resemblance to Windows 2000 (not counting the UI changes!). Much stuff you learned in the 2000’s era is outdated and never needed again in modern systems, though. Mac OS 9 from 2001 bears only a slight resemblance to today’s OS X (or ''macOS'' as it’s now called). Most conventional platforms don’t just evolve, they change, often in incompatible ways.

	This is different with OS/400. Newer releases of OS/400 carry over ''almost'' all stuff you'd know from V4. Most knowledge you acquired with just V4 isn’t worthless with V7. V7 has '''additional''' capabilities to learn.		This is different with OS/400. Newer releases of OS/400 carry over ''almost'' all stuff you'd know from V4. Most knowledge you acquired with just V4 isn’t worthless with V7. V7 has '''additional''' capabilities to learn.

PoC: About Documentation Links

2023-05-21T12:00:25Z

About Documentation Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:00, 21 May 2023
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	Regarding software development, it might be of interest to have a look at my [https://github.com/PoC-dev GitHub Projects Page].		Regarding software development, it might be of interest to have a look at my [https://github.com/PoC-dev GitHub Projects Page].

			=== Links to IBM documentation ===
			In the beginning of 2023 I was forced by IBM UK to take offline my publicly available [https://ibmdocs.pocnet.net IBM documents collection]. No opportunity was given to challenge that decision. In addition, it proved to be impossible for me to find/identify a responsible person within IBM to overturn that decision.

			Links in this Wiki thus point directly to the [https://www.ibm.com/resources/publications/searchInput IBM Publications Center]. If the list of results is empty, this means IBM doesn't publish the linked document any longer. Since I'm not allowed to publicly publish ''IBM copyrighted material'', you probably need to find the linked documents [https://web.archive.org/web/20220221081333/https://ibmdocs.pocnet.net/ elsewhere].

	=== See also ===		=== See also ===

PoC: /* Getting started */ fix defective link

2023-01-29T13:23:40Z

Getting started: fix defective link

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:23, 29 January 2023
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	* If you decide having your own machine is the way to go, I encourage you to start looking at internet auction sites and companies with IBM i expertise for a used box to eventually call [[Your own AS/400\|your own]].		* If you decide having your own machine is the way to go, I encourage you to start looking at internet auction sites and companies with IBM i expertise for a used box to eventually call [[Your own AS/400\|your own]].

	The ever growing '''[[UNIX-~~User’s~~ Cheater Table]]''' could probably be helpful in finding out a certain command when you know the command in UNIX, or Linux.		The ever growing '''[[UNIX-User's Cheater Table]]''' could probably be helpful in finding out a certain command when you know the command in UNIX, or Linux.

	If you’re coming from the IBM mainframe world, you’ll be relieved that many concepts are borrowed from the predecessors of z/OS. If there’s demand, I’ll probably add an extra article for an overview of similarities and differences.		If you’re coming from the IBM mainframe world, you’ll be relieved that many concepts are borrowed from the predecessors of z/OS. If there’s demand, I’ll probably add an extra article for an overview of similarities and differences.

Mlc: typografische Apostrophen, Großschreibung an Engl. angepaßt. Keine inhaltlichen Änderungen.

2023-01-22T22:58:21Z

typografische Apostrophen, Großschreibung an Engl. angepaßt. Keine inhaltlichen Änderungen.

Show changes

PoC: Reworked

2022-12-22T20:05:14Z

Reworked

PoC: /* Rules regarding this Wiki */ Better wording

2022-06-13T13:55:48Z

Rules regarding this Wiki: Better wording

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:55, 13 June 2022
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	* Always add category-tags at end of articles. This permits automatic grouping of related articles and better retrieval if the search function doesn't provide expected results.		* Always add category-tags at end of articles. This permits automatic grouping of related articles and better retrieval if the search function doesn't provide expected results.
	* Add images sparsely and as additional reference only. Main explanation must be actual text, so		* Add images sparsely and as additional reference only. Main explanation must be actual text, so
	** automatic translation services can actually do translate content,		** automatic translation services can actually translate content,
	** disabled persons can make better use of this Wiki.		** disabled persons can make better use of this Wiki.
	* Don't flood/plaster articles with full-size pictures. It strains the eyes to read!		* Don't flood/plaster articles with full-size pictures. It strains the eyes to read!

PoC: /* Why? */ About

2022-02-26T13:25:29Z

Why?: About

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:25, 26 February 2022
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	Most content in this Wiki is based on my own experiences with an old 9401-150 machine, running OS/400 V4R5 with latest patches, that is from the early 2000's. When I describe newer machines or OS releases, I'll indicate that in the text.		Most content in this Wiki is based on my own experiences with an old 9401-150 machine, running OS/400 V4R5 with latest patches, that is from the early 2000's. When I describe newer machines or OS releases, I'll indicate that in the text.

	Please read '''[[The Naming of the System]]''' for my thoughts regarding the battle of ''It's not an AS/400 anymore!''		Please read '''[[The Naming of the System]]''' for my thoughts regarding the battle about ''It's not an AS/400 anymore!''

	=== Evolution ===		=== Evolution ===

PoC: /* Further Reading */ +Link

2021-12-29T13:33:35Z

PoC: ±Cat

2020-03-15T15:42:49Z

±Cat

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:42, 15 March 2020
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	<references />		<references />

	[[Category: ~~Basic Knowledge~~]]		[[Category: Musings]]

PoC: Deleted wrong assumption. The CPU was most likely just for I/O.

2020-03-15T12:55:33Z

Deleted wrong assumption. The CPU was most likely just for I/O.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:55, 15 March 2020
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	== A word on virtualization ==		== A word on virtualization ==
	Currently there is no known way to run OS/400 on (virtual) x86 platforms.<ref>There has been support for the 80386 in OS/400 for the so called ''portable'' AS/400, 9401-P02 and P03. This hardware utilized an 80386/20. But that's only the CPU, all the other stuff is as non-PC as can be.</ref> OS/400 ''can'' be virtualized — on appropriate hardware. That is, some kind of IBM POWER based system. But if you have the hardware in the first place, virtualization is probably superfluous.		Currently there is no known way to run OS/400 on (virtual) x86 platforms. OS/400 ''can'' be virtualized — on appropriate hardware. That is, some kind of IBM POWER based system. But if you have the hardware in the first place, virtualization is probably superfluous.

	OS/400 in recent versions can host LPARs for Linux, AIX, and itself, so it's quite possible to have a good deal of integration the other way 'round.<ref>POWER 8 is the first CPU with complete little endian support, that is required by most free and current Linux Distros like Debian (ppc64el). For older POWERs you need to find an appropriately older Distro that supports big endian (ppc64) CPUs.</ref>		OS/400 in recent versions can host LPARs for Linux, AIX, and itself, so it's quite possible to have a good deal of integration the other way 'round.<ref>POWER 8 is the first CPU with complete little endian support, that is required by most free and current Linux Distros like Debian (ppc64el). For older POWERs you need to find an appropriately older Distro that supports big endian (ppc64) CPUs.</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:33, 29 December 2021
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	* [[Getting Data in and out of your AS/400]]		* [[Getting Data in and out of your AS/400]]
	* [[Basic Software Development]]		* [[Basic Software Development]]

			Regarding Software Development, it might be of interest to have a look at my [https://github.com/PoC-dev GitHub Projects Page].

	=== See also ===		=== See also ===

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:05, 22 December 2022
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	This Wiki is intended to help average computer users (probably you) who also are ~~novice users with~~ '''IBM i''' to get started with the system ~~quickly~~. The ~~system~~ is in parts dramatically different from many ~~things~~ you've probably learned ~~from conventional systems~~. This makes it hard to ~~learn~~ the concepts. Additionally, there's a certain amount of ''slang''. Without proper translation into terms we know, it's even more complicated to get going.		This Wiki is intended to help average computer users (probably you) who also are curious about '''AS/400''', '''iSeries''', or '''IBM i''' to get started with the system. The platform is in parts dramatically different from many you've probably learned about before. This makes it hard to understand the underlying concepts. Additionally, there's a certain amount of ''slang''. Without proper translation into terms we know, it's even more complicated to get going.

	Fortunately, there's a wealth of online resources available in the web. Unfortunately, these are scattered around, sometimes providing insight to special topics while omitting basic information for helping novice users to just get started.		Fortunately, there's a wealth of online resources available in the web. Unfortunately, these are scattered around, sometimes providing insight to special topics while omitting basic information for helping novice users to just get started.

			The intention of this information resource is trying to explain the platform in terms of, and comparison to stuff you might be more familiar with.

	== Why? ==		== Why? ==
	The AS/400 is a huge ~~platform~~ to explore. As you probably wouldn't expect to learn everything Linux from reading three Wikipedia-Articles, you may possibly understand that this Wiki has a lot of content and is constantly growing and filled with more information. Also, existing content is prone to being enhanced and corrected of errors. You may help with this by writing me to <[mailto:webhamster@pocnet.net webhamster@pocnet.net]>.		The AS/400 is a huge area to explore. As you probably wouldn't expect to learn ''everything Linux'' from reading three Wikipedia-Articles, you may possibly understand that this Wiki has a lot of content and is constantly growing and being filled with more information. Also, existing content is prone to being enhanced and corrected of errors. You may help with this by writing me to <[mailto:webhamster@pocnet.net webhamster@pocnet.net]>.

	I had a hard time to learn and I want to make it easier for you to just get started.		I had a hard time to learn and I want to make it easier for you to just get started.

	Most content in this Wiki is based on my own experiences with an ~~old~~ 9401-150 machine, running OS/400 V4R5 with latest patches, that is from the early 2000's. When I describe ~~newer~~ machines or OS releases, I'll indicate that in the text.		Most content in this Wiki is based on my own experiences with an older 9401-150 machine, running OS/400 V4R5 with latest patches, that is from the early 2000's. When I describe different machines or OS releases, I'll indicate that in the text.

	Please read '''[[The Naming of the System]]''' for my thoughts regarding the battle about ''It's not an AS/400 anymore!''		Please read '''[[The Naming of the System]]''' for my thoughts regarding the regularly fought battle about ''It's not an AS/400 anymore!''.

	=== Evolution ===		=== Evolution ===
	~~Why~~ should you care for V4? The current version is V7.something!		<blockquote>But why should you care for V4? The current version is V7.something!</blockquote>

	Every OS does evolve over time. So does OS/400, or IBM i, as it's called today. Windows Server 2019 bears a certain resemblance to Windows 2000 (not counting the UI changes!). Much stuff you learned in the 2000's era is outdated and never needed again in modern systems, though. MacOS 9 from 2001 bears only a slight resemblance to today's OS X (or ~~macOS~~ as it's now called). Most conventional platforms don't just evolve, they change, often in incompatible ways.		Every OS does evolve over time. So does OS/400, or IBM i, as it's called today. Windows Server 2019 bears a certain resemblance to Windows 2000 (not counting the UI changes!). Much stuff you learned in the 2000's era is outdated and never needed again in modern systems, though. MacOS 9 from 2001 bears only a slight resemblance to today's OS X (or ''mac OS'' as it's now called). Most conventional platforms don't just evolve, they change, often in incompatible ways.

	This is different with OS/400. Newer releases of OS/400 carry over almost all stuff you'd know from V4. Most knowledge you acquired with just V4 isn't worthless with V7. V7 has '''additional''' capabilities to learn~~. And that's probably one of many reasons, why the AS/400 is sometimes called a ''mini-mainframe''. It's all about backward compatibility, seen from an application's point of view~~.		This is different with OS/400. Newer releases of OS/400 carry over ''almost'' all stuff you'd know from V4. Most knowledge you acquired with just V4 isn't worthless with V7. V7 has '''additional''' capabilities to learn.

	If you are interested in background information how and by whom the system was developed, see '''[[History]]'''.		If you are interested in background information how and by whom the system was developed, see '''[[History]]'''.

	== Getting started ==		== Getting started ==
	If you are interested in getting to know (more) about AS/400 basics, you may read '''[[About Green Screens and mouse-clickable UIs]]''' as well as about '''[[Features that separate the AS/400 from common computer systems]]''' to get a first glance what makes this platform so unique. This might provide a better ~~understanding when deciding~~ if you want to continue exploring the AS/400 beyond theoretical statements.		If you are interested in getting to know (more) about AS/400 basics, you may read '''[[About Green Screens and mouse-clickable UIs]]''' as well as about '''[[Features that separate the AS/400 from common computer systems]]''' to get a first glance what makes this platform so unique. This might provide a better decision-making about if you want to continue exploring the AS/400 beyond theoretical statements.

	Want to dive deep? You should decide if you want your own machine or if it's sufficient to have remote access to a machine to start exploring as an ordinary user, without administrative rights. You may start with the latter and get your own machine at a later point in time, though.		Want to dive deep? You should decide if you want your own machine or if it's sufficient to have remote access to a machine to start exploring as an ordinary user, without administrative rights. You may start with the latter and get your own machine at a later point in time, though.
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	* If you decide having your own machine is the way to go, I encourage you to start looking at internet auction sites and companies with IBM i expertise for a used box to eventually call [[Your own AS/400\|your own]].		* If you decide having your own machine is the way to go, I encourage you to start looking at internet auction sites and companies with IBM i expertise for a used box to eventually call [[Your own AS/400\|your own]].

	The ever growing '''[[UNIX-User's Cheater Table]]''' could probably be helpful in finding out a certain command when you know the command in UNIX.		The ever growing '''[[UNIX-User's Cheater Table]]''' could probably be helpful in finding out a certain command when you know the command in UNIX, or Linux.

	If you're coming from the IBM Mainframe World, you'll be relieved that many concepts are borrowed from OS~~/360~~. If there's demand, I'll probably add an extra article for an overview of similarities and differences.		If you're coming from the IBM Mainframe World, you'll be relieved that many concepts are borrowed from the predecessors of z/OS. If there's demand, I'll probably add an extra article for an overview of similarities and differences.

	== A word on virtualization ==		== A word on virtualization ==
	Currently there is no known way to run OS/400 on (virtual) x86 platforms. OS/400 ''can'' be virtualized — on appropriate hardware. That is, some kind of IBM ~~POWER~~ based system. But if you have the hardware in the first place, virtualization is probably superfluous.		Currently there is no known way to run OS/400 on (virtual) x86 platforms. OS/400 ''can'' be virtualized — on appropriate hardware, driven by IBM Power CPUs. That is, some kind of IBM Power based system. But if you have the hardware in the first place, virtualization is probably superfluous.

	OS/400 in recent versions can host LPARs for Linux, AIX, and itself, so it's quite possible to have a good deal of integration the other way 'round.<ref>~~POWER~~ 8 is the first CPU with complete little endian support, ~~that~~ is required by most free and current Linux Distros like Debian (ppc64el). For older ~~POWERs~~ you need to find an appropriately older Distro that supports big endian (~~ppc64~~) CPUs.</ref>		OS/400 in recent versions can host LPARs for Linux, AIX, and itself, so it's quite possible to have a good deal of integration the other way 'round.<ref>Power 8 is the first CPU with complete little endian support, which is required by most free and current Linux Distros like Debian (ppc64el). For older machines you need to find an appropriately older Distro version that still supports big endian (PPC64) CPUs. Currently, Debian PPC64 support is unofficial. See [https://wiki.debian.org/SupportedArchitectures SupportedArchitectures] in the Debian Wiki.</ref>

	== Further Reading ==		== Further Reading ==