What Is IBM AS/400 Hardware?
A plain-language explanation of what AS/400 hardware is, how it became IBM Power Systems, and why the name still matters to today's buyers.
From AS/400 to Power Systems
AS/400 was IBM's original branding for a line of midrange business server hardware introduced in the late 1980s, built for reliability and integrated business application support. Over subsequent hardware generations, IBM renamed the platform several times, through iSeries and System i, before consolidating today's hardware under the Power Systems brand.
Throughout every rebrand, the underlying architectural philosophy stayed consistent: dependable, integrated server hardware built for business-critical workloads.
Why the name still matters
Despite the official rebrand to Power Systems, AS/400 remains deeply embedded in how buyers, IT staff, and even job postings describe this hardware ecosystem. A current Power Systems server running IBM i is still commonly called an AS/400 in daily conversation, especially among people who have worked with the platform for years.
That is why hardware sourcing and research content still needs to answer AS/400-labeled searches even when the actual hardware being discussed is a current-generation Power server.
Product catalog pages tied to this IBM Power and AS/400 Server topic.
42U Server Rack with Rail Kit for Power Systems
A full-depth 42U server rack with rail kit sized to support Power server weight and depth requirements.
IBM Power E1150 Enterprise Server
A Power 11 enterprise server for larger IBM i, AIX, and Linux on Power estates that need consolidation, memory headroom, and long support runway.
AS400 Hardware Maintenance Plan
A maintenance and support plan for AS/400, iSeries, and IBM Power hardware where parts access, response time, and lifecycle risk matter.