Hardware identification

AS400 System Identifier and Buyer Planner

Start with what you know about the system, then narrow the next hardware decision: identify it, maintain it, source a used replacement, size a current server, or separate a storage project from the server decision.

What hardware decision are you actually making?

The name on the front of the machine is not enough. This planner separates identification, acquisition, replacement, and storage so the next research step starts with the right hardware evidence.

Choose the closest description, even if the exact model is not known yet.

Machine type and model are more useful than a marketing generation name.

How the result is produced: Each answer adds fit points to a hardware decision. Exact machine identification and hard support requirements carry more weight than budget preference. No answer is treated as a quote.
Limit: This planner does not calculate CPW, rPerf, IBM i software tier, electrical load, or rack requirements. Those require an exact machine type, processor feature, memory configuration, and workload measurement.

Why identification comes first

AS400 is used as a broad name for hardware that spans several IBM product generations. That is useful for conversation and dangerous for a quote. The exact machine type, model, IBM i release, and workload establish which maintenance, replacement, and pricing evidence applies.

What this planner deliberately does not do

It does not pretend three dropdowns can size a production IBM i system. The result identifies the next research decision and the evidence needed to make it defensible.