Definition
AS400 hardware maintenance covers the service plan that keeps aging AS/400, iSeries, and IBM Power equipment supported. It usually includes some combination of break-fix response, replacement parts, diagnostics, escalation, and coverage terms for the installed machine.
Maintenance is strongest when it is tied to lifecycle planning. It can buy time before a refresh, but it should not hide the need to plan around support dates, parts scarcity, and business-critical workload risk.