IBM i Series, Handbook

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iSeries Architecture: Fundamental Strength of the iSeries
12
iSeries Handbook
two systems can appear to be equivalent today, the accelerating rate of change of both
hardware and software technologies necessitates that the server you select is designed with
the future in mind. The iSeries accommodates inevitable, rapid, and dramatic technology
changes with minimum relative customer effort.
Paradoxically, the characteristic of the most advanced design and technology is that you do
not notice it... you are not meant to do so. It accommodates rapidly-changing hardware and
software technologies in stride — permitting you to fully exploit the latest technologies.
Ask any system manufacturer: What is future-oriented in the system? Does recovering from a
failure typically involve a re-start of the hardware and operating system? What has your
reliability rating been in the past few years as technologies have changed? We believe the
iSeries server will be your number one choice.
System Concepts
The iSeries servers are designed and built as a
total system
, fully integrating all the hardware
and system software components that a business demands. As a general-purpose business
and network system, it is optimized for the required environment with these unique benefits:
• The iSeries architecture is a brilliant, technology-neutral architecture, enabling
businesses to readily exploit the latest hardware and software technologies, typically
without causing disruption to existing application software. iSeries architecture is
described in “iSeries Architecture” on page 13.
• The single purpose pervading each aspect of the iSeries architecture is to empower a
business with the most advanced technology available, without encumbering it with the
complexities that such technologies inevitably contain. In other words, the iSeries
allow you to rapidly deploy advanced business applications and facilitates your
business growth.
• Customers typically decide on the required application software first and then select
an environment in which to run it. The iSeries models have tens of thousands of
business applications worldwide of which thousands are client/server applications.
These applications are written by thousands of IBM Business Partners across the
globe. In addition, the iSeries server provides excellent platforms for Windows NT and
Lotus Domino applications. iSeries models have national language support for over 50
languages, available in 140 countries. Support across the world is provided by an
impressive network of global partners.
A concise and expanded explanation of the AS/400e (iSeries) server architecture is
contained in the renowned book
Inside the AS/400, written by the AS/400 system's Chief
Architect, Dr. Frank G. Soltis.