| In 1988, IBM introduced the AS400® as a server | | | | track potential security risks. Both production and |
| solution for midsize businesses and departments | | | | backup data are encrypted, and SSL VPN is used to |
| within larger enterprises. Over time, IBM realized that | | | | ensure the network is secure. |
| in order to fulfill their vision of replacing PC and Unix | | | | Application Development |
| servers throughout organizations worldwide, the | | | | With support for services oriented architecture |
| AS400 would need to be easily integrated with | | | | (SOA), IBM Rational development tools, and UNIX |
| distributed networks and web applications. To | | | | application runtime, the iSeries provides a myriad of |
| accomplish this, IBM redesigned the AS400 to use | | | | options for application development. Languages |
| eServer i5 servers with POWER5® processors, | | | | supported by the iSeries include C, RPG, COBOL, |
| and rebranded the AS400 as the IBM iSeries®. | | | | C++, Java, EGL, PHP and CL. |
| The strategic features of the iSeries include: | | | | Administration |
| - Integration | | | | Storage management is integrated into the system |
| - Virtualization | | | | and the system hosts managed storage for I, AIX, |
| - Optimization | | | | Linux, Windows and VMware. The administration |
| - Security | | | | module is web-based for easy access. IBM Systems |
| - Support for a wide range of application | | | | Director provides a single, consistent user interface |
| development media | | | | for managing both physical and virtual systems. |
| - Simplified administration | | | | Scalability |
| - Scalability | | | | With many systems, the system's technology is |
| Integration | | | | integrated with the machine's interface, meaning that |
| The iSeries includes an integrated standards-based | | | | upgrades are disruptive to daily business activities. |
| DB2 database for managing enterprise data. The | | | | With the iSeries however, upgrades are automatic, |
| iSeries includes an integrated Apache HTTP server | | | | and the separation of technology from interface |
| and web application server for web-based application | | | | makes the process virtually seamless. With IBM's |
| deployment, and a Java/J2EE web-services | | | | Capacity on Demand feature, you can activate only |
| environment for web application development. Many | | | | the processors and memory that you need, making |
| popular development technologies are also integrated | | | | the iSeries scalable, flexible and cost efficient. |
| with the iSeries, including SQL, mySQL, .NET, DRDA | | | | Communication |
| CLI, ODBC and JDBC. Windows, UNIX, and NFS file | | | | To communicate with the IBM AS400 or iSeries from |
| systems are supported. | | | | your Windows PC, you will need to use a terminal |
| VirtualizationiSeries virtualization allows organizations | | | | emulator. Terminal emulators intercept and translate |
| to manage multiple applications and processes using | | | | the 5250 data stream so that your PC can |
| the integrated workload manager, shared processor | | | | understand, display, and manipulate it. One such |
| pools and automatic performance balancing. | | | | terminal emulator is Zephyr's PASSPORT, which |
| Optimization | | | | provides TN5250 and TN5250E emulation. |
| The clustered architecture, transaction logging and | | | | Conclusion |
| mirroring capabilities of the iSeries provide flexibility | | | | The key to the success of the AS400 iSeries has |
| and reliability. IBM also integrates tools for managing | | | | been the integration of relational database, security, |
| clusters. | | | | web services, networking and storage management. |
| Security | | | | According to IBM, over 5,000 ISV solutions are |
| The security model for the IBM iSeries is | | | | supported on the iSeries. Virtualization support allows |
| object-based, which simplifies deployment and | | | | organizations to run various applications |
| enhances the system's ability to resist viruses. The | | | | simultaneously, allowing the organization to make the |
| iSeries can not only detect intrusion, but has built-in | | | | most of its resources. |
| methods to prevent it and provides an audit log to | | | | |