If you're confused about all the server and operating system name changes from System 38 to IBM Power Systems, you're not alone.
Here's a quick snapshot of the server and operating system names through the years.
| Year | Server Name | Server Notes | OS Name | OS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | System/38 | The IBM System/38 is introduced as a mid-range computer for general business and departmental use. | System/38 | The server uses an object-based operating system (OS). The OS has undergone numerous name changes, paralleling the server’s rebranding. |
| 1988 | AS/400 | The System/38 is replaced by the AS/400 mid-range computer. The AS/400 platform extends the System/38 architecture of an object-based system by adding an integrated, DB2, relational database. Its virtual machine and single-level storage concepts establish the platform as an advanced business computer. |
OS/400 |
Initially, the OS is called OS/400. |
| 2000 | iSeries | The AS/400 is rebranded as the eServer iSeries for IBM's new eServer initiative. | i5/OS | With the introduction of the eServer i5 servers featuring POWER5 processors, the OS becomes known as i5/OS. |
| 2006 | System i | The iSeries is renamed the IBM System i. | i5 | The OS becomes known as i5. |
| 2008 | IBM Power Systems | The IBM System i is replaced by the IBM Power Systems line as IBM announces its integration with the System p platform. The unified product line is called IBM Power Systems and supports the IBM i, AIX (UNIX), and Linux operating systems. |
IBM i |
Coinciding with the 6.1 release, the OS is called IBM i. It offers a built-in database (DBMS [DB2/400]), a menu-driven interface, multi-user and dumb terminal (IBM 5250) support, printers, security, and communications. It also offers Web-based applications, which can be executed inside the IBM WebSphere application server (optional), or in PHP/MySQL using the Apache Web server. Everything is a file in UNIX systems. Everything is an object on the System i. IBM i now offers UNIX-like file directories using the Integrated File System (IFS) and Java compatibility through the Java virtual machine. |