AS/400 and IBM i Hardware Maintenance: How to Keep an Older IBM System Covered

Short answer: AS/400 maintenance can keep an older IBM system covered for hardware failures without an IBM maintenance contract. Identify the exact machine type-model, compare the yearly price, and choose 9x5 or 24x7 coverage. Keep hardware coverage separate from IBM i software and application support when deciding which AS/400 support you need.

Key takeaways

The machine type-model is the starting point for choosing coverage. Familiar names such as AS/400 and iSeries describe a family, not the exact server you need to match.

Record the full machine type-model and serial number before comparing contracts.
Hardware maintenance and IBM i software support are separate decisions.
Our IBM contract examples below show yearly prices for both coverage levels, as of October 2026.
You can choose an effective start date and buy the contract online without requesting a quote.

What is an AS/400 system?

An AS/400 is an IBM business computer family introduced in 1988. People still use the name for later iSeries, System i and IBM Power servers running related business applications, although the hardware and operating system names have changed.

That distinction matters when you browse IBM server maintenance contracts. A colleague may call the machine an AS/400, while the equipment label identifies it as an IBM Power S814. The label is what lets you select the right contract.

IBM's AS/400 history explains the original 1988 platform and its OS/400 operating system. IBM later renamed the line several times, including iSeries and System i. Today these systems are IBM Power servers, and the operating system is called IBM i.

What is the AS/400 iSeries?

AS/400 and iSeries are names from different periods of the same business-computing family. IBM i is the operating system, meaning the software that manages the server and runs its applications. An operating system name alone does not identify the physical equipment.

In everyday terms, an AS/400 is a business server, often used for accounting, inventory and order processing. Avoid choosing coverage from the appearance of its screen or the name printed on an old software manual.

What is the AS/400 used for?

Businesses use these systems for work such as tracking stock, processing orders, handling payroll and running business-management applications. IBM describes these uses in its overview of applications on IBM i. For a small manufacturer or distributor, the server may still handle the transactions everyone depends on each day.

Do you still need AS/400 support if the system runs fine?

A working server still needs a plan for a failed disk, power supply, fan or memory component. Whether that plan includes a maintenance contract depends on how much interruption your business can accept and who would handle the hardware problem.

Start with the business process rather than the machine's age. List which jobs would stop if the server became unavailable: entering orders, printing picking lists, checking stock or producing invoices. Then identify the person who would report the problem and authorize the next steps.

Do not assume a part will be easy to source simply because it was easy to buy years ago. Confirm the exact model before choosing coverage, and keep a separate backup and recovery plan. A hardware maintenance contract should not be treated as a substitute for recoverable business data.

AS/400 support services vary. Some cover programming or administration; others cover the physical machine. Write down which gap you are trying to close before comparing prices.

How do you find your machine type and model?

Use the full machine type-model on the server label, then record its serial number separately. A code such as 8286-41A identifies the machine type and model; the serial number identifies your individual machine.

Look for the identification label on the server. IBM's machine type-model guide shows where to find it.
Copy the entire type-model code, including its final letters or digits. Do not shorten 8286-41A to 8286.
Record the serial number and save a clear label photo in your equipment records.
If the label is inaccessible, ask your administrator to use the existing management interface described in IBM's machine type-model identification guide.

On IBM i, DSPSYSVAL QMODEL displays the system model value, and DSPSYSVAL QSRLNBR displays the system serial number. IBM's system-value definitions and Display System Value command documentation confirm these read-only commands.

QMODEL is a model value, not a guarantee of the complete machine type-model string. Cross-check it against the label or management interface before ordering. For help identifying other brands too, use our server warranty and model-number guide.

What does AS/400 and iSeries support cover under a hardware contract?

Our contracts cover hardware maintenance for the selected model. NBD means next business day. The two coverage levels are:

9x5 NBD: support during business hours, Monday to Friday, with replacement parts sent for next business day delivery.

24x7 NBD: support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with replacement parts sent for next business day delivery.

The full terms for each level are on the contract page.

When arranging iSeries maintenance, keep a separate record of who supports the operating system and your business application.

For this purchase, focus on the IBM iSeries hardware identified by its label. Treat IBM i support for software, licensing and application problems as a separate subject.

How much does AS/400 hardware maintenance cost?

As of October 2026, our iSeries contract prices range from about $207 to $3,196 a year for 9x5 coverage, depending on the model. The examples below show specific yearly prices for both coverage levels.

Match the full code before comparing amounts. IBM's Power Systems model mapping identifies the S814, S824 and S914 names, while its system-to-IBM i mapping identifies the older iSeries model. The contract pages use the category name IBM iSeries Server even for the later Power models.

Machine type-model and server	9x5 NBD, yearly	24x7 NBD, yearly
9406-820, AS/400e 820	$316	$395
8286-41A, IBM Power8 S814	$556	$695
8286-42A, IBM Power8 S824	$556	$695
9009-41A, IBM Power9 S914	$796	$995

Look up your machine type in our IBM iSeries maintenance contracts. Prices are listed on each contract page, and you can buy online with no quote.

These examples are model-specific, so a similar-looking machine can have a different price. Compare your own IBM renewal quote with the matching contract and the coverage you actually need. Our server maintenance cost guide explains how to compare different equipment types without assuming a fixed saving.

Should you choose 9x5 or 24x7 for an IBM i system?

Choose according to when your business depends on the server and needs support available. Include unattended overnight jobs and weekend work in that decision, even if the office itself opens only on weekdays.

A distributor may receive orders after the office closes, while a manufacturer may run an overnight processing job before the morning shift. Write down those times before choosing. The coverage levels above are the basis for the comparison.

For the 8286-41A example, the yearly price is $556 for 9x5 NBD and $695 for 24x7 NBD, as of October 2026. That is $139 more per year, or 25%. Our 9x5 and 24x7 coverage comparison provides a side-by-side guide.

How do you buy AS/400 maintenance online?

Find the exact machine type-model, select the coverage level and effective start date, then add the contract to your cart and pay online. A quote request or sales call is not part of that buying process.

Match the contract title to the full code in your equipment record.
Choose 9x5 NBD or 24x7 NBD after reading the coverage description.
Pick the effective start date you want, taking any current contract's end date into account.
Review the selected model, coverage level and yearly price in the cart before paying.
Keep the purchase record with the machine's identification and existing coverage records.

If the contract title and your label do not match, resolve that difference before buying. Do not substitute a nearby model because it shares a processor generation or an iSeries name. The exact machine code is the most useful way to avoid that mistake.

Frequently asked questions

These answers separate the hardware name, operating system and coverage decision. Use the full machine type-model whenever you need to identify the actual server.

Is the AS/400 still used?

Yes, businesses still run applications from the AS/400 family, including on later IBM Power servers with IBM i. People often keep using the older name after replacing the physical machine. For maintenance, check the current server's label rather than relying on the name colleagues use for the accounting or inventory system.

Is AS/400 the same as IBM i?

No. AS/400 names the original IBM computer family, while IBM i is an operating system descended from OS/400 and i5/OS. A later Power server can run IBM i without being an original AS/400 machine. Record the physical server's type-model separately from the operating system when comparing hardware maintenance contracts.

Is the AS/400 a mainframe?

IBM describes the AS/400 as a midrange business system, separate from its mainframe family. Its familiar terminal screens can make the distinction confusing. Screen appearance does not identify the hardware, so use the chassis label and exact machine type-model rather than requesting coverage only by the term mainframe.

How do I find my IBM i machine type and model?

Check the front identification label or your administrator's existing IBM management interface for the full type-model, such as 8286-41A. On IBM i, DSPSYSVAL QMODEL displays the model value and DSPSYSVAL QSRLNBR displays the serial number. QMODEL alone does not establish the complete type-model, so cross-check before choosing a contract.

Can I get hardware maintenance for an older IBM Power server?

Yes, maintenance contracts are listed for specific older IBM Power models, including the 8286-41A S814 and 9009-41A S914. Match your complete machine type-model to a listed contract before selecting coverage. AS/400 maintenance prices depend on that exact model and the coverage level; the examples do not establish coverage for every IBM server.

Keep your IBM system covered

Find your machine type-model in our IBM iSeries maintenance contracts, choose 9x5 or 24x7, and pick your effective start date. buyhardwaresupport.com, run by Top Ten USA in Flanders, New Jersey, sells maintenance contracts for servers, storage and network equipment online, with the price shown on every contract page and no quote needed.

Sources

IBM's official sources support the naming history, identification instructions and model references in this guide.

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