IBM Advanced/36

The Advanced/36 refers to an IBM midrange computer in the System/36 family. It was marketed from October 1994[1] to 2000.

IBM Advanced/36
ManufacturerIBM
IntroducedOctober 4, 1994 (October 4, 1994)
Discontinued2000
CostUS$12,000 (Entry)
Processor64-bit PowerPC AS
Memory32 Mb (Entry)
64 Mb (Large)
LanguageRPG II
COBOL/400
FORTRAN
System/36 BASIC
Assembler
Query/36

Overview

The Advanced/36 is physically smaller than other S/36 offerings, but because it contains much more advanced technology. It was sold 11 years after the 5360 and 5362 system units. It was cheaper, with prices beginning at US$12,000.[2] The smallest 5362 sold for about US$20,000, and a maxed-out 5360 sold for upwards of US$200,000.

Configurations

The maximum configuration of an Advanced/36 is 4.19 Gb of disk storage, 256 Mb of memory, one tape drive, and one single 8" (or 5.25") diskette drive along with a communication adapter for modems (like BSCA/SLDC) and the twinax. brick(s) and a card for installing 9-track tape drive (9438-12).

The A/36 was marketed in three packages: the Small package, the Growth package, and the Large package. Machines sold in 1994 contained a version of the System Support Program (SSP) operating system designated "7.1", this was the 9402-236. In 1995, an upgraded A/36 was offered with a version of SSP designated "7.5", these were the 9402-436 model.[3] A 236 could be upgraded to a 436. The 436 model could also run OS/400. They (236 vs 436) were not compatible because they were integrated into the Licensed Internal Code (LIC). However, the compiled programs that were compiled under 7.1 or 7.5, were interchangeable. That is, if you started off with the model 236 (7.1) and had it either upgraded to the model 436 (7.5), or moved to a 436, the programs ran without recompilation.

You had options for cpu speed on the model 436. The base was known as 1.0 (#2102), and the next level up was 1.3 (#2104) times as fast and the latter being said to be 2.4 (#2106) times faster. This was cpu relative performance. The A236 was #2100.

Users of the 536x series of the System/36 had a few different routes to "migrate" to the A/36. One method was if you had compatible "tape" drives, you could basically do a "save all" of your libraries and data and restore them onto the A/36 from the S/36. You might have to play with the configuration and/or users, but as far as the data and programs that is all it took. You did not have to recompile any program; you simply backed up the libraries or objects and put on either and they ran just fine. You could also move files/programs with floppy disks however that could be a very slow process if alot of data. Another option was that you could move your data via the communication ports with like a modem eliminator but that too could be slow. IBM sold a device that you hooked up via twinax on both the old S/36 and on the A/36 and it would move the data/libraries etc. to complete the migration.

Programming languages

Like all S/36s, the Advanced/36 had five programming languages: RPG II, COBOL, FORTRAN, System/36 BASIC, and Assembler, though RPG II was by far the most popular language because it was the least expensive.

The standard A/36 shipped with a very popular application called POP, or Programmer and Operator Productivity Aid (POP). POP was so popular on the earlier S/36 that more copies were pirated than sold, according to industry publications. POP added a point-and-shoot interface for S/36 objects such as libraries and files, and a full-screen text editor that more closely resembled AS/400 SEU than System/36 SEU.

Backup and storage

One difference between the A/36 and earlier S/36s is the 9402 Tape Drive. This is the standard 1/4" cartridge which can store up to 2.5 Gb of data. For A/36 customers, a complete backup of the system can fit on one cartridge. The 9402 is similar to the 6157 Tape Drive but much more condensed. The 9402 is backward-compatible for read purposes — the A/36 can read the 60MB tapes from a 6157 but cannot write to them; likewise the S/36 with a 6157 can write the 60MB tape but cannot read the 250MB or 2.5Gb tapes from the A/36. As far as 9-track tape on the S/36 (5360), it was 800/1600 bpi, where the 9438-12 model on the A/36 was 1600/6250 bpi.

The A/36 CD-ROM drive cannot contain customer data and cannot be used to play music, even though it is equipped with a headphone jack. It is provided for PTF installation only. PTF CDs can only be applied if the operator follows a bypass procedure to switch device codes with the tape unit. The CD unit becomes TC. The CD unit was only on the 436 model, not the 236.

The A/36 8" diskette drive is optional and was marketed for approximately US$1,000. It was the easiest way to save files or programs from an A/36 and restore on a S/36. The A/36 offered both an 8" diskette and a 5.25" diskette drive option.

By the year 2000, the A/36 was no longer being marketed; however SSP could be run on the AS/400 Model 150 and Model 170.

Differences between System/36 and Advanced/36

Front Panel

The front panel of the A/36 is completely different. The operator can pry open a small drive bay-sized enclosure and reveal an LCD panel with hexadecimal digits as follows:

  B  N  05469463

The first letter is A, B, C, or D, and describes the IPL source. A patched or an unpatched System License Code can be chosen (dialed up and selected with press-buttons.) An IPL method (N or M) can be chosen; N means "normal" or automatic; the computer can completely restart itself when power is restored following a power outage. M means "manual." If this is chosen, the operator must sign on to begin IPL. Ironically, the old System/36 issued a warning message if the IPL was done on the same date as the previous IPL; the Advanced/36 issues a warning message if the IPL was done on a different date.

The eight hexadecimal digits change during IPL and document the presently-executing IPL stage. If an error occurs during IPL, it is possible to write down the 8 digits, look up the associated IPL stage in a small IBM-supplied manual, and take the appropriate response.

References
  1. Cooper, James; Stern, Nancy B.; Stern, Robert A. (1997). Programming in COBOL/400. Wiley. p. 2. ISBN 978-0471127222.
  2. Stedman, Craig (October 31, 1994). "IBM calls on System/36 to pave way for AS/400". Computerworld. 28 (44): 65, 69 – via Google Books.
  3. Hoskins, Jim (2000). Exploring IBM Technology, Products, and Services. Maximum. p. 134. ISBN 978-1885068446.
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