IBM Power Systems is a broad family name, but the buying decision is usually specific. An AS400 or IBM i team is not only asking what the product family is. They are trying to decide which server class, operating system, storage design, maintenance plan, and migration sequence will protect a business application that may have been running for decades.

This guide starts at IBM Power Systems as a family name and works down to the decisions underneath it: Power 11, Power 10, refurbished Power 9, AIX capacity, IBM i upgrades, and AS400 modernization.

Start with the workload, not the model name

The right IBM Power System depends on the workload profile. A small IBM i environment with stable nightly processing buys differently than a multi-partition manufacturing, distribution, banking, or healthcare system with tight batch windows and integration demands.

Before comparing models, document current processor use, memory, disk, I/O adapters, tape or backup dependencies, number of partitions, IBM i version, AIX or Linux requirements, application vendor support, high availability, and disaster recovery expectations.

Buying current generation: Power 11

IBM announced Power 11 on July 8, 2025. For teams planning a long refresh cycle, Power 11 is the current-generation choice for IBM i, AIX, and Linux workloads. It is the strongest fit when the business wants the longest support runway, better performance headroom, newer security capabilities, and a cleaner modernization window.

Power 11 should be evaluated when the existing AS400, iSeries, or older IBM Power estate is approaching support limits, when batch windows are tight, when application vendors require newer IBM i levels, or when leadership wants to reduce hardware age risk.

Buying Power 10 or refurbished Power 9

Power 10 and refurbished Power 9 systems can still make sense for constrained projects, spare capacity, test environments, short-term bridge plans, or buyers that need IBM i compatibility but cannot justify a full current-generation refresh. The risk is that the purchase window can be shorter, maintenance options can be narrower, and migration timing may come back sooner.

Use refurbished IBM Power hardware carefully. Confirm machine type, serial history, processor activation, memory, disk, adapters, feature codes, operating system support, firmware level, and maintenance availability before treating a used system as production-ready.

IBM Power Systems for AIX and P Series teams

Plenty of people arrive at IBM Power Systems when the real subject is AIX or P Series. Same hardware family, different set of decisions. AIX teams care about UNIX application support, LPAR design, virtualization, storage throughput, and platform continuity. AS400 and IBM i teams care more about IBM i release support, RPG and database workloads, backup, and migration sequence.

This guide covers the shared hardware family and keeps the two operating system decisions separate, because blending them is what turns platform advice generic.

Model, machine type, and feature code research

Most of the time you will be working from a machine type, model number, processor feature, memory feature, disk feature, controller, tape device, or power supply rather than a family name. That level of detail is what a quote needs, because it is where a configuration, a replacement part, or a maintenance contract is actually validated.

This site keeps a record for each model family, machine type, feature code, storage and tape option, power requirement, and service option, so a part number can be checked against a real configuration. Use this page to narrow the decision, then the machine-type record to confirm the detail.

Questions to ask before requesting quotes

  • Which IBM i, AIX, or Linux versions must the system support?
  • Is the project a new server, capacity upgrade, migration, spare system, or maintenance extension?
  • Which machine type, model, processor features, memory, storage, adapters, and tape devices are already in use?
  • Will the environment need high availability, disaster recovery, or backup redesign as part of the project?
  • Does the reseller understand both the hardware quote and the IBM i migration risk?

FAQ

Is IBM Power Systems specific enough to get a quote on?

Not on its own. It is a family name spanning several generations and three operating systems. A quote needs the model, and usually the machine type and feature codes underneath it.

Does IBM Power Systems include AS400?

Modern AS400 workloads run as IBM i on IBM Power Systems. AS400 is the legacy name many teams still use for the business applications, while IBM Power Systems is the hardware family that supports the current environment.

Can one IBM Power System run IBM i and AIX?

Yes. Logical partitioning allows IBM Power hardware to support multiple workloads, including IBM i, AIX, and Linux, depending on licensing, configuration, and support requirements.

Related IBM Power planning guides

Need help mapping IBM Power Systems options?

If the project involves AS400, iSeries, IBM i, AIX, storage, backup, refurbished hardware, or a current-generation Power 11 refresh, start with a configuration review before requesting quotes.