The IBM 9402-236 and 9402-436 are part of the IBM Advanced/36 series, midrange systems introduced in the mid-1990s to bridge legacy IBM System/36 users to the AS/400 platform. These models combine adapted AS/400 hardware (based on the 9402-400 series) with System Support Program (SSP) software for full compatibility with System/36 applications (RPG II, COBOL, OCL, DFU, SDA, SEU), while also supporting OS/400 for dual-mode operation and future migration. The 9402-236 (SSP 7.1, entry-level) and 9402-436 (SSP 7.5, enhanced with PowerPC processors) allow "staying 36" on modern hardware at lower cost, with features like integrated fax, Internet access (via OS/400), LAN support, Client Access/400 PC connectivity, and Electronic Customer Support.
These systems are ideal for maintaining legacy System/36 workloads, small to medium business applications, or phased migration to full AS/400/iSeries environments.
These systems extend System/36 lifecycle cost-effectively before full AS/400 transition.