Vintage Computer: 1988 IBM 9370 "BABY MAINFRAME" Distributed Computing Processing Technology VM VAX

Описание: IBM Computer History: 9370 “Baby Mainframe” servers of 1986. Office Automation, Computers, Distributed Computing, VM, Networking Technology. An IBM Promotional film describes how 9370 servers can achieve increased productivity and communication in business offices and data centers. In 1986, IBM introduced the 9370 family System/370 compatible business computers. Called the "baby mainframe" it provided business users with a seamless integration path with existing mainframes. This educational film shows how the 9370 and VM (Virtual Machine) environment can be beneficial to business users and employees. (A competitor to the Deck VAX computer) Color, 15 mins.
(With thanks to IBM Archives) Comments are welcome.

In 1986, IBM introduced the 9370, a family of mid-range computers marketed as "baby mainframes." These systems were designed to bridge the gap between mainframes and minicomputers, offering a smaller, more affordable alternative for businesses with growing computing needs. The 9370 was compatible with IBM's System/370 architecture, allowing for seamless integration with existing mainframe environments.
The 9370 family offered a range of models with varying levels of performance and storage capacity, allowing businesses to choose the system that best suited their specific requirements. Additionally, the 9370 could run a variety of operating systems, including VM/CMS, VSE/ESA, and AIX, providing flexibility in software choices. These baby mainframes were praised for their compact size, affordability, and ease of use, making them popular among small and medium-sized businesses. While the 9370 may not have achieved the widespread adoption of larger mainframe systems, it played a significant role in the evolution of mid-range computing and helped pave the way for the development of more powerful and versatile systems in the years to come.

By 1990 the 9370 line had around 6,300 installed systems, less than IBM anticipated.
By contrast, in 1988, the much more successful A.S. four-hundred was introduced and sold over one-half million units by 1997.
Many 9370 machines are still in use today.