Editing IBM System/36 (section)

{{Short description|IBM midrange computer (1983–2000)}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox Computer
| name = IBM System/36
| aka = S/36
| logo = File:IBM logo.svg
| logo_size = 100px
| developer = [[IBM]]
| type = [[Midrange computer]]
| first_release_date = {{Start date and age|1983|05|16}}
| discontinued = {{End date|1989}}
| photo = [[File:IBM System36 5360 (2).jpg|270px]]
| caption = Model 5360
| predecessor = [[IBM System/34]]
| successor = [[IBM AS/400]]
| cpu = MSP and CSP
| os = [[System Support Program]]
| dimensions = 1000x1130(1780)x750mm (5360) {{br}}650x375x750mm (5362)
{{br}}162x540x426mm (5364)
{{br}}650x240(320)x700mm (5363)<ref>{{cite web |title=Brochures of IBM system/36 |url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_ibmsystem3_5758111/page/n3/mode/2up |website=archive.org}}</ref>
}}

[[Image:IBM System36 5360 (1).jpg|thumb|280px|IBM 5360 System Unit]]
[[Image:S36 5362.jpg|thumb|280px|IBM 5362 System Unit]]

The '''IBM System/36''' (often abbreviated as '''S/36''') was a [[midrange computer]] marketed by [[IBM]] from 1983 to 2000 - a [[multi-user]], [[Computer multitasking|multi-tasking]] successor to the [[IBM System/34|System/34]].

Like the System/34 and the older [[IBM System/32|System/32]], the System/36 was primarily programmed in the [[IBM RPG|RPG II]] language. One of the machine's optional features was an off-line storage mechanism (on the 5360 model) that utilized "magazines" – boxes of 8-inch [[Floppy disk|floppies]] that the machine could load and eject in a nonsequential fashion. The System/36 also had many mainframe features such as programmable job queues and scheduling priority levels.

While these systems were similar to other manufacturer's [[minicomputer]]s, IBM themselves described the System/32, System/34 and System/36 as "small systems"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/italy/italy_ch3.html |title=IBM Archives: Italy chronology 1970 – 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022045607/http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/italy/italy_ch3.html |archive-date=2007-10-22 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and later as [[midrange computer]]s along with the [[IBM System/38|System/38]] and succeeding [[IBM AS/400]] range.

The AS/400 series and [[IBM Power Systems]] running [[IBM i]] can run System/36 code in the System/36 Environment, although the code needs to be recompiled on IBM i first.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.ibmsystemsmag.com/ibmi/tipstechniques/systemsmanagement/an-overview-of-the-system-36-environment/|title=An Overview of the System/36 Environment|author=Kay Geppart|website=IBM Systems Magazine|date=January 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222073454/http://archive.ibmsystemsmag.com/ibmi/tipstechniques/systemsmanagement/an-overview-of-the-system-36-environment/|archive-date=December 22, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>