Client Access - to As400 (ISeries)

Hi all,
this is a project I'm currently looking at to dramtically reduce the cost of a scanning process in the workplace. Currently we have a PC (linked to the As400) for all of our workstations. Connected to this is a wired LAN connection (usual keyboard and mouse) and a scanner (wedge). Basically, it feels a little 'overkill' to be using a full spec Windows PC to user as an intermediate device just for interfacing with a scanner and the As400.
So, I was thinking - using Debian Squeeze - is there a piece of software out there can allow the PI to link wirelessly to As400 (Client Prog) .... I think VMware is out of scope here ....
Not sure if anyone as had experience with this kind of development .....?
I'm looking at this link at the moment - http://packages.debian.org/stable/tn5250
Who knows? Could be a way of getting the PI into an industrial environment (lol).

Hi Darius007,
I'm also interested in installing an AS400 client on a Raspberry Pi.
I'm still waiting for my Pi, but as far as I know, it exists a Linux version of the IBM Access client. OK, it's a .rpm but it's possible ton convert it to .deb thanks to the "alien" command.
For the moment I'm doing some tests inside a virtual machine running Debian Squeeze. Let's hope it'll work and it also work on Raspbian...
If you find out something, please let me know

Yes, the raspberry pi will work for connecting to the iSeries. I haven't used IBM's linux version of Client Access, but I assume the .rpm contains software compiled for x86 systems, and wouldn't work on the pi.

I have a proof-of-concept up on my site, http://loudifier.com/the-raspberry-pi-is-still-not-going-to-change-the-world/

I used the standard Raspbian wheezy distro, and I am using TN5250 for green screen emulation. The basic setup is:

Raspbian, set up however you want it, running LXDE
Compile and install ncurses v5.9 from source
Compile and install TN5250 v16.5 from source
apt-get install xterm
run xt5250 [iseries IP address]

I am also using a Unitech USB barcode scanner, and it works fine. Since most scanners operate in fairly basic HID mode, pretty much any USB scanner should work fine with the pi.