Database migration

Whether on a mainframe or an open system, replacing a database is a complex technical project requiring experience and dedicated tools.

Issues

During such a project, you’ll face a number of technical issues, each requiring a specific strategy and solutions.

Mainframe databases

Not all mainframe databases are relational. Far from it. They include: Hierarchical databases such as IMS DL/1, network databases such as IDMS, IDS2, indexed databases such as Datacom or Adabas, and even many types of file often used as databases.

Migrating these databases to a relational database like DB2 involves:

1. Creating a suitable relational data model
2. Migrating the data to this new model,
3. If migrating to an open platform, you will need to migrate the data from EBCDIC to ASCII, which requires special handling of binary data,
4. Adapting the programs so that they return the same result,
5. Carrying out extensive non-regression tests,
6. Optimizing performance to ensure that it is at least equivalent All these operations are supported by our workshops, enabling you to migrate your mainframe databases fast.

Open databases

In the open world, the situation seems a little more favorable, as there are practically only relational databases.

However, they all have their own particularities:

• Oracle, for example, does not respect the SQL standard,
• PostgreSQL does not accept Low Value in Alpha fields, which is very common in Cobol and can cause problems,
• The way in which high-performance SQL is written differs greatly from one database to another,
• Dynamic SQL, SQL embedded in programs or scripts, real programs in the form of PL/SQL… are frequently found.
• The volumes of data to be transported are often huge,
• Non-regression tests are also essential,
• Some databases, such as PostgreSQL, don’t provide a COBOL precompiler
• Etc.

Focus migration from Oracle to PostgreSQL

Migration from Oracle to PostgreSQL delivers rapid ROI and excellent performance. We provide you with a structured and proven migration approach, automatic transformation tools covering the entire transformation cycle, and adapted middleware such as an optimized PostgreSQL driver and a Cobol precompiler.

Use cases