Overseeing the AS400 Migration Process

Ever since it was first launched during the year 1988, the AS400 server has gained unprecedented success and recognition. The widespread popularity of the operation system can be accredited to its safe and efficient processes. The operating system has withstood the challenges of every passing year, to come out on top even after a century has passed.

Several organizations have relied on the AS400 solution for years to run their preferred ERP solutions. The solutions provided by AS400 can help streamline business performance and help in the expansion of technologies. Once businesses expand and open new doors, they are able to move towards more comprehensive solutions.

Read – All About AS400/iSeries

In this article, we take a look at AS400 migrations, including the broad definitions that come within this term. The term can be implemented in multiple contexts. Based on the business objectives that an organization wants to meet, an AS400 migration could mean moving to open sources databases, the integration of cloud-based applications or leveraging existing operational data.

AS400 migration .Net servers or any other database for that matter can help save time and information. The process can also help leverage business logic.

The AS400 Process for Migration

The AS400 migration process is simple, and is made up of certain steps. There are certain roadblocks that come before a migration process, if the host organization hasn’t done its homework.

For starters, there is the threat of limited knowledge. Limited knowledge can usually mean that organizations and authorities are hesitant of taking a leap of faith and going towards the migration process. The results brought through the migration process are usually dependent on the knowledge of the host.

Moving onwards, there are certain migration risks that need to be mitigated in time. Migrations usually come with a ton of advantages and risks. The risks that come in the process, especially during an AS400 migration can lead to serious disadvantages and repercussions.

Many managers and organizations also fear the change that comes through migration. Managers fear the change that will come through the implementation and how it can stop innovation.

The process for an AS400 migration includes the following steps:

1. Assess: The first step is to thoroughly assess the functional and technical aspects of the current status. The current assessment stage will help unearth key discrepancies.
2. Strategize: The second step is to strategize and determine a thorough migration plan that can be followed at all times. The level of cloud integration can be based on the strategies set here.
3. Set Objectives: The third step is to prioritize tasks and define objectives that can be tackled and migrated towards the Cloud. The objectives set here define goal management through the migration process.
4. Execute: Once strategies are set and the objectives are defined, the organization can move towards execution process where the data is migrated to or from AS400.
5. Support and Maintenance: The last step is to provide unending support and maintenance to the providers. The real time assistance can help open doors to the future.

Benefits of AS400

The AS400 database solution is still used to run high level transactions that are extremely safe, efficient and reliable in the long run. Legacy systems have been associated with the AS400 for ages. Some of the benefits of the AS400 are discussed below:

Stability

The AS400 has never been questioned for its stability and power. The database is extremely reliable in nature and is still recognized today for limiting down on the problems associated with it. A recent survey conducted by IBM found out that most AS400 users get an average of 5.1 hours of unavailability per year. This rate of downtime goes to prove that the database is stable and up and running at most times, without fail.

Considering the need for databases to remain live around the clock, there is a need for 99.99 percent uptime. Something that AS400 delivers on.

Security

AS400 is as secure as any database can be and hasn’t been infected with any virus. The database is safe from external viruses and has proven to withstand the challenges of time. Server security is extremely important today. The protection afforded and provided by AS400 is among the best to defend against attacks and threat actors. Another research conducted recently revealed that 98.9 percent of all users on AS400 have never encountered a data threat. This object-based design by AS400 has been working without fail for ages now and has provided security to many growing organizations.

Read – AS400 Documentation

Performance

AS400 has set the benchmark in the industry, as the volume of data and transactions managed by the database are still referenced in industries such as retail and banking. All such industries recognize the importance of performance in the sector and provide growth measures that require complex calculations.

The AS400 server gives access to multiple users to work on the same server at one time. This can help the ROI of the server and improve overall system utility.

Versatility

Finally, the AS400 is very versatile in nature. The servers are configured with time and can be used for multiple environments. The servers can either be used for the AS400 environment alone, or include other environments. All new AS400 versions are fully tested by IBM and are trusted by users.

Almost 50 percent of all organizations that use AS400 are confident that the solutions will help them achieve growth over time. AS400 modernization are complex, but there are benefits you get from staying on the database.