Unlocking the Benefits of Modernization: Migrating from IMS to Db2 on the Mainframe

Mainframe Modernization seems to be all the rage and organizations that use IBM Z are evaluating different modernization options. One area where they could get real business benefits is by moving from IMS to Db2. This move can modernize the mainframe environment by leveraging a more current database technology, improving data accessibility, reducing complexity, and making the system more adaptable to future needs.

Syncsort™ Optimize IMS is a data migration and application transparency solution specifically designed to address the challenges of IMS data migration to Db2. This solution provides rapid and efficient migration between IMS and Db2, without the traditional risks and costs associated with rewriting applications to support Db2, and works with your existing software so your applications can remain unchanged.

During this webinar, we will explore key topics such as:

A smarter approach to IMS data migration
How to minimize risk during a migration
How this modernization step can improve productivity

1. Unlocking the Benefits of Modernization: Migrating from IMS to Db2 on the Mainframe Bill Hammond | Director, Product Marketing Denise Tabor | Senior Product Management Director

2. Today’s Topic Modernization and IMS Minimizing risks in migration How Syncsort Optimize IMS works Is it right for you? Q & A 2

3. Modernization and IMS

4. $3.4 b illion Projected global spending on digital transformation by 2026 ( statista ) Digital transformation is accelerating 51 % of IT budgets will be focused on digital innovation and transformation by 2024. (Probe CX)

5. Key Drivers The need to integrate mainframe systems with modern technologies and applications.   Optimizing mainframe operations and reducing hardware and software costs.   Attracting and retaining skilled mainframe professionals. Reducing the risk of system failures and data breaches. 5

6. Mainframe Modernization 6 Key goals: Optimize mainframe systems for improved performance, scalability, and flexibility.   Enhance maintainability and reduce operational costs.   Integrate mainframe systems with modern technologies and applications.   Leverage the power of the mainframe as the backbone of IT operations Modernization can include: Enhancing user experience and interaction. Updating programming languages and coding standards. Improve data access and management. Moving mainframe workloads to the cloud for increased agility and cost-efficiency.   Adopting DevOps practices for faster development and deployment.  

7. Challenges with IBM IMS IMS is a hierarchical database with extensive transaction processing capabilities IMS has been in organizations for decades IMS generally runs applications that are mission critical and complicated and rewriting applications is hard to get right However, there are huge costs in supporting IMS Staffing, IMS DB licensing, 3rd party management tools for IMS (BMC, Compuware, CA, IBM) Enforced upgrades to current versions of IMS DB (On average every 2 years) There are significant benefits in moving from IMS to Db2 Support for modern web applications, new fields and new lines of business Drastically reduced infrastructure costs 7

8. What’s driving the move to Db2 Presentation name 8 Technological advantages of Db2 Relational DBMS offer greater flexibility SQL compatibility makes Db2 more accessible broader develop pool Db2 performance and scalability matches or exceeds IMS in many scenarios Talent availability IMS developers becoming hard to find Db2 offer larger pool of experienced professionals Investing in Db2 training is more cost-effective Mitigation of risk IBM's continued investment in Db2 provides confidence in the platform's future. Db2 often offers more robust disaster recovery options. Db2 typically includes advanced security features to protect sensitive data.

9. Current state… 9 IMS has been a workhorse for decades, but those who wrote, maintain and support this platform are retiring Re-writing or re-platforming is a significant challenge Many projects fail to complete or even get off the ground IMS applications are often mission critical, so re-development is a daunting and highly-risky undertaking Replicating the decades of custom business logic built into these applications, into new development is a huge task

10. Minimize the risks

11. What is Precisely’s Syncsort Optimize IMS? Combination of IMS to Db2 migration and mapping tools to migrate IMS segments to Db2 tables The interface between the IMS applications, which do not change and the migrated IMS data that is now residing in Db2 Replaces the IMS DB with Db2, eliminating the need for IMS support tools (BMC, Compuware, etc.) Consolidates your database maintenance activities to one platform – Db2 Provides a transparent data migration route from IMS DB on z/OS to Db2 on z/OS Does not replicate data to Db2. It replaces IMS DB so that all your production data is now residing in Db2 Does not touch application code … rewriting applications is hard to get right 11

12. Syncsort Optimize IMS Syncsort Optimize IMS is … Syncsort Optimize IMS is not … …a combination of IMS to Db2 migration and mapping tools to migrate IMS segments to Db2 tables …a replacement for the IMS Db stub program that acts as the interface between IMS applications (which do not change) and the migrated IMS data that now resides in Db2 …a replacement for IMS DB and IMS support tools (e.g. IBM, BMC, Compuware) …replicating data to Db2. It is replacing IMS DB so that all your production data resides in Db2 12

13. How it works

14. Transparent migration process overview 14

15. Transparent migration process overview Syncsort Optimize IMS Stub 15

16. Transparent migration process overview 16 Syncsort Optimize IMS Stub Syncsort Optimize IMS Stub

17. Is Syncsort Optimize IMS Right for You?

18. Justification for Syncsort Optimize IMS Easier and less risky to move IMS applications to Db2 Alleviates staffing challenges and licensing costs associated with IMS Converts the underlying database to Db2, without changing the IMS application programs Eliminates the need for third-party IMS tools or IMS DBA and systems expertise Once databases have been converted, SQL and Db2 skills can be used to make changes and/or add new functionality to existing applications 18 In many cases Syncsort Optimize IMS becomes a steppingstone to full application modernization using native Db2/SQL

19. Choosing Syncsort Optimize IMS Extend Life of Applications Staffing Challenges Cost Reduction 19 Moving to a relational DB model without need to rewrite applications Fewer and fewer developers and DBA’s with IMS Skills License fees for IMS and related tools can be very expensive There are 3 reasons companies choose Syncsort Optimize IMS to migrate from IMS to Db2

20. Q & A