Everything you need to know about Mainframe Migration

Mainframe migrations are always successful when you do it right. More than a decade of large scale enterprise mainframe migrations have led to best practices and strategies that establish robust distributed solutions, always outperforming their previous mainframe environments, and with more ongoing modernization flexibility and scalability.

So what do you need for a successful migration? Selection of the right solution and solution provider is just the beginning. Experience gained through dozens of large migration projects suggests these 10 primary best practices.

1. Ensure that all 10 components common to all migrations are designed for and assigned clear ownership

Establish ownership for delivery of each of the 10 components and obtain firm delivery schedule commitments. The 10 components are:

·         Primary programming languages (like COBOL, PL/I and Natural)

·         Secondary programming languages (like Easytrieve and Assembler)

·         Data infrastructure and data stored in files and relational databases

·         Batch application infrastructure (including JCL, Supporting Utilities, and Job Scheduler)

·         Online application infrastructure (including TP System and User Interface Screens)

·         Application and system level security (like RACF, TopSecret, and ACF2)

·         Output, content and report management (like CA-View//Deliver, ASG-Mobius, and IBM FileNet)

·         Development, test, and QA infrastructure

·         Production, failover, and disaster recovery infrastructure

·         Application modernization architecture and tooling

2. Apply expert solution architecture advice to target solution design

During the Analysis & Design delivery phase, apply expert advice to technical solution design, with a primary deliverable being a documented solution design that will ensure the right fit for your unique requirements and target environment.

3. Apply strong project management and solution architecture expertise across your project lifecycle

Show your modernization project due respect. Do not minimize the value of strong project management and solution architect support for your project.

4. Assign strong subject matter expertise to ensure solution adoption and success

Gain the expected value from your solution. Assign strong internal subject matter experts (SMEs) to champion, endorse, support, and sustain continuing solution value improvement.

5. Prepare robust problem resolution processes early (toward the end of the Build phase going into the Test phase)

Avoid wasted time in post-migration testing and production support. Implement and use the right tools and train a core technical team in problem resolution processes and procedures before going into production.

6. Leverage pre-existing test processes to a maximum extent

Again, avoid wasted time in post-migration testing and production support. Thoroughly prepare test data and scripts, leveraging your existing testing assets and processes.

7. Adopt an incident-tracking solution from the start of your project

Adopt and use an internal incident-tracking solution from the very beginning. Using a help desk incident-tracking solution as a central repository:

·         Renders the process immediately efficient.

·         Ensures visible accountability and reportability.

·         Avoids "lost issues."

·         Makes valuable issue resolution approaches and solutions available for posterity on a searchable and reportable basis.

8. Organize support processes and operations environment support during the Project Initiation phase

Address internal support processes and other operational considerations during project planning and solution design to assist in developing a realistic delivery schedule and minimize rework or unexpected delays. The application team running a project frequently lacks experience with infrastructure projects and related procurement/support processes in the target environment. It is important for the delivery team(s) to understand the internal processes, lead times, change windows, lockdown schedules, and other constraints.

9. Limit data conversion planning to "input files"

Segregate "input files" from other file types and gather all associated record layouts. Only input files (VSAM, QSAM, etc.) require conversion. Therefore, it's important to identify which are the input files vs. temporary files vs. output files. Data migration can be a significant part of the project, so putting in effort up front saves on budget and schedule.

10. Plan specifically for cost savings, then track achievement

Gain the expected value from your solution. Implement strong leadership and teaming approaches in your production environment with the mandate and accountability to measure and deliver on the ROI that was agreed upon when the solution was procured. Quantify your ROI opportunity and measure results. IT cost reduction well in excess of 50% or 60% is common. Application maintenance and development productivity improvement usually exceeds 20%.

The payoff

If you get it right, you'll be positioned for the future, and these business improvement metrics could be yours:

·         50+% IT cost reduction

·         25+% development productivity improvement

·         30+% system performance improvement

·         15+% application quality improvement