AS400 Migration

AS400 (or AS/400) migration refers to the process of moving legacy workloads, applications, and data from an IBM AS400 server to the cloud. AS400, now known as the IBM iSeries, is a reliable and robust server that has been in use by businesses for decades. However, as technology evolves, businesses are increasingly moving towards the cloud to take advantage of its scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.

The benefits of moving AS400 workloads to the cloud are numerous. First, cloud computing eliminates the need for physical servers, reducing hardware and maintenance costs. Second, the cloud provides efficiency because computing capacity and storage scales up or down based on the needs of the business. Third, cloud providers offer a range of cloud-native services that can enhance the functionality of legacy applications. For example, cloud providers can offer advanced analytics, AI and machine learning, and automation capabilities that were previously unavailable to organizations using AS400 servers on-prem.

AS400 to Cloud Migration

The process of migrating AS400 workloads to the cloud requires careful planning and execution. Here are some key steps and considerations to keep in mind:

Assess the AS400 Environment: Before beginning the AS400 migration process, it’s essential to understand the scope and complexity of the AS400 environment. This includes identifying all the applications, data, and hardware that need to be migrated.

Choose a Cloud Provider: The next step is to choose a cloud provider that can meet the specific migration needs.

Plan the Migration Strategy: An effective migration strategy should include a detailed plan for moving each application, data set, and hardware component to the cloud. It’s important to consider factors such as downtime, data transfer speeds, and security during the planning phase. During this phase, you’ll need to decide if you are going to migrate workloads and applications as-is to the cloud (“lift and shift”) or look to re-build the applications. The lift and shift strategy offers significant advantages as it reduces costs, timelines and business risk.

Test the Migration: Before migrating an entire AS400 environment to the cloud, it’s important to test the migration process with a smaller subset of data or applications. This makes it possible to identify and address any issues before migrating the entire environment.

Migrate the Environment: Once the AS400 migration strategy has been tested and refined, it’s time to begin the migration process. This typically involves transferring data and applications to the cloud and configuring them to work in the new environment.

Verify the Migration: After the migration is complete, it’s essential to verify that all data and applications are working as expected. This involves testing the performance, functionality, and security of the migrated environment.

Legacy Application and Data Migration

In addition to moving AS400 workloads to the cloud, businesses may also need to migrate legacy applications and data to the cloud. This is a complex process that requires a thorough understanding of legacy systems. 

Legacy application migration involves identifying the code, libraries, and dependencies required to run the application and creating a plan to migrate them to the cloud. 

Legacy data migration involves transferring data from the legacy system to the cloud while ensuring data integrity, consistency, and security.

AS400 migration to the cloud offers many benefits to businesses, including cost savings, improved functionality, and scalability. However, the migration process requires careful planning, execution, and testing to ensure a successful outcome. Businesses should work with experienced cloud providers to design and implement migration strategies that meet their specific needs and requirements. By moving their legacy workloads to the cloud, businesses can modernize their IT infrastructures and stay competitive in rapidly evolving digital landscapes.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing has become a popular method for modernizing IT infrastructure and providing reliable, scalable, and cost-effective solutions for businesses of all sizes. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is one of the three main types of cloud computing, along with platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS). IaaS provides businesses with virtualized computing resources — such as storage, servers, and networking — that can be managed and scaled as needed.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

One of the primary cloud benefits is the ability to access powerful computing resources and services that would be otherwise unaffordable or unavailable for small and medium-sized businesses. Cloud computing can help businesses to modernize their IT infrastructure, improve collaboration, reduce costs, and increase productivity. Cloud services are available on-demand, which means businesses can quickly scale up or down depending on their needs.

Another advantage of cloud computing is the flexibility and agility that it offers. Businesses can easily deploy applications and services without the need for complex physical infrastructure management or setup. This allows businesses to focus on their core offerings and improve their overall efficiency. This can also help solve for the growing AS400 (IBM i) employee skills gap.

Cloud Infrastructure as a Service

Cloud infrastructure as a service is a cloud computing model that provides businesses with virtualized computing resources, including storage, servers, and networking. This allows businesses to move away from traditional on-premise infrastructure and take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing. IaaS makes it possible for businesses to pay only for the resources that they use and to easily scale up or down as needed.

One of the key benefits of IaaS is that businesses can avoid the costs associated with physical hardware, maintenance, and upgrades. IaaS providers manage the underlying infrastructure, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations. Migrating from on-premise to cloud infrastructure can lead to significant cost savings, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.

Cloud Provider and Infrastructure Management

Choosing the right cloud provider is essential for businesses that want to take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing. Cloud providers offer a range of services, pricing models, and features, so it’s important to choose a provider that can meet the specific needs of the business.

Cloud infrastructure management is another important consideration. Businesses should work with their cloud provider to ensure that their infrastructure is properly configured, secured, and optimized for performance. This includes monitoring system performance, analyzing usage patterns, and ensuring that security protocols are in place.

Cloud computing offers numerous benefits for businesses of all sizes, including cost savings, increased productivity, and improved collaboration. IaaS allows businesses to take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing while avoiding the costs associated with physical hardware, maintenance, and upgrades. By leveraging the power of cloud computing, businesses can modernize their IT infrastructures and remain competitive in their industries.

AIX Cloud Migration

AIX Cloud Migration involves the process of moving on-premise AIX workloads to the cloud to modernize IT infrastructure and improve operational efficiency. AIX is a UNIX-based operating system that has been widely used for running legacy AIX applications in many enterprises. With the advent of cloud computing, AIX applications are starting to become less popular, and many businesses are looking for ways to migrate them to the cloud instead. However, some businesses still continue to use AIX and consider it relevant for their operations.

Migrating AS400 and AIX Applications

Migrating AS400 and AIX applications to the cloud can be a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. Businesses need to carefully assess their current infrastructure, including their applications, data, and systems, to determine which applications can be migrated to the cloud and which ones need to be modernized.

Skytap on Azure is a cloud-based solution that provides a secure, scalable platform for running AS400 applications natively in the cloud. Skytap on Azure provides businesses with a robust platform, allowing them to move their AS400 applications to the cloud quickly and easily.

Benefits of AIX Cloud Migration

AIX cloud migration offers businesses a variety of benefits, including cost savings, improved operational efficiency, and increased flexibility. One of the primary benefits is the ability to reduce costs associated with on-premise infrastructure, including hardware, software, and maintenance. Cloud infrastructure providers typically use a pay-as-you-go model, which means that businesses only pay for the resources they use. This can result in significant cost savings for businesses of all sizes.

AS400 Migration with Skytap on Azure

Migrating AS400 and AIX applications to the cloud can be a complex process, but with the right tools and expertise, businesses can successfully optimize their IT infrastructures to remain efficient and competitive even as technology rapidly advances. Learn more about Skytap on Azure for running your AS400 workloads in the cloud.