[KLUG Members] Information On IBM Mainframe migration

[Adam Williams]

> This is the information that we got. Had been away for some training.
> Some of the components that a Mainframe environment has are:
> 1) transaction processing environment ( called CICS)

Can you define exactly (technicall) a "TPE" is?

> 2) batch processing environment ( the scheduling of job is done by using
> JCL : job control language)

I've read about JCL.  It seems Linux offers a variety of equivalents,
and JCL itself is little loved.

> The programming is done via Cobol

Ah, yes.

> 3) The files are stored using VSAM ( 3 different types of files: differing
> in the way of indexing)

Yep.  A bevy of COBOL tools are available including AcuCOBOL and
RM/COBOL.  I've used AcuCOBOL on Linux,  works the same as everywhere
else.

> 4) The files can also be stored in a database ( DB2) : there are some other
> database systems ( I am not familiar)

DB2 is nice.  A free person version is available for Linux.

> Files can be either in ASCII or in EBCDIC format.

FYI,  the "dd" command can covert files back and forth between EBCDIC &
ASCII.  I've used this alot to load tapes onto Linux that where written
on an S/390.

> 5) BMS : maps that give display on terminals ( you can define postion of
> text, text colors)

printcap/terminfo?

> Migration Options :
> CICS environment :
>   1) TX Series ( This software is from IBM) :  Supports most of the
> functionality Needs CICS client for terminal access and
>           Universal gateway for  web access
>  2) LegacyJ : java based solution, which requires a web application server.
> The transaction engine runs on top of web application server. Maps BMS by
> converting to HTML

I've talked to LegacyJ, those guys are big in the Informix world too.

> JCL :
>  JCL can be replaced by using shell scripts . Conversion tools are
> available

Yep.  Although I'd bet that something that supported exceptions would be
nice.  Maybe perl does that?

> Assembler Programs :
> C programs can replace these

Or anything; Assembler - GACK!

> Data Files :
> Convert to ASCII if needed
> Database : DB2 : can be migrated to Oracle or different database

Or just use DB2 on Linux.

> Cobol
>    We can use either Micro Focus Server Express or LegacyJ Percobol (
> recommended if you use LegacyJ's transaction engine)
> There are also windows solutions ( but I am not sure if they would be
> reliable as the UNIX solutions)

That is a given.