Positioning For the Future with Alternative Development Tools!

Tim Archer, Symatrix Technologytarcher@symatrix.com (503) 430-6342

Agenda,

• Symatrix Introduction• History in iSeries Application Development• Today’s and Tomorrow’s Application Needs• Defining iSeries Application Modernization• Modernizing Justification and Considerations• Tools for Retooling Legacy Applications• Getting Starting and Defining Requirements• Break• Advanced Business Link’s Strategi Product Overview• Questions and Wrap up

About Symatrix Technology • Founded February 1996.• Dedicated to the sale and integration of IBM product.• ~90 Employees and headquartered in Beaverton OR.• Offices: Seattle, Eugene, San Francisco, Salt Lake & Hawaii.• Focused on Total Solution Selling.• Products Include,

– pSeries, xSeries, iSeries

– Software (Notes, WebSphere, PowerTech, DB2, ABL)

– Storage (SAN, NAS, ESS/FastT, Tape)

– High Availability products (HACMP, Vision, TSM, Veritas)

– IBM Support Services: Maintenance & SupportLine.

About Symatrix Technology

• Consulting Services,– Project Management & Requirements Gathering– e-Business: WebSphere, Notes/Domino, ABL - Strategi– Infrastructure Services: iSeries, pSeries, xSeries,

SAN/NAS & Network Architecture.– Business continuance: Tivoli, Veritas, HACMP, Vision.

– Application Development: Lotus Notes, Websphere, iSeries: RPG, Cobol, Microsoft: Visual Basic, MS Office.

– Education & Training: Lotus, iSeries, Custom.

• iSeries (AS/400), History of Application Development.– 1980’s

• RPG II, RPG III Hosted Applications.• COBOL Hosted Applications.• Text User Interface, Green Screen.• Non Programmable Terminals, NPTs.• Personal Computers with 5250 Text Emulation.• Simple File Transfer to and from PCs.

Twinax Connections

• iSeries (AS/400), History of Application Development.– 1990’s

• RPGIV, RPGLE/COBOL Hosted Applications.• Development with Case Tools.• MS Windows, GUI PCs.• LAN/WAN Environments.• File Transfer Integration with Desktop Products.

Ethernet/Token Ring

TCP/IP

• iSeries (AS/400), History of Application Development.– 1990’s

• Client/Server Application Modeling.• ODBC, RDO, ADO.• Internet eMail.• Web Access, Browser Based 5250 Emulation.

Ethernet/Token Ring

TCP/IP

Email and5250 Emulation

WWW

• iSeries (AS/400), History of Application Development.– Late 1990’s

• RPGIV, RPGLE/COBOL Hosted Applications.• Common Gateway Interface, (CGI) to an HTML User

Interface (UI).• Java as an Enterprise Development Language.• Trends Towards GUI, Web and Browser Based UI.

WWW

• iSeries (AS/400), History of Application Development.– 2000 up to Today

• AS/400 Renamed to iSeries, 2 CPW Performance Ratings, Interactive & Batch

• IBM Repackages Development Tools, ADTS to WDT• High Speed Internet Access: Frame, DSL, Cable, T1• iSeries Migration/Modernization Tools.

• Graphical User Interface, GUI,• Browser Based Client,• Cross-Platform Supported,• Users More Accustomed to the Windows Environment.

• Intelligent Databases,• Access to Applications & Data from Anywhere,• Wireless Access, (Cell Phones, PDAs),• Advanced Reporting/Printing,• Distributed Content.

Today’s Legacy Applications

After Modernizing?

• eBusiness Enabled,• Adapting New Business Models,• Market Positioning,• Application Partitioning & Modularization,• Re-Designed User Interface,• Ability to Adapt to New Technologies,• Skills to Develop and Support the Application,• Advanced Reporting Tools,• Cross-Platform Supported,• On-Going Continued Process!

Defining iSeries Application Modernization, 30,000 Feet!

• GUI User Interface, Event Driven,• Browser Based Client,• Code Conversion to ILE Environment.• Partitioned, (UI {Input/Output} – Business Logic –

Database),• Database Triggers, Constraints and Stored Procedures,• Utilizes Today’s Modern Development Tools,• Advanced Reporting: Graphics, PDF’s, HTML, email,• Adaptable to Multiple User Interface Technologies!

Defining iSeries Application Modernization!

• Leveraging & Maintaining Traditional iSeries Skill Sets,• Retention of Current iSeries Staff,• Protecting Current Application Investment,• Minimizing Business Impact with Change,• Positioning to Leverage Future Application

Technologies and Skills,• Minimize Technical Re-Training,• Minimize Required Maintenance,• Minimize Financial Investment,• Invest Over Time to Modernize Applications.

• Management Directive, eBusiness Enabled,• IT-Initiated Plan to use New Development Tools such

as Java,• Reduction of Maintenance Overhead through

Application Partitioning and Modularization,• Adaptable to New Technologies,• Achieve Platform Independence,• Delivering a New Class of Applications, (Workflow,

Business Intelligence, Groupware),• Staff Retention and Ability to Hire.

• Rewrite Applications from Scratch?• Cost to Rewrite Applications?• Time to Rewrite, Test, Implement?• New Hardware Requirements?

• Replace with Commercial Software Product?• Package Fit to Current Business Needs?• Modify/Customize For Fit?• Annual Fees and Dependency on Software Vendor?• Re-Training of User Staff and Impact to Business?• New Hardware Requirements?• Migration/Conversion of Current Data?

• Retool/Migrate Existing Applications?• Cost to Retool Applications?• Time to Retool Applications?• New Hardware Requirements?

• Do Nothing?• Risk Finding/Maintaining Technical/Support Skills?• Training of New Users on Legacy Applications?• Functionality/Productivity Loss?• Rising Costs to Replace/Retool Applications?• Risk Competitive Position in Market?

Modernizing Techniques

• 5250 Client & Print Emulation,– Browser Based

– Applet Based

• Legacy Screen Re-Facing, – Compile Time Facing

– Run-Time Facing

• Code Conversion to RPG/COBOL ILE,• Database Modernization,

– Trigger Programs

– Constraints

Modernizing Techniques, Continued

• Legacy Application Partitioning, – Database - Business Logic - User Interface.

– Scratch User Interface & Backend Legacy Application.

• Advanced Reporting,– Imbedded Graphics

– Electronic Delivery/Delivery Format

– Page Segmentation

• 4th GL Code Generators/Frameworks,– Rapid Development Wizards

– Partitioned and Modularized

• Re-Write From Scratch,– JSP’s, EJB’s, HTML, Java, C++

Products to Retool/Migrate Legacy Applications

• 5250 Emulation/Print Services, – IBM’s Access for Web

– Advanced Business Link’s 5250 Applet

– I/Net’s Webulator

• 5250 Re-Facing, – IBM’s Websphere, WebFacing

– Seagull’s Jwalk

– NetManage’s On-Web

– Advanced Business Link’s GUI Style

– Many More…

Products to Retool/Migrate Legacy Applications, Continued

• Advanced Printing, – IBM Infoprint Designer/Server

– Advanced Business Link’s PUSH

– BCD’s Catapult

• Application Partitioning, – IBM’s Host Publisher

– Linoma Soft’s Envoy

– Genesis Legacy Web

– FreeStyle-400

– Advanced Business Link’s HSM

Products to Retool/Migrate Legacy Applications, Continued

• 4th GL’s/Frameworks – LANSA

– IBM’s Websphere Commerce Suite

– IBM’s Portal Server

• New Development, – IBM’s Websphere Studio Developer

– New OO Development Languages, Java, C++

Products to Retool/Migrate Legacy Applications, Continued

• Other,– RPG II/III Conversion to RPG IV/ILE

• Prodata’s CvtRPGIV

– Wireless, • ABL’s Pocket Strategi• Others…

Review Stages of Modernization1. Browser Client, 5250 Emulation and Print Services,

2. Application UI Re-Facing,

3. Advanced Reporting,

4. Application Partitioning,– Redesigned User Interface with Legacy Backend

Business Logic.

5. Database Modernization,

6. Migration from Interactive to Batch,

7. Re-Write Backend Business Logic.

Getting Started:

1. Understand your Future Business Model,• Corporate Objectives?• Market Position?

2. Appraise your Current Application Structure,• Database: Native & Relational?• Existing RPG/CBL Code, ILE Enabled & Structured?• Catalog Applications and Viability of Modernization?• Prioritize Applications to Modernize?

3. Selection of Modernization Tools,• Evaluate Available Tools?• Evaluate Skill Set Requirements?• Develop a Proof of Concept?• Select and Purchase Tools?

Getting Started: Continued

4) Migration Planning & Staff Training,• Migration Methodology Planning,• Plan for Sufficient Resources,• Plan for Sufficient Time,• Train/Hire Staff.

5) Stage Modernization,• Browser Based 5250 & Print Services,• Application Re-Facing,• Modernize Reporting: Print & Delivery,• Modernize Database: Triggers & Constraints,• Application Partitioning,• New Development & Frameworks.

Take 5,

Advanced BusinessLink’s Strategi

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