Natural/ADABAS conversion to Java and Oracle/MSSQL

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The customer is a leading outsourcing company in South Africa with a strategic initiative to migrate its ADABAS/Natural packages to Java technology stack and RDBMS platform. This Revenue Management package is installed at dozens of Local Authorities and District Municipalities, including the Private Sector.


The Project

The target of the project was the automated conversion of the entire ERP package from Natural/ADABAS platform to Java with agnostic Relational Database Management System (MSSQL and Oracle) by utilizing FreeSoft’s LiberatorWorkbench modernization framework. The artifacts included in the project:

  • In excess of 5.6 million lines of Natural Code
  • Utilities to convert and normalize +-250 ADABAS files to relational models e.g. Oracle/MS SQL for multiple client instances of the package (including production, archiving and history instances and indexes, triggers and views across the database instances)
  • Utilities to execute the end-to-end ETL (extract, transform load) of hundreds of millions od ADABAS data rows to the relevant RDMS tables, inclusive of triggers, indexes, end-to-end balancing and reconciliations within pre-defined time window

In addition to the full conversion, implementation, 3rd party integrations, support and enhancements of this ERP package, the scope of the project also included the development and implementation of job scheduling and output management software to manage the scheduling and execution of batch jobs and their relevant output.


Solution

Applied technologies and methods in the projects were the automated tools of FreeSoft’s LiberatorWorkbench framework including:

  • KnowledgeLiberator for parsing Natural source code, modelling
  • CodeLiberator for converting all Natural objects to thin-clinet Java and Java batch
  • DataLiberator for converting database schema and generating ETL (extract, transform, load) scripts

Benefits realized by customer

  • The entire existing ERP package implemented on a future proof technology stack
  • No need for further integration or screen scraping for accessing on-line functions from internet browsers
  • Database and application server agnostic solution, flexible options for end-user implementation

Ingres database and 4GL migration to Oracle

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The customer Corning is one of the world’s leading producers of fiber-optic cable. It also produces fiber optic components, liquid crystal display glass, projection video lenses, laboratory equipment, substrates for emissions control and specialty glass such as high purity fused silica – a glass used in space shuttle windows and telescope mirror blanks, used in observatories around the world.


The Project

Corning GmbH decided to migrate its Ingres databases and ABF applications to Oracle platform, including the database schema, 4GL procedures, rules, events and the data. The original application contained ca. 0.5 millions of line of code and more than 1,000 screens.


Solution

FreeSoft utilized its LiberatorWorkbench framework to deliver the project. The operating system for the legacy database was OPEN/VMS running on an COMPAQ-ALPHA and that was not changed. The Ingres database was converted to Oracle while Ingres ABF clients were converted to Oracle clients running on Microsoft Windows.


Benefits realized by customer

  • Retire Ingres database and outdated ABF platform
  • Implement business logic on strategic Oracle stack

Informix 4GL and database migration to Java and Oracle

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The client LGN – Lower-Saxonian Cadastral Administration Agency (public administration, Germany) decided to migrate its administration system (AGN) from Informix 4GL platform to Java using FreeSoft’s LiberatorWorkbench technology with Siemens Business Services being the prime contractor and a strategic partner in migration services.


The Project

The Application serves 14 Authorities for Geo-information, Land and Real Estate Management with 53 local cadastral offices. The size of the original 4GL application was in the magnitude of 400 forms and 350,000 lines of code.

Primary objective of the project was to migrate the AGN application with all functionality from Informix 4GL to Java. The conversion was accomplished in three phases:

  • Automated conversion of Informix 4GL to Java
  • Database migration from Informix to Oracle
  • Testing and QA, tuning

Solution

The project was a typical but complex migration process with the following major work groups:

  • Planning the target scenario
  • Prototype
  • Automated migration oif the database and application conversion
  • Testing and QA, iterations
  • Implementation and training

Benefits realized by LGN

  • Saving the value in legacy IT assets by moving business logic to strategic Java and Oracle platform
  • Isolating core business logic from external interfaces such as reporting and XML-processing

Mainframe DB2 DataWarhouse downsizing to UNIX/Oracle and COBOL re-platforming

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The client is the leading provider of prescription drugs and human vaccines. The core strategy of Client was to create value by rapidly developing, launching and successfully marketing innovative pharmaceuticals that satisfy unmet medical needs in large patient populations.
FreeSoft as a technology provider and migration partner was subcontractor of Oracle in the project.


The Project

Client approved a cost savings initiative to move all applications running on the IBM ES9000 machine using the OS/390 operating system to a HP UNIX platform. All source databases on the ES9000 were migrated to the current version of Oracle. All application processes originally running on the ES9000, the ETL processes associated with the SAP Data Warehouse data feed had been migrated. FreeSoft’s major work groups in the project:

  • Create the Oracle Physical Database (up to 4200 tables, some hundreds of views)
  • Initial Load of the Oracle Database
  • Re-platforming of the ETL processes

Solution

FreeSoft utilized its LiberatorWorkbench framework to deliver the project. The following tools were used:

  • KnowledgeLiberator for analyzing the DB2 schema and control files
  • KnowledgeLiberator for analyzing the SQL procedures
  • DataLiberator for converting the Oracle schema and generating scripting for data transform and load process
  • CodeLiberator for COBOL re-platforming

Benefits realized by customer

  • Implement DW on the cusotmer’s strategic platform
  • Cost savings by retiring the current hardware platform and eliminating third party maintenance costs

Informix migration to Oracle and COBOL re-platforming

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The client Sixt AG is the leading mobility service provider in Europe, available to customers at 3,500 service stations worldwide. FreeSoft as the prime contractor provided automated solutions for database and application migration and for bi-directional database synchronization in the project aiming to migrate the legacy database and the 4 million lines of code COBOL application from Informix to Oracle.


The Project

The goal of the project was to eliminate bottlenecks and performance issues with the company’s business-critical applications due to a non-scalable data infrastructure. The solution to this main issue was the transition to a new database infrastructure, and the migration of two core applications on multiple servers with 4 million code lines in three languages, 800 gigabytes of database volume, 1,200 tables, and numerous application servers. The final infrastructure optimized system availability so that Sixt can process vehicle queries and rentals 24 hours a day.


Solution

FreeSoft used its LiberatorWorkbench framework to deliver the project. The following products of the toolkit were used:

  • KnowledgeLiberator for analyzing the Informix schema
  • KnowledgeLiberator for analyzing the COBOL application
  • KnowledgeLiberator for analyzing the C/C++ application
  • DataLiberator for migrating the database schema to Oracle
  • DataLiberator for data transformation and load
  • CodeLiberator re-platforming the COBOL and C/C++ application to Oracle
  • Data Propagator to synchronize data between 30.000 relational tables bi-directionally

Benefits realized by Sixt

  • Created a highly scalable, reliable, and stable data infrastructure with Oracle Database and Oracle Real Application Clusters to support Sixt’s 24 hour-a-day vehicle rental business
  • Ensured availability of business-critical applications, such as the online reservation system for booking rental cars, with no service interruptions even at peak loads
  • Improved database response times by 70% and almost halved the system load after four months, with further performance augmentations in the pipeline
  • Optimized scalability of the environment with Oracle Real Application Clusters to support future increases in the demand for rental cars

ISAM/Vision migration to Oracle and COBOL re-platforming

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The client Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group (formerly NYSE: DTG) is one of the largest car rental groups with presence in more than 70 countries around the world. In the US, the client has more than 800 company-owned or franchised stores. With more than 1500 International locations, they are present at almost every major airport in the world. In November 2012, it was acquired by Hertz Global Holdings in a $2.3 billion deal.


The Project

Primary objective of the project was to migrate the business critical car reservation system’s flat file structures and data into Oracle RDBMS. The conversion was accomplished in three phases: migrating the legacy ISAM database to Oracle and automated re-platforming of the application; generating additional software components for the modified target architecture; testing and QA iterations.

The size of the original application was in the magnitude of approximately 124 ISAM data files (more environments: testing; production) and ca. 700,000 lines of code in COBOL.


Solution

The project was a complex technology and organizational migration process. FreeSoft provided DTG with the following services:

  • Consulting to develop the concept and collect all details and sources of the application
  • Extensive prototype
  • ISAM data store normalization and migration
  • COBOL re-platforming
  • Unit test and integration test
  • Bug tracking and fixing
  • Training for IT Development Department

Benefits realized by DTG

  • Get rid of the ISAM files and VISION data store technology
  • Migrate and integrate data in a single enterprise Oracle data center
  • Enabling strategic redesign activities in the new environment

Mainframe DB2 migration to Oracle and COBOL re-platforming

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The client is a supermarket chain having stores in Northern California, Nevada, and New Mexico. FreeSoft as a technology provider and migration partner was involved as a subcontractor of leading RDBMS vendor of the world in Client’s Data Warehouse migration project.


The Project

Migration was necessary because of high maintenance cost and the obsolete technology and environment.

The original system was operating on an OS/390 machine based on IBM DB2. The database contained 1 TB data that was stored in hundreds of tables (most of them were partitioned). The ETL processes were mapped in Cobol programs and SQL procedures called from JCL.

The target of the project was to migrate the DB2 database schema to Oracle on open system, transform and load the data and finally re-platform the ETL processes.


Solution

FreeSoft utilized its LiberatorWorkbench framework to deliver the project. The following tools were used:

  • KnowledgeLiberator for analyzing the DB2 schema and control files
  • KnowledgeLiberator for analyzing the SQL procedures
  • DataLiberator for converting the Oracle schema and SQL procedure, and generating scripting for data transform and load process
  • CodeLiberator for COBOL re-platforming

Benefits realized by customer

  • Retire DB2 on the mainframe, use only the Oracle database in the UNIX environment
  • Cost savings
  • Improved efficiency