What is AWS Mainframe Modernization?
AWS Mainframe Modernization helps organizations migrate their mainframe workloads to the AWS Cloud. The service offers two modernization paths: Replatforming and Refactoring. Both approaches reduce dependency on expensive mainframe hardware and enable operation on scalable cloud infrastructure.
With Replatforming, existing COBOL, PL/I, or JCL code runs in a managed runtime environment on AWS without changing the code. With Refactoring, the service automatically converts legacy code into modern programming languages. Both paths include tools for analysis, migration, and operations.
Core Features
- Replatforming Runtime: Managed runtime environment for mainframe code (Micro Focus, Blu Age)
- Automated Refactoring: Conversion of COBOL/PL/I to Java
- Application Testing: Automated comparison of mainframe and cloud results
- Data Migration: Tools for migrating VSAM, DB2, and other mainframe data formats
- Managed Environment: Fully managed infrastructure for modernized applications
Typical Use Cases
Cost Reduction: Migrate expensive mainframe workloads to cost-effective AWS infrastructure. Organizations report cost savings of 50-80% compared to mainframe operations.
Phased Modernization: Start with Replatforming to quickly move off the mainframe. Then gradually modernize individual applications through Refactoring into cloud-native architectures.
Address Skills Shortage: COBOL developers are retiring. Through Refactoring to Java, you get a codebase that can be maintained by a broader developer community.
Benefits
- Two migration paths for different requirements
- No manual code conversion required
- Automated tests to validate functional equivalence
- Significant cost reduction compared to mainframe operations
Integration with innFactory
As an AWS Reseller, innFactory supports you with AWS Mainframe Modernization: analyzing your mainframe landscape, selecting the optimal modernization path, and guiding the migration from planning to operations.
Typical Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AWS Mainframe Modernization?
AWS Mainframe Modernization is a service that offers two approaches for migrating mainframe workloads: Replatforming (mainframe code runs in a managed runtime environment on AWS) and Refactoring (automatic conversion of COBOL code into modern programming languages like Java).
What is the difference between Replatforming and Refactoring?
With Replatforming, the COBOL code remains unchanged and runs in a Micro Focus or Blu Age runtime environment on AWS. With Refactoring, the COBOL code is automatically converted to Java. Replatforming is faster, Refactoring offers more flexibility long-term.
Can existing mainframe data be migrated?
Yes, AWS provides data migration tools that transfer VSAM datasets, DB2 databases, and other mainframe data formats to AWS databases (RDS, Aurora, DynamoDB). The Application Testing Service enables validation after migration.
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