Businesses worldwide are constantly looking for ways to stay competitive, agile, and scalable. For many enterprises that rely on legacy systems like AS400 (also known as IBM i), modernizing their IT infrastructure can be a challenging yet critical step. One solution in AS400 application development that has gained significant attention is containerization — a method that allows you to package an application and its dependencies into a standardized unit, or "container," that can run seamlessly across various environments.

If your organization relies on AS400 for its critical business operations, you must consider containerizing your AS400 applications as it can significantly improve scalability, portability, and deployment efficiency. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of containerizing AS400 applications to meet the demands of modern business needs.

Why Containerize AS400?

The AS400 platform has been a trusted workhorse for decades, known for its reliability, scalability, and security. However, as businesses evolve, integrating AS400 systems into more modern IT infrastructures like cloud environments or hybrid systems becomes essential. This is where containerization comes in.

The Benefits of AS400 Containerization:

Portability: Containers are designed to be portable. This means you can move your AS400 applications between on-premise, cloud, or hybrid environments without compatibility issues.
Speed of Deployment: Containers allow for much faster deployment, reducing the time it takes to release new features, fixes, or system updates.
Scalability: You can easily scale containerized applications based on demand, ensuring that your AS400 system can grow along with your business.
Cost Savings: By migrating portions of AS400 workloads to cloud-based or hybrid environments using containers, you can reduce infrastructure and maintenance costs.
Integration with Modern DevOps Tools: Containerized AS400 systems can easily integrate with modern tools used in DevOps environments, streamlining your deployment and testing processes.

Also read: Why is the iSeries Hardware Goodbye Inevitable in the Cloud Era?

Step-by-Step Guide to Containerizing AS400 Applications

Now that we've covered the why, let’s delve into the how. Below is a step-by-step guide to containerizing your AS400 applications for modern app deployment.

Step 1: Assess Your Current AS400 Applications

The first and most important step in the entire AS400 application development process is to take stock of your existing AS400 applications. Not every part of your AS400 system may need to be containerized. Begin by analyzing the workloads and applications that are the best candidates for this transition.

What to consider:

Core Business Applications: Identify the critical applications that would benefit the most from containerization. Focus on applications that need frequent updates, face scalability issues, or require faster deployment.
Dependencies: Consider any dependencies that these applications may have. This could include specific databases, middleware, or third-party services.
Business Impact: Make sure to weigh the business benefits and risks associated with containerizing each application. The goal is to ensure that containerization will improve performance, reduce costs, or streamline operations.
Pro Tip: Start with non-mission-critical applications to experiment with containerization. Once the process is refined, you can gradually move to core business applications.

Step 2: Set Up a Suitable Environment for Containerization

Once you’ve identified which AS400 applications to containerize, the next step is to ensure that your AS400 environment is ready for this process. Containerization requires infrastructure that supports the container lifecycle, from development to deployment.

Environment considerations:

Supported AS400 Version: Ensure that your AS400 system is updated to a version that supports containerization technologies.
Cloud or Hybrid Infrastructure: If you're planning to move to a cloud-based or hybrid environment, verify that your cloud provider supports containerization.
Testing Environment: Set up a staging or test environment that mirrors your production environment. This will allow you to containerize and test your applications without risking business disruptions.
Pro Tip: A solid testing environment is key to ensuring a smooth transition. This is where you’ll be able to identify potential issues and solve them before moving to production.

Step 3: Create Your Container Images

Once your environment is ready, the next phase is to create a "container image" of your AS400 application. A container image is a snapshot of the application and its associated dependencies, ensuring that it runs the same way, regardless of the environment it’s deployed in.

Best practices for creating container images:

Package Key Dependencies: Ensure that all the necessary application files, libraries, and dependencies are included in your container image. This ensures that your application can run consistently in any environment.
Simplify Where Possible: Simplify your container images by only including what's necessary. Too many unnecessary components can slow down your application and create inefficiencies.
Test the Image: Always test your container image thoroughly to ensure that it runs smoothly in your staging environment before pushing it to production.

Step 4: Deploy AS400 Containers in the Cloud or On-Premise

With your container image ready, the next step in the AS400 application development process is deployment. Containers offer flexibility when it comes to deployment, as they can be run both on-premise and in the cloud. Depending on your business needs, you can choose the environment that works best for you.

Cloud Deployment:

Cloud platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, or IBM Cloud allow you to easily deploy and manage your containers. They offer the benefit of scalability and integration with various services.

On-Premise or Hybrid Deployment:

If your business requires a hybrid approach, where you need to retain certain parts of your infrastructure on-premise, containerized applications can also be deployed locally. Many organizations choose this model to keep sensitive data on-premise while using the cloud for less sensitive workloads.

Pro Tip: A hybrid deployment model offers the best of both worlds—retaining control over critical applications while leveraging cloud resources for flexibility and scalability.

Step 5: Streamline Deployment with DevOps

Containerization opens the door to modern DevOps practices, helping you optimize the development and deployment of your AS400 applications. A Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline is a powerful tool that can automate and streamline your AS400 deployments, ensuring that any changes to the application are thoroughly tested and rapidly deployed.

Key benefits of DevOps with containerization:

Automated Testing: Automatically test new versions of your AS400 applications in containerized environments to catch any issues early.
Faster Releases: Use a CI/CD pipeline to reduce manual intervention, allowing for quicker deployment of new features or bug fixes.
Scalability: Containers make it easy to scale applications based on demand, ensuring that your AS400 systems can handle increased workloads efficiently.
Pro Tip: Pairing containerization with DevOps methodologies allows you to bring agility to even the most traditional AS400 environments, making your business more responsive to market needs.

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Common Challenges and Solutions in AS400 Containerization

Containerizing AS400 applications is not without its challenges, but being aware of these potential issues can help you overcome them effectively.

Challenge 1: Compatibility with Legacy Applications

Not all AS400 applications are built for containerization. Older, monolithic applications with deep customizations may not be suitable for containers.

Solution:

Start by containerizing newer or more flexible applications. For legacy apps, consider refactoring or redesigning parts of the code to make them compatible with container environments.

Challenge 2: Data Storage and Persistence

AS400 applications often rely on large, persistent databases. Containers, however, are typically stateless, meaning they don’t store data between sessions.

Solution:

Implement external storage solutions to handle data persistence. Ensure that your containerized application can interact seamlessly with the external database without losing data between container sessions.

Challenge 3: Security Risks

While containerization improves flexibility, it can also introduce security vulnerabilities if not managed properly.

Solution:

Follow container security best practices, such as regularly updating container images, using secure authentication methods, and scanning for vulnerabilities. Ensure that your containers are protected at both the application and infrastructure levels.

Conclusion

Containerizing AS400 applications is a powerful way to modernize your legacy systems, allowing you to reap the benefits of agility, scalability, and cost savings while maintaining the reliability of AS400. By following this step-by-step guide, you can successfully transition your AS400 applications into containerized environments that integrate seamlessly with modern cloud or hybrid infrastructures.

As you embark on this journey, remember that AS400 application development is evolving, and containerization is a critical tool for ensuring your legacy systems can keep up with today’s fast-paced digital landscape. With the right strategy and approach, containerization will empower your business to stay competitive, flexible, and future-ready. Our team at Nalashaa is well equipped to help you with every challenge, so fill in the form today and let’s get started!