Legacy systems like iSeries have been the backbone of many businesses for over three decades now, especially for businesses that are into manufacturing, transportation, freight, etc. These businesses have huge amounts of data to process which requires a behemoth like AS400 to do the heavy lifting.
As reliable as these systems are, IBM, the manufacturer of these machines has been supporting the hardware aspect of it by releasing newer models which have more horsepower under the hood. Regardless of the hardware upgrades, the software support that IBM provides is limited to OS and other trivial updates. The biggest drawback of these systems is the developers that were managing/maintaining these systems are close to retiring or already moved on to greener pastures, aka retirement. Along with that, AS400 systems have 5250 green screens which scream modernization. Now CTOs are in a bind since the millennial developers are aware of modern technology but not RPG. The CTOs/CIOs are left with just two options- Completely move away from iSeries or hire a third-party legacy support team.
The first option is easier said than done, not only are these systems reliable and there is always the fear of the unknown, working with iSeries for decades and moving to completely new technology can be scary. The nightmare doesn’t end there. Another nightmare is migrating your data from DB2. Migration, along with its plethora of advantages, also entails risks that if not handled with care can cause serious repercussions, most technology leaders are hesitant to move away from on-prem servers to the cloud due to the fear of change and unfamiliarity. That being said, below is the checklist that can come in handy while you’re selecting a vendor for your AS400 support services endeavor:
Here’s how you can tell if you iSeries systems are in safe hands
Nalashaa has been working in the IBM i space for over a decade now and has a pool of IBM i skilled developers to deploy. Our support program includes all the above and a few more. We have expertise in migration and modernization along with application development for iSeries systems. If you are serious about adopting a support program for your AS400/iSeries systems, drop a note to us at info@nalashaa.com.
Prateek is a B2B tech marketer with a keen interest in content marketing. B2B writer by day, Netflix junkie & gamer by night.