The Challenge

On the fateful evening of January 9, 2019, the backup process was interrupted by an endless loop triggered by an employee still using the system as the process was initiated. The major chunk of the data couldn’t be updated as process rerun wasn’t an option because the evening shift had already begun work. The primary reason for this incident was the lack of a unified platform facilitating inter-departmental collaboration and the exchange of information and notifications.

The data of the day included a recently concluded manufacturing audit report and the client had to request the firm for a re-audit, which implied additional expenses and unwanted delay. The problem posed a threat of repeating itself, and hence, the need to act was urgent.

Solution

Nalashaa’s team of specialists carried out a clinical analysis of the issue. It proposed a 3-step automated data backup for AS400 that was fast, cost-effective, and eliminated the chances of problem recurrence.

The 3 steps:

  • System Down: Bringing down all critical systems that can lock file objects (hinder the backup process).
  • Data Backup: Executing the data backup process.
  • System Up: Bringing the systems up.

The automated process identifies and ends all such online systems which can cause a record lock. It then proceeds to end the jobs in the subsystem, verifies the same, sends notification e-mails for any failed verification, and carries out the backup process

Finally, all the online systems are brought up to allow system access to users. It’s ensured that all the jobs are active and the systems are online. To promote collaboration, the team can use the ubiquitously accessible dashboards to send alerts for any system running just before the backup system starts. The interactive dashboards allow the team to disable select profiles, create new profiles, and track errors for better control. Data is refreshed every 5 – 7 seconds, helping the team fix errors faster and without any loss in productivity.

Our solution is helping the client with the following

  • Monitoring critical systems and job details on a single screen – Helps in unhindered daily data backup
  • Tracking job history for reporting and identifying errors - Improved system performance
  • Minimum human intervention - Enhanced productivity and quicker issue resolution TAT

Technology Stack

  • AS400 (iSeries IBM i)
  • RPGLE
  • SQL
  • DB2/400s
  • CLLE
  • DSPF

How to start the journey?

To choose the right AS400 support for your business, we would like to understand your needs better. The form below is a great way to start that!