1.
Michael Acton
Vice President, Solutions
Certified AWS Architect Associate
Array Information Technology
October 16, 2019
HOW THEY DID IT:
A customer case study for refactoring a mainframe

2.
How they did it: A customer case
study for refactoring a mainframe
 Learn the objectives,
approach, solution, lessons
learned, and customer
benefits realized by moving
mission-critical Department of
Defense mainframe
applications to AWS
 Understand why customers
decide upon an automated
COBOL-to-Java code
refactoring solution and how it
reduced risk, while applying a
blended agile/traditional
methodology
2
Overview
 This webinar describes how
large, complex COBOL
applications can be recast as
a modern Java applications
running in AWS GovCloud
 This information is based on
several experiences and
generalizes best practices and
approaches to modernize
legacy mainframe-based
applications quickly, safely
and inexpensively
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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About ARRAY
Expertise
 Agile DevSecOps
 Application Development & Sustainment
 Cloud, Migration, Optimization
 Legacy Modernization
 Cybersecurity Solutions
 Architecture, Systems Engineering
 Data and Analytics Solutions
Customers
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

4.
Challenges, Objectives, Legacy System
Solution
Customer Benefits
Lessons Learned
Contact Information
Questions
Agenda
4Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Difficult to Obtain
Hardware
Components
Difficult to Obtain
Developer and
Admin Skills
Very High
Operating Costs
Legacy Closed
Platform
Needs to meet
DoD Security and
Auditing
Requirements
Challenges
Do D L eg acy Main f rame CO BO L Ap p licat io n s
5
Difficult to
Change
Highly Customized
and Optimized over
Decades
Critical Mission
(no downtime)
Poorly
Documented
Waterfall
Methodology and
Processes
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Objectives
Do D L eg acy Main f rame CO BO L Ap p licat io n s
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Improved
Business
Continuity
Migrate to
Virtualized HW or
Cloud
Low-Risk Major
Upgrade
(no mission impact)
Meet DoD
Security
Requirements
Retain All
Business Logic,
Reports, UI
Screens
Open Platform Documented
using
Automation
Plentiful Technical
Skills
Reasonable
Costs
Easier to
Change
Agile and
DevSecOps
Elasticity
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

7.
Legacy System Characteristics
Do D L eg acy Main f rame CO BO L Ap p licat io n s
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Aging Mainframes Highly Optimized
COBOL
Application
Large, Complex
Code and DMS
Baseline
Mission Users
located around
the World
Executes Millions
of Mission Critical
Transactions
On-Premise
Traditional Data
Center
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Solution Approach
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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 Option 0: Do Nothing
 Option 1a: Conv ert COBOL to Jav a, DMS to RDBMS, on X86
― No Other Changes
 Option 1b: Conv ert COBOL to Jav a, DMS to RDBMS, on X86
― Use PaaS Services
 Option 2: Repl atform proprietary COBOL on X86 using A NSI COBOL
 Option 3: Total Re-write / Re-Dev el opment
 Option 4: ERP / COTS Repl acement
 Option 5: Repl atform COBOL on X86 using third -party Emul ator
 Option 6: Rehost proprietary OS and COBOL to proprietary x86 hardware
emul ator
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Solution Options
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Solution Analysis
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud
# Solution Option Description Status
Virtualized,
On-Prem
Cloud
Project
Duration
Refactor,
Migration
Cost
Operational
Cost
Mission
Risk
Modern
Architecture
Available
Technical
Skills
0 Do Nothing Business as Usual Risky 0 N/A
1a
Convert COBOL to Java,
DMS to Oracle RDBMS, NO
CHANGES
No Functional or
Technical Changes
Viable X X
1b
Convert COBOL to Java,
DMS to Oracle RDBMS,
USE PaaS
Change application to
USE PaaS services (ie;
DBaaS, IAM, etc)
Viable X X
2
Replatform proprietary
COBOL on X86 using ANSI
COBOL
ANSI COBOL on X86 Viable X X
3
Total Re-write / Re-
Development
Using Modern
Architecture
Expensive,
Risky
X X
4 ERP or COTS Replacement Redevelop using COTS Risky X X
5
Replatform COBOL on X86
using third-party Emulator
Third-party emulators
immature
Risky
6
Rehost proprietary OS and
COBOL to proprietary x86
hardware Emulator
X86 OS version from
OEM never became
available
Not Viable

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Solution Findings
Solution 1a selected to start.
Solution 1b is aspirational.
Desired Outcome
Technical
Shortest Project Duration 0: No Nothing
2: Replatorm to
ANSI COBOL
Lowest Refactor & Migration Cost 0: No Nothing
2: Replatorm to
ANSI COBOL
Lowest Operational Cost
1b: Convert Java,
Use PaaS
1a: Convert Java, No
Changes
Modern Architecture
1b: Convert Java,
Use PaaS
3: Total Re-write /
Re-Development
Most Available Technical Skills 1a/b: Convert Java
3: Total Re-write /
Re-Development
Best Technical Overall
1b: Convert Java,
Use PaaS
Mission
Best for Mission Evolution 1a/b: Convert Java
3: Total Re-write /
Re-Development
Best Solutions
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Solution Overview
COBOL-to-Java
code automated
refactoring to
X86/RHEL platform
Code advanced
refactoring to
remove COBOL
design overtones
Infrastructure
moved to
AWS
GovCloud
Note: The phases shown represents the plan that emerged.
Solution 1a selected to start.
Solution 1b is aspirational.
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Phase 1: COBOL to Java Code Conversion
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Phase 2: Refactor COBOL Remnants into
Standard Java
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Phase 3: Migrate Infrastructure from On-
Premise to AWS GovCloud
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Solution Details
Data
• Legacy COBOL/DMS Application Replaced
by New Java/RDBMS Application
• Data is Not Perfect, Efforts to Define and
Cleanse have Improved Data
Security
• DoD Security and Compliance Requirements
• DoD RMF Authority to Operate (ATO)
• STIG Hardened Software and O/S
• FedRAMP, DISA PA IL4/5 required for Cloud
Test
• Testing is Paramount for Conversions (#1 Risk)
• Reuse Existing Test Cases (automated
preferred due to iterations)
• Continual Testing by Functional SMEs
Performance
• Mainframes and App was highly optimized
• Good for speed, harder to change
• Use EC2, AWS Horizontal and Vertical Scaling
and Auto-Scaling
High Availability
• On Prem HA/COOP: Custom Solution per
Application per site, AZs, and Regions.
• AWS HA/COOP: Standard Solution for
Applications, use AWS AZs and Regions
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Customer Benefits
Avoid Legacy
Hardware and
Software Risk
Cost Savings due
to lower Hosting
and SW costs
up to 83% recurring
annual savings for some
customers
Modernize to
Contemporary
Application in
AWS
enables innovation
Preserve Critical
Mission Business
Logic
Take advantage
of Cloud Benefits
virtualization, elasticity,
metering, etc
Enable transition
to an Agile
DevSecOps
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Lessons Learned
Code conversion provides rapid, low-risk
modernization option
• Convert code directly, NO BUSINESS
PROCESS REENGINEERING (BPR) CHANGES
• Automated conversion preserves all
functionality (reduces risk and timeline)
• 60-90% conversion can be automated
• Use conversion tools for automated
refactoring
• Database conversion needs early focus
• Legacy Data Interface “Wrapper” made
interfaces independent of back-end
Functional Subject
Matter Experts Needed
Throughout Effort
Testing, Verification,
Advisement
AWS Services
Accelerates
Innovation
COOP/continuity, CI/CD,
RDS, elasticity, …
Bound Phases with
Clear Success Criteria
bound phases: code
conversions, data
transformation, refactoring,
automated testing define
success…
Agile Methods
Reduce Delivery
Risk
quicker deliveries,
pipeline automation
Consider Moving
directly to AWS
vs using an On-Prem
intermediate step
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

19.
 Article: Lifting and Shifting the Air Force Retail Supply System
― Journal of Defense Analytics and Logistics
 Blog Post: Automated Refactoring of a U.S. Department of Defense
Mainframe to AWS
― AWS Partner Network (APN) Blog
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More Information
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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 ARRAY Cloud CoE:
― AWS Partner
― DoD-Level Security
― AWS Certified Personnel
― ARRAY Cloud R&D Labs
 Expertise:
― Enterprise Cloud Strategy
― Rationalization Analysis
― App Cloud Assessments
― Business Case, ROI, TCO, Cost Mgmt
― Cloud Architecture
― Cloud Security
― App DevSecOps and SysOps
― App Refactoring
― App Migration and Optimization
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ARRAY Can Help You!
ARRAY Clo u d Cen t er o f Excellen ce
ARRAY’s Cloud CoE provides affordable and secure solutions and expertise
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud

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Questions?
Brad Barker, Client Executive
brad.barker@arrayinfotech.com
Michael Acton, Vice President, Solutions
michael.acton@arrayinfotech.com
Applied Innovation • Driving Mission Success
www.arrayinfotech.com
ARRAY specializes in transformative IT solutions for Government agencies and the commercial sector.
For more information about our mainframe and legacy migration to AWS capabilities contact:
Refactoring DoD Mainframe Applications for Migration to AWS GovCloud