The document discusses the migration process from IBM's IMS database to DB2, focusing on minimizing risks associated with such transitions. It highlights the benefits of using Syncsort Optimize IMS, which aids in the migration while maintaining the integrity of existing applications, ultimately reducing costs and support complexities. Real-world use cases demonstrate significant advantages achieved by various industries through this migration strategy.

1. Eliminate Risk When
Migrating From IMS
to Db2
Aug 3rd, 2022
Bill Hammond | Director, Product Marketing
Bill Bostridge | Senior Director, Sales

2. Today’s Topic
• Modernization and IMS
• Minimizing risks in migration
• How Syncsort Optimize IMS works
• Real-world stories
• Is it right for you?
• Q & A
2

3. Modernization and IMS

4. 60%
of executives are
speeding up digital
transformation during
the pandemic
Digital transformation is accelerating
265%
more executives saying
digital transformation is a
significant or greater
priority than 2 years ago

5. Modernization
5
• Modernization is a top goal for 40% of companies
(Forrester Consulting)
• 43% are specifically looking to modernize apps and
infrastructure
• App modernization requires modern infrastructure
• That doesn't mean you need to rip and replace
trusted systems and critical applications – you can
modernize incrementally
• Skills gap is one of the main concerns
Customer expectations and a changing
IT landscape are driving technology modernization

6. IBM Information Management
System (IMS)
• IMS is a hierarchical database
with extensive transaction
processing capabilities
• IMS has been in organizations
for decades
• IMS generally runs
applications that are mission
critical and complicated and
rewriting applications is hard
to get right
• However, there are huge costs
in supporting IMS
• Staffing, IMS DB licensing, 3rd
party management tools for
IMS (BMC, Compuware, CA,
IBM)
• Enforced upgrades to current
versions of IMS DB (On
average every 2 years)
• There are significant benefits in
moving from IMS to Db2
• Support for modern web
applications, new fields and
new lines of business
• Drastically reduced
infrastructure costs
6

7. Challenges to legacy IMS
modernization
7
• IMS has been a workhorse for decades, but those who wrote,
maintain and support this platform are retiring
• Re-writing or re-platforming is a significant challenge
• Many projects fail to complete or even get off the ground
• IMS applications are often mission critical, so re-development is a
daunting and highly-risky undertaking
• Replicating the decades of custom business logic built into
these applications, into new development is a huge task

8. Minimize the risks

9. What is Precisely’s Syncsort Optimize IMS?
• Combination of IMS to Db2 migration and mapping tools to migrate IMS
segments to Db2 tables
• The interface between the IMS applications, which do not change and the
migrated IMS data that is now residing in Db2
• Replaces the IMS DB with Db2, eliminating the need for IMS support tools (BMC,
Compuware, etc.)
• Consolidates your database maintenance activities to one platform – Db2
• Provides a transparent data migration route from IMS DB on z/OS to DB2 on
z/OS
• Does not replicate data to Db2. It replaces IMS DB so that all your production
data is now residing in Db2
• Does not touch application code … rewriting applications is hard to get right
9

10. Syncsort Optimize IMS
Syncsort Optimize IMS is … Syncsort Optimize IMS is not…
• …a combination of IMS to Db2
migration and mapping tools to
migrate IMS segments to Db2
tables
• …a replacement for the IMS Db
stub program that acts as the
interface between IMS
applications (which do not
change) and the migrated IMS
data that now resides in Db2
• …a replacement for IMS DB and
IMS support tools (e.g. IBM,
BMC, Compuware)
• …replicating data to Db2. It is
replacing IMS DB so that all
your production data resides in
Db2
10

11. How it works

12. Transparent migration process overview
12

13. Transparent migration process overview
Syncsort Optimize
IMS Stub
13

14. Transparent migration process overview
14
Syncsort Optimize
IMS Stub
Syncsort Optimize
IMS Stub

15. Migration options
15
Complexity
/
Time
/
Effort
DBD
Copy
Defining DB2 columns as character
eliminates the need for data cleansing and
the need for FBE and IRD exits
DBD
Defining DB2 columns with a correct DB2
data type. This option exposes IMS data
consistency and may require data
cleansing and data transformation exits.
Copy
DBD Data re-engineering allows full control over
the final result of the migration. Fields can
be changed, columns added or deleted and
data transformed. Segments can be
combined into one table or split into multiple
tables
Copy
IMS Segment Type
Dat
CK
DBD
DB2 Table
Key – Data migration approach
NATIVE
SQL
ACCESS
Application
testing
Time
/
Effort
SEQ SCH
SCH
CB1
SEQ CB2 CB3
SEQ SCH
SCH
CB1
SEQ CB2 CB3
SEQ SCH
SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ
SEQ SCH
Pref
KEY CB1 COL CB2 CB3 CB4
Char Date Char Int Dec VCHar
KEY CB1 COL CB2 CB3
Char Date Char Int Decimal
KEY
Char Char Char Char Char
CB1 COL CB2 CB3
KEY Col Field Col
Char Char Char Char
OPTION 1
OPTION 2
OPTION 3
OPTION 4
Based on :
- IMS DBD fields
- Copybooks
Based on :
- IMS DBD fields
- Copybooks
+ DB2 data type
+ re-engineering
Based on :
- IMS DBD fields
Based on :
- IMS DBD fields
- Copybooks
+ DB2 data type
SEQ SEQ
CB1 CB2 CB3
CB1 CB2 CB3

16. Real-world
stories

17. Over 100 projects completed globally
• Across multiple industries
• Finance
• Insurance
• Healthcare
• Local and State Government
• Manufacturing
• Retail
• All customers have gained significant fiscal and operational
benefits by migrating to Db2 with Syncsort Optimize IMS
17

18. Security
New security requirements
made moving to Db2 a
necessity
OBJECTIVE
• Support more stringent security
requirements for mainframe data
CHALLENGE
• Needed to add security layer on top of
IMS & Db2
• Security solution only supported Db2
SOLUTION
• Migrate IMS data to Db2 using Syncsort
Optimize IMS
BENEFITS
• Allowed customer to satisfy new security
requirement with minimal risk
• Avoided a an IMS upgrade from IBM
• Eliminated IMS software and tools
licensing costs
18

19. BCBS - Claims
Processing
Provider
Customer was very focused
on reducing cost, their team
very fully engaged right from
the start. CTO buy-in, DBA
team and Application teams
all supporting the solution in
the initial engagement and
through the successful Pilot.
OBJECTIVE
• Eliminate IMS DB and IMS tools to
reduce significant MLC charges from
IBM
CHALLENGE
• Hybrid 3rd party solution from EDS that
was complex
• Complex applications with custom
interfaces to IBM resources
SOLUTION
• Migrate IMS data to Db2 using Syncsort
Optimize IMS
BENEFITS
• Most efficient migration approach to
reduce long term costs
• Easier management with consolidation
to Db2
• Reduced risk as IMS skills are heading
toward retirement
19

20. Florida
Department
of Corrections
Needed to move inmate
management system for the
entire state to Db2
OBJECTIVE
• Clean up outdated information and
provide modernization platform in Db2
CHALLENGE
• Legislature unable to approve funding
for multi-million $ rewrite
• Cost reduction and on-going
application modernization
SOLUTION
• Migrate IMS data to Db2 using Syncsort
Optimize IMS
BENEFITS
• Significant cost reduction with
elimination of IMS DB and IMS tools
licensing
• Application change requests now
delivered via SQL/Db2 skills
• IMS databases migrated to Db2
implementing Db2 native data types
20

21. Is Syncsort Optimize IMS
Right for You?

22. Justification for
Syncsort Optimize IMS
• Easier and less risky to move IMS applications to Db2
• Alleviates staffing challenges and licensing costs associated with IMS
• Converts the underlying database to Db2, without changing the IMS
application programs
• Eliminates the need for third-party IMS tools or IMS DBA and systems
expertise
• Once databases have been converted, SQL and Db2 skills can be used to
make changes and/or add new functionality to existing applications
22
In many cases Syncsort Optimize IMS becomes a steppingstone to full
application modernization using native Db2/SQL

23. Choosing
Syncsort
Optimize IMS
Extend Life of
Applications
Staffing
Challenges
Cost
Reduction
23
Moving to a relational DB
model without need to
rewrite applications
Fewer and fewer
developers and DBA’s
with IMS Skills
License fees for IMS and
related tools can be very
expensive
There are 3 reasons
companies choose
Syncsort Optimize IMS to
migrate from IMS to Db2

24. Q & A