MOST's OnTarget technology for IMS to DB2 / Oracle Migration is designed to accommodate the distinctive characteristics of IMS. It is the solution for the complete and automated migration of IMS files and the associated programming languages to a DB2 / Oracle platform.

The understanding and automatic handling of the special IMS to DB2 / Oracle migration issues - both at the database level and at the application level, ensures the delivery of a rapid low-risk, and highly qualitative migration process.

Database Migration

Throughout the IMS to DB2 / Oracle Design the unique IMS characteristics and data structures that need to be contended with in the transition to the target DB2 / Oracle environment are addressed, to include:

• Array (vectors)
• Filler fields
• Date fields
• Dead code
• Variable records
• Dynamic SSA
• Naming conventions
• Performance (HSSR)

Application Conversion

Areas which are addressed in the migration of IMS applications to DB2 / Oracle concentrate on how the programs access the IMS files. There may be many potential issues when migrating IMS to DB2 / Oracle, and where  each language may have different issues, for example:

• Solving the all dynamic calls that refer to routines that not mentions in the programs
• the use of I/O main routines to IMS
• Calling programs that getting PCB as parameters
• Qualified and unqualified SSA (Dynamic SSA change in programs)
• Define relationships between segment keys
• Multiple SSA use

Collectively, the collaboration of MOST's advanced OnTarget technology and methodology, and expert Services, reduces the cost, timeframe and risk for migrating the enterprise's IMS applications to DB2 / Oracle, providing the mechanisms to preserve and evolve legacy assets to operate under new technologies and platforms.