Modernization Quality

Shifting COBOL Compute Workload: GFT and CloudFrame Partner to Reduce Mainframe Costs Now Available on YouTube

  Organizations that rely on mainframe COBOL applications for mission-critical internal and customer-facing applications are facing significant challenges. The IT professionals needed to maintain these applications are getting harder to find and more expensive to hire. Additionally, the execution cost of delivering long-standing results is increasing yearly. Historical increases for MLC have been around 5% per year, but in 2023, increases are reported to be 8% and, in some cases, as high as 15%. Cost

Read More »

Techniques for Application Developers to Encourage zIIP Usage

The IBM zIIP (Integrated Information Processor) is a dedicated specialty processor available on IBM mainframe systems. It is designed to offload specific workloads and processing tasks from the general-purpose processors (CPUs). Work that runs on the zIIP instead of a general-purpose CPU is not charged on your organization’s monthly IBM software bill. So, exploiting the zIIP processors available on your mainframe systems makes sense. But only specific types of workloads are permitted to be run

Read More »

Shifting COBOL Compute Workload: GFT and CloudFrame Partner to Reduce Mainframe Costs

Organizations that rely on mainframe COBOL applications for mission-critical internal and customer-facing applications are facing significant challenges. The IT professionals needed to maintain these applications are getting harder to find and more expensive to hire. Additionally, the execution cost of delivering long-standing results is increasing yearly. Historical increases for MLC have been around 5% per year, but in 2023, increases are reported to be 8% and, in some cases, as high as 15%. Cost relief

Read More »

Greenfield Modernization: The Better Way

The greenfield modernization approach is a tempting option for IT teams, but it’s also one filled with significant risks—as we’ve discussed in previous articles of this series. However, a less risky and more effective approach is available, so let’s unpack it and see how it addresses or avoids many of the problems greenfield faces. A Better Way The better way is easy to summarize: modernization teams should use automated code transformation for the bulk of

Read More »

Global Bank finds a self-funding approach to Mainframe Modernization with GFT and CloudFrame

A leading Global bank knew it needed to modernize its mainframe as costs increased, but it was also concerned about the impact on its daily activities and business disruptions. Digital transformation leader GFT and COBOL to Java modernization experts CloudFrame worked together to transform two batch jobs and their Cobol programs into a new environment in just three weeks. The project delivered greater-than-expected cost reductions without impacting the development teams supporting the application. Background Mainframe

Read More »

The Role of Db2 DBAs in Promoting zIIP Usage

As most z/OS practitioners know, zIIP processors can provide significant benefits in cost savings and improved performance. And one of the most significant areas for taking advantage of the benefits that zIIPs can provide is within Db2 for z/OS. As such, the role of Db2 DBAs in promoting zIIP usage can be critical. It is important to note that not all features of Db2 for z/OS can run on zIIP processors and that the extent

Read More »

GFT and CloudFrame Partner to Help Industries Say Goodbye to COBOL

CloudFrame and GFT provide an automatic conversion approach to significantly reduce costs, making the shift from COBOL to Java fast, safe, and trouble-free. Princeton, NJ, March 28, 2023  –  GFT, a digital transformation pioneer, and  CloudFrame,  a provider of pathways to digital transformation for large organizations who are running mission-critical applications on COBOL, announced today that they have formed a global partnership to help COBOL users make the transition to more efficient platforms that enable

Read More »

Common Misconceptions About zIIPs

Regular readers of my posts here know that zIIPs are a type of mainframe specialty processor that augments the general-purpose CPUs. Instead of running all workloads on the general-purpose CPUs, specific workloads are shuttled to the specialty processors for execution. The zIIP, or Integrated Information Processor, was initially created to process certain types of Db2 workloads, but over time the work that can be processed on the zIIP has expanded. Nevertheless, the primary reason for

Read More »

Why you need to know the difference between a TCB and an SRB

Units of work that run on the mainframe, at least those running on z/OS, are dispatched using two different types of control blocks: TCBs (Task Control Blocks) and SRBs (Service Request Blocks). It can be beneficial to understand these two types of control blocks, including how they are used, the differences between the two, and the implications of using each. There are significant nuances to understanding how z/OS work is dispatched, but we will not

Read More »

CloudFrame Insight: CPU Savings with CloudFrame Relocate Server on z/OS

CloudFrame Relocate provides an easy way to shift COBOL workloads from CPs to a zIIP using cross-compilation. This means that COBOL source code is converted directly into Java bytecode, allowing the executable to run in a zIIP-eligible Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This process is transparent to the code’s existing relationship with data stores and other infrastructure. Therefore, stored procedures don’t have to be rewritten, batch schedulers don’t have to be adjusted, and sort processes can

Read More »
CloudFrame’s intelligent COBOL transformation software accelerates the migration of COBOL applications to cloud-ready native technologies.

CloudFrame’s intelligent COBOL transformation software accelerates the migration of COBOL applications to cloud-ready native technologies.

Princeton, N.J., USA, June 30, 2023 – CloudFrame, the fast-growing COBOL to Java transformation software company, today announces its partnership with EPAM Systems, Inc.,  a leading digital transformation services and product engineering company, to provide enterprises and government agencies that rely on COBOL applications with an automated, end-to-end, modernization journey. EPAM’s Mainframe Modernization team will […]

The Role of Mainframe Data in a Hybrid Cloud Environment

The Role of Mainframe Data in a Hybrid Cloud Environment

More and more organizations are adopting a hybrid approach to their IT environment. In the context of computing and IT infrastructure, a hybrid environment combines multiple types of resources or technologies, typically involving a mix of on-premises infrastructure, private cloud, and public cloud services. It allows organizations to leverage the benefits of both on-premises and […]

Shifting COBOL Compute Workload: GFT and CloudFrame Partner to Reduce Mainframe Costs Now Available on YouTube

Shifting COBOL Compute Workload: GFT and CloudFrame Partner to Reduce Mainframe Costs Now Available on YouTube

  Organizations that rely on mainframe COBOL applications for mission-critical internal and customer-facing applications are facing significant challenges. The IT professionals needed to maintain these applications are getting harder to find and more expensive to hire. Additionally, the execution cost of delivering long-standing results is increasing yearly. Historical increases for MLC have been around 5% […]