AS/400 to Cloud Migration Guide
Complete IBM i (AS/400, iSeries) modernization with automated RPG conversion, DB2 migration, and zero downtime. Achieve 85% cost savings in 6-8 weeks.
Complete AS/400 Migration Scope
Database Migration
- DB2 for i tables, views, indexes
- Physical files (PF) and logical files (LF)
- Stored procedures and triggers
- Data queues and message queues
Application Conversion
- RPG/RPGLE to Java/C#/Python
- COBOL programs conversion
- CL (Control Language) to scripts
- Display files to modern UI
Integration & Batch
- Job scheduler (WRKJOBSCDE) to cloud scheduler
- Spool files to modern reporting
- FTP/ODBC integrations to APIs
- EDI and file transfers
Security & Governance
- User profiles to IAM/RBAC
- Object authority to cloud security
- Audit logs and compliance
- Encryption and data protection
4-Phase AS/400 Migration Process
Discovery & Assessment
Comprehensive analysis of your AS/400 environment with automated inventory and dependency mapping.
- Automated code analysis (RPG, COBOL, CL programs)
- Database schema discovery and data profiling
- Integration and batch job inventory
- Modernization strategy and cloud platform selection
Automated Conversion
AI-powered conversion of RPG/COBOL code and database objects to modern cloud-native architecture.
- RPG to Java/C#/Python conversion with business logic preservation
- DB2 for i to cloud database migration (PostgreSQL/SQL Server)
- Display files to modern web UI conversion
- Automated testing and validation
Testing & Validation
Comprehensive testing with automated validation and parallel run verification.
- Automated unit and integration testing
- Data validation and reconciliation (99.99% accuracy)
- Performance testing and optimization
- User acceptance testing support
Cutover & Optimization
Zero-downtime cutover with automated rollback capability and post-migration optimization.
- Phased cutover with real-time data synchronization
- Automated rollback capability for risk mitigation
- Post-migration monitoring and optimization
- Knowledge transfer and documentation
AI-Powered vs Manual AS/400 Migration
| Factor | AI-Powered Migration | Manual Migration |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | 6-8 weeks | 12-24 months |
| Cost | $200K - $400K | $1.5M - $3M |
| Code Conversion | 95% automated RPG/COBOL conversion | 100% manual rewrite |
| Data Accuracy | 99.99% with automated validation | 95-98% with manual checks |
| Downtime | Zero downtime with phased cutover | Hours to days |
| Testing | Automated with 100% coverage | Manual with 60-80% coverage |
| Risk | Low - automated validation | High - human error prone |
| Documentation | Auto-generated and complete | Manual and often incomplete |
People Also Ask
Can AS/400 be migrated to cloud without downtime?
Yes, AI-powered AS/400 migration achieves zero downtime through phased cutover with real-time data synchronization. The migration runs both systems in parallel, gradually shifting workloads to the cloud while maintaining continuous operations. Automated rollback capability ensures business continuity if issues arise.
How is RPG code converted to modern languages?
AI agents analyze RPG/RPGLE programs to understand business logic, data flows, and dependencies, then automatically convert to Java, C#, or Python while preserving functionality. The conversion includes display files to modern UI, file operations to database calls, and CL programs to cloud scripts. Automated testing validates 100% functional equivalence.
What happens to AS/400 integrations and batch jobs?
All integrations are modernized to cloud-native APIs and services. Job scheduler (WRKJOBSCDE) converts to cloud scheduler (AWS EventBridge, Azure Logic Apps), FTP/ODBC integrations become REST APIs, spool files transform to modern reporting, and data queues migrate to message queues (SQS, Service Bus). EDI and file transfers continue with enhanced reliability.
How long does AS/400 to cloud migration take?
AI-powered AS/400 migration completes in 6-8 weeks for typical environments (500-2000 programs, 200-500 tables). This includes discovery, automated conversion, comprehensive testing, and zero-downtime cutover. Manual migration takes 12-24 months for the same scope. Timeline varies based on application complexity and customization level.
What are the actual cost savings from AS/400 cloud migration?
Organizations achieve 85% cost savings through reduced hardware maintenance ($200K-$500K annually), eliminated IBM licensing fees ($100K-$300K annually), lower staffing costs (specialized AS/400 skills), and improved operational efficiency. Cloud infrastructure costs $50K-$150K annually vs $500K-$1M for on-premise AS/400. Migration ROI typically achieved in 6-12 months.
Ready to Modernize Your AS/400?
Schedule a free AS/400 assessment to discover how AI-powered migration can achieve 85% cost savings in 6-8 weeks.