Transitioning off IBM i
Moving Off IBM i? Keep It for Exactly as Long as You Need It.
Deciding to move away from IBM i does not mean you can turn it off tomorrow.
Applications may need months or years to replace. Historical records may still be required. Users, auditors or business processes may still depend on the system.
Source-Data helps organizations maintain a right-sized IBM i environment during the transition, without forcing a new long-term infrastructure commitment for a platform they are already planning to leave.
Why invest in another IBM Power server if you only need IBM i for a few more years?
Cloud400 can provide a right-sized hosting alternative while you complete your transition and preserve access to the applications and historical records you still need.
Why you cannot just switch it off
The Transition Problem
Organizations often reach an awkward point: the strategic decision has been made to move forward, but IBM i remains operationally necessary.
- The replacement application is not fully deployed.
- Historical transactions still need to be accessed.
- Financial, customer, manufacturing or operational records must remain available.
- Auditors or regulators may require retained data.
- Some modules or business processes have not yet migrated.
- Interfaces or reporting processes still depend on IBM i.
- The current IBM Power server is aging, but buying another server for a short remaining life is difficult to justify.
A Bridge Instead of Another Long-Term Commitment
A hosted IBM i environment can provide a bridge between the system you are leaving and the environment you are moving toward.
The goal is to preserve the applications, data and access the business still needs while reducing the burden of maintaining infrastructure that may have a limited remaining life. Right-sized hosted IBM i with Cloud400
Planning the environment
What a Transition Environment Needs to Account For
- Applications and modules that remain active
- Read/write versus read-only requirements
- Historical data volume and retention period
- Users and access patterns
- Interfaces and dependent systems
- Reporting requirements
- Performance needs as utilization declines
- Backup, recovery and security
- Data extraction and migration activity
- Expected transition timeline
Proof: transition and archive hosting
Simonds International
Simonds International contacted Cloud400 in April 2024 for archive hosting of its Infor XA environment.
The IBM i V7.4 environment included approximately 4.5 TB of storage and supported modules including Customer Order Management, Inventory, International Financial Management, Product Data, Production Control and Costing, Purchasing, MRP and Intercompany Transfers.
The incumbent hosting arrangement was too expensive. Simonds selected Cloud400 based on competitive pricing and IBM i expertise.
“I would absolutely recommend Cloud400 for IBM i hosting. Cloud400 was very competitive and saved us a great deal of money. The migration went very smooth. The Cloud400 technical team was outstanding and extremely helpful. I am super happy with the decision we made.”Doug Morrison, IT Project Manager, Simonds International
Old is not obsolete
Do Not Confuse Old Technology With Obsolete Business Value
An application can be old and still contain valuable operational logic, customer history, financial information or records the business needs.
The decision to modernize should not force an artificial deadline for abandoning useful data or applications. A transition environment can let the business move forward while maintaining access to what still matters.
Transition and archive
Transition and Archive Decision Paths
| Situation | Potential approach |
|---|---|
| Replacement system still being implemented | Maintain operational IBM i during phased migration. |
| Most applications migrated; some remain | Right-size the environment around the remaining workload. |
| Applications retired; historical access remains | Evaluate archive-oriented hosting and access requirements. |
| Current hardware nearing replacement | Compare bridge hosting with purchasing hardware for a limited remaining period. |
| Data extraction will take time | Maintain a stable source environment during extraction and validation. |
Questions
Transition Answers
How long can we keep IBM i during a transition?
The appropriate period depends on the replacement plan, application dependencies, data retention needs and business requirements. The environment can be designed around the expected transition rather than an arbitrary timeline.
Do we need to buy another IBM Power server if we only need IBM i for a few more years?
Not necessarily. Hosted IBM i is one option worth comparing when the remaining life of the platform may not justify another capital purchase.
Can we keep IBM i only for historical data?
Potentially. The technical design depends on the applications, data volume, access requirements, software licensing and retention needs.
Can the environment be reduced as our IBM i workload declines?
That should be evaluated as part of the right-sizing process. The required configuration should reflect the workload and access requirements that remain.
Moving Off IBM i? Let’s Determine the Smartest Way to Bridge the Transition.
In a brief, no-obligation conversation, we’ll help you evaluate how long you’ll need IBM i, what applications and data must remain accessible, and whether right-sized bridge hosting makes financial and operational sense.
No cost, no obligation and no sales presentation. Just an experienced first look at your situation.