∙Staff availability

Deciding to use in-house staff as part of the migration makes it difficult to perform regular job responsibilities while they are involved with the migration project. This is particularly true of applications staff as current application development and maintenance has to be put on hold.

∙Staff Skills

When using in-house staff basically the same education requirements exist as those for outside consultants. These requirements are usually satisfied through in-house or classroom education. However, using in-house staff for the migration project also develops migration and conversion skills. These skills, such as training on the migration method and use of any migration/conversion tools, may not be of benefit after the migration project. This may provide a reason to acquire them from an outside source.

2.5.4.2 Outside Consultants

The alternative to using in-house staff is outside consultants. As with in-house staff, using outside consultants has its considerations. Chiefly this is the fact that outside consultants already bring with them expert levels of skill and experience. One of the main benefits of exploiting this skill and experience is that it tends to shorten the duration of the project. Utilizing outside consultants also frees existing in-house staff to perform their regular job duties. It may also be desired to hire new system personnel that already possess OS/390 (MVS) skills. Lastly, one of the big considerations is the amount of financial resources that will be required to use outside consultants. The forecasted project length and number of consultants needed are obviously the major factors. There are consulting firms that specialize in migrations such as this. While IBM in no way endorses or warrants their work performance, listed below are a few of the firms that specialize in migrations:

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Automated Migration Services

CAP-GEMINI

IBM Global Services

MHT Services

2.5.5 Conversion Tools

There are a number of conversion tools available to assist in the migration project. Some of the considerations when selecting conversion tools are:

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Cost

Education requirements

Technical support

Effectiveness

Flexibility

Listed are a few of these tools. A chapter in this publication on conversion tools provides detailed information about these tools.

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Program Translators (IBM CCCA)

Emulation - (Computer Associates CA-DUO)

Program Source Recovery - (Source Recovery)

30VSE to OS/390 Migration Workbook

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IBM OS/390 manual Conversion Tools, Outside Consultants, Cap-Gemini
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OS/390 specifications

IBM OS/390, a versatile operating system, was a cornerstone in enterprise environments and played a pivotal role in mainframe computing. Released in the mid-1990s, OS/390 combined the strengths of IBM's MVS (Multiple Virtual Storage) with new features and enhancements, targeting scalability, reliability, and performance in demanding business applications.

One of the key features of OS/390 was its robust support for multiple users and processes. The system allowed thousands of concurrent users to access applications and data, ensuring high availability and minimizing downtime—a critical requirement for many large organizations. This scalability was supported through various enhancements in memory management and processor scheduling, enabling optimal resource allocation across diverse workloads.

OS/390 was known for its superior workload management capabilities. The Workload Manager (WLM) component allowed administrators to define service policies, specifying how system resources would be allocated according to the priority of tasks. This ensured that critical business processes received the necessary resources while less critical tasks were managed more flexibly.

Another significant characteristic of OS/390 was its commitment to security. The operating system provided comprehensive security features, including user authentication, data encryption, and auditing capabilities. This focus on security was vital for organizations handling sensitive data, ensuring compliance with regulations and safeguarding against unauthorized access.

OS/390 also supported advanced technologies that facilitated integration and development. The system included features like the IBM CICS (Customer Information Control System) for transaction processing and IMS (Information Management System) for database management. These technologies allowed organizations to build robust, high-performance applications tailored to specific business needs.

The ease of network integration was another strength of OS/390. With the advent of the Internet and global connectivity, OS/390 systems could easily interface with various network protocols, enabling businesses to operate in a connected world. This inclusion paved the way for many organizations to expand their capabilities and offer new services, driving digital transformation.

In conclusion, IBM OS/390 represented a significant advancement in mainframe technology, combining scalability, security, and robust workload management. Its rich feature set and support for critical enterprise applications solidified its role as a vital component of many organizations' IT infrastructures, ensuring they could meet their operational challenges head-on while supporting future growth. As technology continues to evolve, the legacy of OS/390 remains influential in the realm of computing.
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