If your business has legacy System i applications, you have probably faced the need to enhance or extend these applications. Challenges such as replacing green screens with modern web-based interfaces, integrating with non–System i applications, or moving applications to another platform are all common issues faced by most System i shops. BluePhoenix (NASDAQ: BPHX) provides both software tools and turnkey services to allow companies to address these issues by protecting their existing investment in their System i applications by extending the application or by moving them to a new platforms such as Microsoft .NET Framework or others.

Modernizing System i Applications

Some companies have made the decision to retire the System i for a variety of reasons. For independent software vendor (ISVs), applications based on System i may limit market appeal. For other IT shops, a desire to reduce total cost of ownership or to move to a platform with a wider available base of developers may drive this decision. But what options do companies have? This is a critical decision, one that has both considerable risk and cost.

BluePhoenix provides both a turnkey services approach, utilizing our advanced modernization tools and staff, and advanced tools to automate this work. Having worked with hundreds of customers, BluePhoenix has the experience and track record to ensure success. This modernization is based on a set of tools and processes that analyze existing System i applications (RPG, CL, Cobol, Synon) and data (DB2/400) and convert them into a pure Microsoft .NET application. Companies provide BluePhoenix with their code and data, BluePhoenix returns a complete, ready to run Microsoft .NET application. It's that simple.

Green screens --> ASP web pages or Windows Forms
RPG programs --> Visual RPG or C# programs
DB2/400 --> Microsoft SQL Server

The conversion process that Figure 1 [2] shows maintains all the original business logic, making the modernization safe and reliable. Ongoing development can be managed by using Microsoft Visual Studio and the entire suite of highly productive Microsoft development tools.

BluePhoenix: The System i Evolution Company

When it comes time to extend or modernize your System i, BluePhoenix brings proven services and advanced tools to support your needs from simple application extension through migration to another platform. Visit BluePhoenix at www.bphx.com [3].

Greg Schottland is vice president and general manager of the System i Business Division at BluePhoenix. He has over 20 years of high-tech industry experience.

Vendor Contact Information

BluePhoenix
Bphx.com [4]
919-380-5100
BluePhoenix Application Modernization Solutions