SOA Modernization

Rejuvenate and augment

With every new application that needs critical mainframe data, and every mobile app or web portal transactions reaching out to Db2 or IMS running on the mainframe, there is a myriad of connections, hardware and software to ensure the integration integrity. Generations of IT connectivity purpose built to access mainframe data, programs and screens are difficult to maintain and lack any centralized management. Mainframe screens that once were the primary interface for the mainframe have become obstacles to modernization. Rocket Data reduces this complexity by delivering a proven, highly-efficient mainframe modernization methodology—an approach that not only extends core mainframe functionality into the more modern world of Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA), but at the same time also dramatically reduces mainframe Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

In large organizations dependent on mainframe technology, much of a company's business value resides in mainframe systems— relational and non-relational data stores such as IMS DB, Db2, Adabas, IDMS and VSAM, as well as business logic platforms like CICS, IMS TM and Natural. In order to more fully exploit the value of these mainframe systems, organizations must modernize—not migrate or replace, but rejuvenate and augment. Effective modernization strategies extend the mainframe into new technologies and development approaches such as service-oriented development, and the integration of mainframe data with Business Analytics and Business Intelligence.

Rocket Data is a flexible, non-invasive integration solution that enables true architectural flexibility as enterprise organizations define the path that will guide relevant mainframe functionality towards modernization.

• Rejuvenation – Rocket Data effectively extends the viability of business-critical mainframe systems, generating mainframe-centric Web services that enable more modern distributed applications with direct SQL access to a broad range of mainframe data and logic. Rocket Data is an advanced integration solution, enabling developers to deploy new mainframe-based services – services that add immediate value to modern development initiatives – in a fraction of the time and cost required with traditional point-to-point integration.
• Augmentation – Rocket Data allows enterprise organizations to take a more surefooted path towards functional augmentation. As developers look to supplement mainframe functionality on distributed platforms, Rocket Data also allows the mainframe to become an efficient consumer of Web service functionality. Thus, in addition to supplementing mainframe logic with distributed development that answers new business requirements, Rocket Data augments mainframe systems, allowing core mainframe applications and data stores to enjoy the fruits of this labor.

Mainframe Rejuvenation

Rocket Data is a proven mainframe integration solution that enables the rejuvenation and augmentation of core mainframe assets in the context of Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) and modern component-based development platforms. In essence, Rocket Data effectively renders mainframe data and application logic as simply another piece of the SOA puzzle, removing complexity from the rejuvenation process and lowering overall mainframe Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

As part of rejuvenation process, Rocket Data effectively extends the viability of these business-critical mainframe systems, generating mainframe-centric Web services that enable more modern distributed applications with direct SQL access to a broad range of mainframe data and logic.

• Rocket Data z/Services is a secure, reliable, and scalable foundation for publishing mainframe data as a SOAP-based Web service enabling new applications that use a SOAP-based Web service interface to transparently perform operations against mainframe data sources. Rocket Data's industry-standard SQL-based data operations including Select, Insert, Update, and Delete, are published as Web services using a simple interface through Rocket Data Studio.
• Rocket Data z/Services also provides a reliable method for transforming mainframe business logic into Web services. Rocket Data allows new composite applications to directly access mainframe business logic at runtime, using a variety of methods for accessing mainframe transactions that minimize the performance impact on mainframe applications (COMMAREA, OTMA, 3270 Bridge/Linkable Bridge and FEPI). Rocket Data provides developers with a simple process for achieving this functionality, reducing development and debugging time, while assuring consistent, reliable results.

Flexibility to Support Web Integration Now—SOA Later

And is Web services and SOA are a bit premature, Rocket Data z/Presentation lets developers rapidly integrate mainframe 3270 screen applications seamlessly with distributed Java or .NET web applications with minimal risk and development overhead. If the need to migrate to SOA in the future, applications built with Rocket Data z/Presentation are easily re-deployed as a Web service. No development is required beyond the simple configuration of HTML templates and associated microflows.

Mainframe Augmentation

Rocket Data enables both the rejuvenation and augmentation of core mainframe assets in the context of Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) and modern component-based development platforms. When developers must supplement core mainframe data and applications with more modern development efforts, often the mainframe can benefit in some way from this new functionality.

Rocket Data is the bridge that enables needed mainframe systems to actually consume data from distributed computing environments via the power of Web services. And, Rocket Data accomplishes this is a efficient, easy-to-implement fashion that at the end of the day, reduces overall mainframe Total Cost of Ownership (TCO

• Rocket Data z/Services Web Services Consumption (WsC) allows the mainframe to function more as an enterprise server than a proprietary platform. The unique power of WsC is its ability to transform distributed Web services into familiar mainframe functions for the developer.
• By permitting the mainframe to access service-oriented functionality residing on distributed J2EE or Microsoft .NET platforms, Rocket Data WsC empowers the mainframe to more fully participate in SOA. A bi-directional Web services strategy dramatically increase the viability of mainframe platforms and transform mainframe assets into a real-time foundation for operational efficiency and increasing business agility.
• With bi-directional capabilities, enterprise architects and developers are able to take a more surefooted path towards mainframe modernization. As they continue to supplement proven mainframe systems with modern application development, they also are able to "give back" to the mainframe and take advantage of the platforms inherent benefits when it comes to transactional processing power.

Specialty Engine Exploitation

Unlike other products, Rocket Data diverts almost all processing associated with rejuvenation and augmentation to the zIIP specialty engine. In effect, Rocket Data reduces MSU utilization, immediately lowers overall mainframe costs and helps defer costly mainframe upgrades–all of which contribute to dramatically decreased mainframe Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). With minimal risk and dramatically reduced costs, Rocket Data offers a strong value proposition when it comes to the challenge of reconciling mainframe modernization with ever-evolving business requirements.