what's a Mainframe Modernization?

[Shalini Singh]

Hi,

These days we hear a lot about "Mainframe Modernization", I did rad about it online a lot. But I am not sure if I get this. Everyone seems to have a very different definition than others.

Some call getting away from mainframe as modernization. Some other are calling updating software of mainframe itself as modernization. What is it?

[Robert Sample]

What is it?

You pretty much answered your own question:

Everyone seems to have a very different definition than others.

There is no industry standard for "mainframe modernization" so to a large extent the answer you get depends upon who you ask. "Mainframe modernization" could include any or all of:
- updating CICS screens to be accessible from a web browser
- migrating compiled language to interpreted languages (such as COBOL to JAVA or PERL)
- upgrading dated hardware to z15 or z16 machines
- migrating applications from relational database to document or other free-form databases
- etc
- etc
- etc

[Anuj Dhawan]

"Modernization" might mean different to different people, depending on the context. As Robert has said, there is industry standard for it. Modernizing a mainframe system involves the adoption of applicable methodologies, installing modern hardware and or software. If not all, most of the time - organizations would start their modernization efforts by analyzing their current technology stack to find what's working currently and what might be improved. This can include though not limited to - improving the existing capabilities, or adding new ones.

Possibly you add more points to your question, to help you better.