TmaxSoft: OpenFrame

OpenFrame is a software package for transfer of applications (rekhosting) from mainframes on open systems.

2017: technology partnership with AiTeco

The South Korean developer of the system software TmaxSoft and the Russian system integrator "AiTeco" announced on July 20, 2017 conclusion of an agreement about strategic partnership with assignment of the IT company of the special status of the technology partner for OpenFrame.

The agreement on cooperation confirms intention of the companies to invest in development of the corresponding examination based on AiTeco where for today the demonstration laboratory is already created and complex training of technical specialists on OpenFrame mastering is complete.

The software package OpenFrame is focused on the big customers considering the possibility of transition from mainframes to open systems. The Rekhosting includes transfer about a mainframe platforms of applications, services, scripts, data, analytics, security policies and software of third-party developers. Developed based on architecture of standard servers, software of OpenFrame v7.0 supports simple deployment, scalability, expanded automation of transfer and testing of functionality that considerably reduces duration of process of a rekhosting and its cost.

"We see high potential of new cooperation which purpose — jointly to help the Russian commercial users of mainframes considering options of cardinal decrease in operating expenses due to transition to more available and open platforms. The technology of a rekhosting implemented in OpenFrame is an alternative to expensive and long process of total rewriting of the code of the applications working in the environment of z/OS — Andrey Reva, the chief executive of TmaxSoft in Russia and the CIS explained. — Advantage of a product consists that OpenFrame can freely be offered the organizations using state a purchasing system within the import-substituting legislation of the Russian Federation".

Among main advantages for customers upon transition from mainframes to open systems to TmaxSoft called:

• reduction in cost of service after a project payback period;
• improvement of scalability;
• improving competitiveness due to simple access to IT of the next generation;
• service simplification.

By estimates of the company, the typical large-scale project with use of the OpenFrame complex takes 6–12 months. The effect of the enclosed investments becomes obvious already through a year and a half. At the same time own employees without the need for passing of additional training can be engaged in support of a new system.

"The command of AiTeco considers assignment of the status of the special technology partner according to the solution OpenFrame TmaxSoft in Russia as serious credibility from vendor which we intend to work effectively. In our next plans — to develop the received profile examination for productive promotion of products of TmaxSoft in the Russian market, to improve competences and to expand knowledge of the trained technical specialists and also to get practical experience on the first projects on a rekhosting" — Sergey Televinov, the director of the department of computer systems of AiTeco company told.

2015: Release of the 7th version of OpenFrame

On October 29, 2015 the TmaxSoft company announced an output to the market of the 7th version of the product OpenFrame.

Applications, scripts, data, analytical tools, rules/security policies, software of third-party developers and other software tools can be moved easily from mainframes to open platforms now.

OpenFrame 7.0 supports the simplified possibilities of deployment of the applications created for mainframes. At the same time the flexibility, scalability, expanded automation and testing of functionality which considerably reduce terms of preparation for migration are provided and reduce its cost. Software of OpenFrame 7.0 it is capable to transfer from mainframes products of third-party developers.

"The closed architecture of mainframes constrain use of new technologies, such, for example, as cloud services, analytics of Big Data on Hadoop clusters, safe corporate mobility and others — Maxim Prakhov, the business development manager of TmaxSoft RUS noted. — Open platforms support a set of the software products offered by different vendors. Besides the personnel prepared for work with open platforms in the market it is much bigger, than mainframes specialists. OpenFrame 7.0 allows to pass from mainframes to open platforms with the minimum costs of time, means, resources and without serious risks".

Architecture of OpenFrame (2015)

There are two approaches at migration from mainframes on open platforms: reengineering and rekhosting. The first - manual adaptation (with rewriting of the software code) the existing application software and scripts for open platforms. Result - the high cost and complexity of the project, long implementation, considerable risks. The second approach assumes use of specialized software for migration that excludes the specified difficulties and helps to achieve success quickly.

OpenFrame provides migration of applications and services from mainframes on open platforms (Linux and UNIX) without any reprogramming — only on the basis of "lift and shift" technology ("lift and transfer") and the built-in automation equipment that saves time and money. All system can be transferred without change of business requirements and logic of applications, giving the chance to involve extensive functionality of the three-level client-server architecture.

Key properties

• Application partitioning on three levels — interface, applied and the DBMS level. Each of them means additional division with a scaling option. At the first two levels scaling and a clustering can be executed using OpenFrame technologies. Scaling at the level of DBMS happens due to application of means of a clustering of TmaxSoft Tibero Active Cluster in case of use of Tibero or Oracle RAC.

• Equipment selection for each created level. If necessary it is possible to increase and change the power of separate components of a system, without affecting its working capacity in general.

• Creation of standby servers for protection of a system against possible failures of the equipment by load distribution in rush hours.

Use of OpenFrame 7.0 for migration from mainframes on open platforms allows to accelerate as much as possible decrease in total cost of ownership corporate systems (the payback period of the project makes less than three years), to improve scalability and to simplify service of systems, to increase competitiveness of the companies.