Transition COBOL systems to modern infrastructures like the cloud, Linux, Docker, IDE or Windows for scalability and sustainability.
FastCOBOL by COBOLagency modernizes legacy COBOL systems by migrating them to contemporary platforms such as cloud environments, Linux, Docker, and Windows. By doing so, we increase system scalability, performance, and accessibility while reducing reliance on aging hardware. This service provides a sustainable framework, ensuring COBOL systems are prepared for current and future demands.
FastCOBOL is not just an ordinary service; it is the intersection of the best tools, tailored to leverage core systems with modern technologies. It’s the correct way to modernize without disrupting the core system. FastCOBOL is the easiest, most reliable, and stable method to achieve legacy system modernization without the risk of million-dollar failures or the threat of data leaks and service disruptions.
This is not just another service—FastCOBOL represents the culmination of COBOLagency’s service suite. It is the final step in taking your legacy systems to the next level, providing a way to understand them without the mainframe and allowing you to leverage their full potential while becoming independent of hardware.
Cloud Migration Services
FastCobol's Cloud Migration Services utilize replatforming techniques to transition COBOL workloads from mainframe or on-premise servers to cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform. By leveraging Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) architectures, FastCobol minimizes latency, enables elastic scaling, and offers high-availability configurations. This feature integrates with modern cloud-native components, including serverless functions, container orchestration (Kubernetes), and hybrid-cloud setups, enhancing the system's agility and scalability across distributed data centers.
Virtualization Support
FastCobol offers extensive virtualization support, utilizing hypervisors (e.g., VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, KVM) to create virtualized COBOL environments that decouple the underlying hardware from the operating system. This abstraction enables more efficient resource utilization, greater workload portability, and improved fault isolation. The virtualization options support virtualized high-availability clusters, load balancing, and disaster recovery protocols. Additionally, FastCobol aligns with Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) principles, making it easier to provision and manage virtualized COBOL systems through tools like Terraform and Ansible.
Linux/Docker Compatibility
Through source-to-image (S2I) processes and containerization, FastCobol modifies and optimizes COBOL applications for seamless deployment on Linux-based systems and Docker containers. By using GnuCOBOL or Micro Focus Enterprise Developer, FastCobol ensures compatibility with open-source Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, Red Hat) and supports integration into CI/CD pipelines. This allows COBOL applications to be built, tested, and deployed automatically, improving integration and enabling microservices-based architectures within Linux ecosystems.
Resource Allocation Optimization
Leveraging advanced resource management techniques such as container resource quotas, dynamic scaling policies, and workload-specific tuning, FastCobol optimizes CPU, memory, and I/O allocation. This feature employs predictive analytics to manage resource consumption, dynamically adjust to workload spikes, and ensure system stability. By integrating with cloud-based monitoring solutions (e.g., AWS CloudWatch, Google Stackdriver) and container orchestration tools, FastCobol optimizes execution environments for COBOL, maximizing performance while minimizing operational costs on new platforms.
AI Powered Legacy Code Conversion
We generally advise against direct migrations to Java. However, when it’s the only viable option, we collaborate with a world-leading partner to ensure the migration is executed optimally, leveraging AI-powered legacy code conversion for high-quality, human-readable Java.
Key Features of Our Approach:
- Functionally Equivalent: Both the COBOL and Java versions are designed to exhibit identical behavior, thoroughly validated by our AI-powered test suite.
- Change-Ready: The converted code is immediately adaptable, allowing modifications and extensions without additional refactoring—ideal for projects with tight timelines.
- Readable Code: The resulting Java code is clear and intuitive, written as a developer would naturally write, eliminating unreadable “Jobol” or “Cava.”
- License-Free: We utilize open-source libraries and cloud-native components wherever possible, helping maximize cost savings.
- Safety: Our automated translation ensures a safer migration than manual rewrites, with built-in correctness checks at every stage.
Our Migration Process:
Rather than offering a direct migration, our partner provides a structured, three-step approach:
Initial Survey: We begin by conducting a thorough assessment of the environment, identifying each component and dependency, and assigning risk scores.
Proof of Concept: Next, we initiate a proof-of-concept, converting a portion of the system within a short sprint to demonstrate value and feasibility.
Full Modernization: Finally, we proceed with the complete modernization, bringing your team onboard and enabling them to start innovating with the new Java system immediately.
Benefits
This is not just a service, this is the last phase of the COBOLagency Journey.
Future-Proofing the System
Migrating to flexible, resilient platforms like Docker and cloud environments prepares COBOL systems to integrate with emerging technologies, securing their relevance for years to come.
Improved Accessibility and Collaboration
With cloud migration, teams can access COBOL systems from anywhere, facilitating remote work and improving collaboration across departments or global locations.
Reduced Hardware Dependency
By moving away from legacy hardware, you minimize reliance on expensive, outdated equipment, resulting in lower maintenance costs and fewer hardware failures.
Reduced Operational Costs
Modern platforms often have lower operating costs compared to legacy hardware. FastCobol reduces the need for physical maintenance, saving on data center expenses and hardware upkeep.
Future-Proofing the System
Migrating to flexible, resilient platforms like Docker and cloud environments prepares COBOL systems to integrate with emerging technologies, securing their relevance for years to come.
Scalability and Flexibility
Transitioning to the cloud or modern platforms allows COBOL systems to handle increased workloads and expand capabilities in response to business growth.