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Hear how this end user‘s inventory system improved its performance, eliminated downtime, and implemented a DR plan.
The end user's global inventory system was run on VAX hardware that was getting old. This made many aspects difficult, like running the system, backing it up, and modernizing it.
ASA Computers supplied the x86 hardware with embedded Charon software. With PARSEC's assistance, they migrated the system using a lift-and-shift approach.
For over 162 years, the end user has designed and supplied machines, process equipment, and production lines for the world’s largest industrial players. Operating with 250 employees, they serve various sectors such as aerospace, agriculture, automotives, construction, job shops, mining, oil and gas, power generation, rail, and wind.
The end user’s entire global inventory system was on a customized operating system, which ran on a VAX server. The inventory system tracked the entire supply chain and was integral to operations and productivity. However, due to the system’s age, Becky A., supervisor of Production Control and Logistics, encountered several issues with the VAX and had increasing concerns about the system.
While the operating system software and applications were stable, finding parts to keep the VAX hardware running was becoming difficult. There was also an ongoing lack of support which led to issues in backing up the system.
“The inventory system is obviously essential to our operations. Relying on the VAX seemed precarious and made me continually uneasy.”
Becky A., Supervisor, Production Control and Logistics
The aging server also hindered the modernization of the IT infrastructure by taking advantage of new technologies.
Trend’s IT supplier, Oriel Technologies, approached UBS to evaluate CHARON-VAX as a virtual environment that would allow all current applications to run unchanged on a modern server, increase processing speeds, and provide capacity for future expansion. The challenge was to move Trend’s applications to another platform without changing the underlying code, user interface, access to Rdb on Windows, and a number of LAT-connected devices used within the manufacturing process. Charon is the only virtualization solution that exactly replicates the existing VAX rather than imitate it on a different platform.
Migrating their current system to a different operating system distribution, which could run on modern x86 architecture, would require major disruption and a full rewrite of their proprietary application: an unrealistic and costly option because of the source code being lost over the years. Stromasys’ partner, PARSEC Group, currently supports the OpenVMS environment for the end user and shared a few recommendations on how they could more efficiently mitigate their aging hardware risk of potential unplanned downtime. PARSEC suggested emulation as it allows for a “lift and shift” solution which would move the essential operating system and layered application off the risky VAX server without major changes to their applications or business processes. In addition, the end user would be on a path for IT modernization of the legacy application on a much safer platform and at a time of their choosing.
Another Stromasys partner, ASA Computers, Inc., supplied the x86 hardware with embedded Charon software, efficiently furnishing the foundation of the solution. The partners worked closely with the Stromasys engineering team for the installation and configuration of the solution in the end user’s environment, expertly troubleshooting a few networking issues. In the end, PARSEC Group lifted and shifted the layered solution: their version-locked operating system and application running on the embedded Charon and the modern x86 ASA server running on top of a Linux host OS.
“The CHARON-VAX product proved to be all it claimed to be, and it has been working for us very, very well for more than three years now.”
Ray Schroder, IT Manager, Trend Windows & Doors
Geoff Lang of UBS, who has facilitated more than 120 CHARON-VAX migrations in Australia, has never yet encountered any major problems during this process. The CHARON-VAX implementation was carried out by Oriel with support from UBS over a single weekend, with minimal downtime. Minor connectivity issues that arose due to the aging hardware were dealt with easily, and the project was completed on time and within budget, with minimal impact on the business and the end users. The migration to a new AMD-based HP Proliant DL385 server also made it easy to add storage and other modern functions that were incompatible with the old VAX hardware.
Finally, with the essential operating system migrated away from the VAX, Becky found that she had a solid working system for the inventory operations.
“Our storeroom employees were happy because the system’s performance increased.”
Becky A., Supervisor, Production Control and Logistics
With better performance, “getting parts to the floor is faster and assemblies have increased their productivity as well.” Better still, Becky found that unplanned downtime was no longer a concern, and she had a solid working and reliable system for the inventory operations. With modernization, she is also able to implement an efficient disaster recovery solution, which was not feasible before the migration.
