System migration involves moving a set of instructions or

programs Program, programme, programmer, or programming may refer to: Business and management * Program management, the process of managing several related projects * Time management * Program, a part of planning Arts and entertainment Audio * Progra ...

, e.g., PLC (

programmable logic controller A programmable logic controller (PLC) or programmable controller is an industrial computer that has been ruggedized and adapted for the control of manufacturing processes, such as assembly lines, machines, robotic devices, or any activity t ...

) programs, from one platform to another, minimizing reengineering. Migration of systems can also involve

downtime The term downtime is used to refer to periods when a system is unavailable. The unavailability is the proportion of a time-span that a system is unavailable or offline. This is usually a result of the system failing to function because of an un ...

, while the old system is replaced with a new one. Migration can be from a

mainframe computer A mainframe computer, informally called a mainframe or big iron, is a computer used primarily by large organizations for critical applications like bulk data processing for tasks such as censuses, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise ...

which has a closed architecture, to an open system which employ x86 servers. As well, migration can be from an open system to a

Cloud Computing Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage ( cloud storage) and computing power, without direct active management by the user. Large clouds often have functions distributed over mu ...

platform. The motivation for this can be the cost savings. Migration can be simplified by tools that can automatically convert data from one form to another. There are also tools to convert the code from one platform to another to be either

compiled In computing, a compiler is a computer program that translates computer code written in one programming language (the ''source'' language) into another language (the ''target'' language). The name "compiler" is primarily used for programs that ...

or interpreted. Vendors of such tools include

Micro Focus Micro Focus International plc is a British multinational software and information technology business based in Newbury, Berkshire, England. The firm provides software and consultancy. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is ...

and Metamining.Wook-hee Lee
"국내 언어변환 솔루션 프로그램 선두기업: 메타마이닝 (Metamining, South Korea's Leading Language Conversion Enterprise)"
''Money Today'' July 4, 2011. Retrieved on March 5, 2013. An alternative to converting the code is the use of software that can run the code from the old system on the new system. Examples are Oracle Tuxedo Application Rehosting Workbench, Morphis - Transformer and products for

LINC 4GL LINC ("Logic and Information Network Compiler") is a fourth-generation programming language, used mostly on Unisys computer systems. Background LINC was originally developed as a short-cut (or template) by two programmers to reproduce and automat ...

. Migration may also be required when the hardware is no longer available. See

JOVIAL JOVIAL is a high-level programming language based on ALGOL 58, specialized for developing embedded systems (specialized computer systems designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions, usually embedded as part of a larger, more complete dev ...

References

Software maintenance {{Compsci-stub

See also

References