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The Database Shuffle

A large European bank discovers application modernization also means database modernization

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CUSTOMER: Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild S.A. Genéve (BPER Geneva) HEADQUARTERS: Geneva, Switzerland BUSINESS: Private wealth management HARDWARE: Two IBM System z 890s CHALLENGE: Modernizing both its applications and its database SOLUTION: Working with BluePhoenix Solutions and Ness Technologies to move from an IMS hierarchical database to a DB2 relational database

Emulation-screen apps are "so yesterday," to use the parlance of my youngest son. Sure, they still have their place - especially for internal company use. They're sometimes faster to navigate, with long-time users, guided by years of habit, simply tabbing and entering information. No muss, no fuss.

But more companies are modernizing their applications, using tools such as IBM* WebSphere* to build user-friendly applications with familiar, Web-like interfaces. However, there's more to this type of application modernization than one might think. Application developers must consider issues such as ties both into and out of databases, needing to move from a Data Language/I (DL/1) hierarchical database-management system to relational database, like DB2*.

It isn't an easy task, but it's one that can be accomplished - although maybe not for several years after initial planning. As Banque PrivŽe Edmond de Rothschild S.A. GenŽve (BPER Geneva) recently discovered, this migration task can be completed in much less time if the proper tools or tool vendor are used to assist in the effort. BPER Geneva, for example, approached IBM business partners Ness Technologies and BluePhoenix Solutions for guidance, setup assistance and tool use during its migration. So, instead of the project taking an estimated three years, it was finished in less than one.

A Natural Evolution

The Rothschild banking legacy is legendary, going back to the days of the Napoleonic wars. It played a part in the development of the European railway network; the financing of England's purchase of the Suez Canal and oil exploration in Russia and Africa; and bailed out the Vatican when it was facing bankruptcy.

BPER Geneva, a member of the LCF Rothschild Group, is a private investment bank focusing on "private wealth management," according to Terence Denton, BPER Geneva chief IT manager. Because its business involves establishing personal relationships with its clients - BPER Geneva, as well as other LCF Rothschild Group members - has a responsibility to keep up with the latest technologies. This allows it to more effectively conduct business, offering a variety of high quality services, including private banking, insurance, fund management, brokering and real estate.

In keeping with this, BPER Geneva operates two IBM System z* 890s, both of which are in Switzerland. One server is used as a primary production box, and the other is a real-time mirrored backup. Both have an Integrated Facility for Linux* (IFL). In addition to supporting BPER Geneva, these servers support six other financial institutions, most of them part of the LCF Rothschild Group.

"The flexibility of an implementation by database, being able to mix DL/1 and DB2 within the same program, was the best decision we could have made." -Terence Denton, BPER Geneva chief IT manager

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