B.O.S. Software Service und Vertrieb GmbH
Driving Innovation with Mainframe Integration
Elisabeth Schwarz, CEO"Through our years of experience in implementing customized solutions for data replication and synchronization in heterogeneous environments, we have acquired extensive know-how in databases and file systems in IBM z mainframe environments, distributed systems, Apache Hadoop, and Cloud environments," says Elisabeth Schwarz, the CEO of BOS.
BOS’ solutions build bridges between the past and the future— between mainframe, Linux, Unix, Windows, and Cloud platforms. It transforms the complex and decades-old mainframe data into easily accessible relational data. "Many IT experts are familiar with a relational view of data. This makes it pretty easy for young talents and other IT experts without mainframe know-how to work with mainframe data and integrate them into new solutions. We create freedom for innovation and modernization for our customers," says Elisabeth.
The Genesis—A New Focus on Integration
The firm's genesis dates back to the 80s, when a group of likeminded service, sales, and management experts from a German-based software company got together with a revolutionary idea. They wanted to establish a concept for developing and marketing software that focuses on the customers and subsequently, on the end-users.
The defining feature of the solution is the different change data capture methods that can be used depending on the frequency of changes at the source, and how up-to-date the data at the target should be.
"Our tcVISION solution is designed in a way that the resource consumption for capturing the data on the mainframe is reduced to a minimum. Changes in the source only have to be captured once and can then be applied to multiple different targets," says Elisabeth.
A special highlight of this solution is that backup, unload, and image copy formats of the databases can be used for the initial or cyclic load of mass data from mainframe environments into the desired targets in LUW environments, Cloud, or Hadoop. “These image copy, backup, and unload formats of mainframe data can even be processed on open system platforms, hence eliminating the need to use mainframe resources," states Elisabeth. Besides data extraction, data transformation, and data apply, customers need not worry about issues like backup concepts and recovery & restart procedures if sources or targets of a replication process are interrupted.
The handling of tcVISION is intuitive through a dashboard, which is either Windows or Unix based. Processing and transforming the data is controlled by the rules specified in the tcVISION "repository." The dashboard provides access to tcVISION "design studio" in which the transformation rules, as well as all extraction processes for the data sources can be defined with the help of comfortable wizards.
The tcVISION repository contains all structure information, all replication rules, scripts for data transport, and application to the target systems. It is the central place for control and surveillance of all exchange processes. tcVISION's comprehensive database- and system-specific conversion logic avoids programming effort and makes a fully automated data exchange process possible.
In one instance, tcVISION enabled an Austria-based bank to significantly reduce its mainframe costs through the real-time replication to a less expensive Apache Hadoop environment. "tcVISION performed a very economical log file-based replication," said one of the bank's representatives. "Beyond this, we are now in a position to implement numerous application cases based on the replicated data, which would be too expensive on the mainframe. Real-time event handling, real-time analytics, and real-time fraud prevention are only a few of the use cases we currently cover," he added.
Shaping the Future of Information Technologies
Adjusting to the needs of customers has been the corporate principle of BOS from the very beginning. "We maintain a continuous dialog with our customers. As partners, they are not only users of our solutions but also influence our product management," says Elisabeth, "We guide them through the Proof of Concept, consider their feedback, and work it into our solutions." There are user groups in some countries, and BOS hosts regular information events for customers and partners. "In the events, our customers present their implementations, and we illustrate our development plans and how we included their feedback into our new versions," Elisabeth adds.
In the days to come, the firm envisions opening new ways to use innovative technologies across systems, and ensure their clients' complete independence from platform and database manufacturers. "The task 'integration' is not simple but fascinating and very extensive. It requires employees with the capacity for teamwork and an environment with space for creativity. We are a team of individuals with a pioneering spirit of research and common enthusiasm for what we do. A strong passion for technology and bold visions for the future continuously drive us forwards," concludes Elisabeth.
Besides excellent solutions, the idea was to offer an outstanding, timely, competent, and results-oriented service. BOS opened its doors in 1990 and targeted users working with online mainframe applications on screens. Back then, there were 3270 user interfaces in mainframe environments. The first 3270 models were monochrome with a resolution of 24×80 characters. The application displayed on the screen was limited to a certain amount of characters with no graphical user interfaces. Online data processing was very cryptic, and data collection was mainly key values. That is where BOS went in and developed solutions to simplify the handling of these applications. The meaning of the key values could be displayed as online help. Existing values could be retrieved from VSAM or Db2 tables on the mainframe. This was the first step towards data integration without program modifications. With this solution, BOS gained global market leadership.
At the turn of the millennium, the limited 3270 display technology was gradually replaced by graphical user interfaces. In the course of this technology shift, new platforms in the distributed environment became more important.
A special highlight of this solution is that backup, unload, and image copy formats of the databases can be used for the initial or cyclic load of mass data from mainframe environments into the desired targets in LUW environments, Cloud, or Hadoop. “These image copy, backup, and unload formats of mainframe data can even be processed on open system platforms, hence eliminating the need to use mainframe resources," states Elisabeth. Besides data extraction, data transformation, and data apply, customers need not worry about issues like backup concepts and recovery & restart procedures if sources or targets of a replication process are interrupted.
The handling of tcVISION is intuitive through a dashboard, which is either Windows or Unix based. Processing and transforming the data is controlled by the rules specified in the tcVISION "repository." The dashboard provides access to tcVISION "design studio" in which the transformation rules, as well as all extraction processes for the data sources can be defined with the help of comfortable wizards.
The tcVISION repository contains all structure information, all replication rules, scripts for data transport, and application to the target systems. It is the central place for control and surveillance of all exchange processes. tcVISION's comprehensive database- and system-specific conversion logic avoids programming effort and makes a fully automated data exchange process possible.
In one instance, tcVISION enabled an Austria-based bank to significantly reduce its mainframe costs through the real-time replication to a less expensive Apache Hadoop environment. "tcVISION performed a very economical log file-based replication," said one of the bank's representatives. "Beyond this, we are now in a position to implement numerous application cases based on the replicated data, which would be too expensive on the mainframe. Real-time event handling, real-time analytics, and real-time fraud prevention are only a few of the use cases we currently cover," he added.
Shaping the Future of Information Technologies
Adjusting to the needs of customers has been the corporate principle of BOS from the very beginning. "We maintain a continuous dialog with our customers. As partners, they are not only users of our solutions but also influence our product management," says Elisabeth, "We guide them through the Proof of Concept, consider their feedback, and work it into our solutions." There are user groups in some countries, and BOS hosts regular information events for customers and partners. "In the events, our customers present their implementations, and we illustrate our development plans and how we included their feedback into our new versions," Elisabeth adds.
In the days to come, the firm envisions opening new ways to use innovative technologies across systems, and ensure their clients' complete independence from platform and database manufacturers. "The task 'integration' is not simple but fascinating and very extensive. It requires employees with the capacity for teamwork and an environment with space for creativity. We are a team of individuals with a pioneering spirit of research and common enthusiasm for what we do. A strong passion for technology and bold visions for the future continuously drive us forwards," concludes Elisabeth.
Besides excellent solutions, the idea was to offer an outstanding, timely, competent, and results-oriented service. BOS opened its doors in 1990 and targeted users working with online mainframe applications on screens. Back then, there were 3270 user interfaces in mainframe environments. The first 3270 models were monochrome with a resolution of 24×80 characters. The application displayed on the screen was limited to a certain amount of characters with no graphical user interfaces. Online data processing was very cryptic, and data collection was mainly key values. That is where BOS went in and developed solutions to simplify the handling of these applications. The meaning of the key values could be displayed as online help. Existing values could be retrieved from VSAM or Db2 tables on the mainframe. This was the first step towards data integration without program modifications. With this solution, BOS gained global market leadership.
At the turn of the millennium, the limited 3270 display technology was gradually replaced by graphical user interfaces. In the course of this technology shift, new platforms in the distributed environment became more important.
× 
CIO Applications Europe Weekly Brief
Be first to read the latest tech news, Industry Leader's Insights, and CIO interviews of medium and large enterprises exclusively from CIO Applications Europe
