Migrating Cobol mainframe apps to Linux made easier

If Cobol could be integrated with with Java, XML, and Web services, business agility would be increased and costs would be reduced. That is the contention of Micro Focus - who have launched a development and deployment environment for Unix Cobol and Linux applications called Server Express.

"With Micro Focus Server Express for p5 Linux, we are easing the concerns for customers who want to build new applications and migrate existing ones to IBM's high-performance platform," says Tony Hill, CEO of Micro Focus. Server Express also supports migration to HP Superdome and Integrity Itanium 64-bit servers running HP-UX, plus Linux on 32-bit Intel - though it may be a couple of months, Hill adds, before a product supporting Linux on HP 64-bit systems is released.

Server Express represents an extension of Micro Focus' aptly named "Lift and Shift" legacy Cobol migration service, Hill explains, adding the option of migrating CICS-based mainframe Cobol applications to HP and IBM Unix and Linux servers.