IBM B2B Integrator V5.2.6 and IBM File Gateway V2.2.6 Migration
BM announced at the end of September 2019 that from the 30th September 2021 it will no longer offer support for the following versions of its software, available in accordance with IBM’s International Program License Agreement.
It must be kept in mind that the B2Bi 5.2.6.x and IFG 2.2.6.x versions (including 5.2.6.1/5.2.6.2/5.2.6.3/5.2.6.4/5.2.6.5) will also be affected by the support discontinuance, as they correspond to versions in which FixPack from FixCentral was installed.
Customers who have the discontinued versions will continue to receive support until the date of completion of the published assistance.
Customers are encouraged to migrate to the latest versions of B2B Integrator and File Gateway in order to benefit from new features, defect correction, improvements and have the latest security updates.
We are Premier Business Partner of IBM, perfect partner to accompany you through the entire migration process because of both their
specialisation and their ability to guarantee the lowest cost and the lowest impact on your services.
Why do I have to update my software?
The end of support has 2 main disadvantages:
If you need to access IBM support through a PMR, the support team would first indicate that you need to update to a supported version of the software
Your current version will not include the new security patches, corrections, nor the new functionality developed to continue maintaining a competitive advantage that a leading solution provides
What risks do I face if I don’t update my software?
The worst-case scenario would be one which involves an incident in a highly critical production environment and would require an intervention from the IBM Support team.
What improvements do I get?
B2B Integrator V6 includes new functionalities:
Docker and Open Shift support. You can now use a Docker container to install, display and update Sterling B2B Integrator
New business processes service for the integration of AWS S3. A new service of business processes is included that allows you to integrate with Amazon Web Service Simple Storage Service (AWS S3). Sterling B2B Integrator’s AWS S3 Customer Service creates
uninterrupted connectivity to cloud´-based storage hosted by Amazon. This is a scalable, reliable, and portable storage solution. Through this service you can obtain, place, and delete files easily as well as carry out many more operations- Authentication outsourced to AD/LDAP over SSL/TLS
Integration of Watson Assistant Support. Watson Assistant, a helpful cognitive assistant, is now included into the user interface of the Sterling B2B Integrator management console. Watson Assistant reduces unnecessary browsing and helps to improve the information experience by answering questions related to the use of the product from the user’s own interface
Virtually perfect interaction with existing systems via the new and updated APIs from RESTful in order to take advantage of emerging technologies
UI and REST API customisations. You can now add, edit, or delete customisations such as customised properties, JAR files, services and user outputs using the B2B’s REST API or the Sterling B2B Integrator’s user interface. Customisations are now stored in a data base, which guarantees their maintenance in all versions of the software
- Dynamic node scaling. You can now add a new node to the cluster dynamically. After installing the node, it automatically joins the existing cluster. The existing nodes know the information about the newly added node, and they become part of the new node without resetting the existing nodes
- Adaptor containers are disconnected from the ASI node. Adaptor containers can now be started and included in a Sterling B2B Integrator’s cluster environment, independent of the ASI nodes
- New dashboard user interface. The dashboard user interface in Sterling B2B has been modified and now displays a new menu option for customisation section
What does migration involve?
In terms of licenses, migration does not incur any cost, although it will need time and specialised personnel.
At B2B Solutions we rely on years of experience with these types of migrations. Our experience has allowed us to design an action plan to carry out the migration as quickly as possible, guarantee the lowest cost and lowest impact on your services, so that none of your clients will be affected during the migration process.
What does the migration consist of and how long will it take?
After an initial week of discovery where we analyse the infrastructure to be migrated, connectivity, applications, and critical services, we have an accurate estimation of the migration plan (phases 1 to 4 below). These activities will take between 3 and 4 weeks to complete. Subsequently, the migration itself will vary depending on the number of processes to be migrated and the customizations made on the platform.
Our migration plan consists of the following high-level phases:
- Receipt and analysis of infrastructure and types of connectivity
- Compatibility study
- Census of components to be migrated
- Migration plan creation
Contact B2B Solutions if you have questions or need more information about our migration services.
