The IBM AS/400 Connector Built for Mainframe Modernisation
Decades of business-critical data locked in IBM i. Archon extracts, archives, and makes it permanently queryable — no middleware, COBOL scripts, or ongoing IBM licenses required.
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Connectors
Data Governance
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Your AS/400 Holds More Than You Think
- Direct extraction from DB2 for i physical files, logical files, and data queues
- DDS-defined record layout support (zero manual copybook translation)
- EBCDIC-to-UTF-8 conversion with full codepage mapping
- Packed decimal, binary, and zoned decimal field handling
- Zero middleware required (direct IBM i JDBC/JT400 connection)
Capabilities
Everything You Need for IBM AS/400 Data Operations
Native IBM i File Extraction
Read DB2 for i physical and logical files, multi-format logical files, and DDS-defined record layouts natively. Zero COBOL extraction programs or intermediate file conversion required.
EBCDIC Conversion at Scale
Automatic conversion from EBCDIC to UTF-8 with full codepage mapping. Packed decimal (COMP-3), binary, and zoned decimal fields normalized to standard numeric types for immediate queryability.
Immutable Legacy Data Archive
Every record is hashed (SHA-256), timestamped (RFC 3161), and written to WORM-compliant storage at ingestion. For banking and financial services, supports SEC Rule 17a-4 WORM requirements.
Cross-Application Search
Query decades of transaction records, master files, and operational data via Archon Analyzer. Full-text and metadata search — no live AS/400 or IBM i licenses required.
Use Cases
How Enterprises Use the IBM AS/400 Connector
From large-scale platform migrations to day-to-day data sync, Archon’s IBM AS/400 Connector covers the full lifecycle of enterprise CRM data management.
01 AS/400 Hardware Decommissioning
Retire IBM i hardware during cloud or data center modernization. Archon extracts the complete DB2 for i and file system record set before shutdown, making data permanently accessible from ADS independent of IBM i.
02 JDE World or JBA System 21 Migration
JD Edwards World and JBA System 21 both run on IBM i and are common decommissioning targets. Archon extracts application data from underlying DB2 for i tables, preserving the full financial, manufacturing, and supply chain record during migration to SAP, Oracle, or Infor.
03 Banking Transaction History Preservation
Community banks and building societies run core banking on IBM i, accumulating decades of transaction and account records. Archon archives these with full immutability and WORM compliance, meeting OCC, Federal Reserve, and PRA/FCA record-keeping requirements.
04 Insurance Policy and Claims Archive
AS/400-hosted policy administration systems need long-term access to policy records, premium histories, and claims data. Archon archives the complete policy record set and makes it searchable for claims re-opening, dispute resolution, and regulatory examination.
Technical Specifications
| Connection Method | IBM i JDBC (JT400), native DB2 for i connection, FTP file extraction |
|---|---|
| Supported Versions | DB2 for i tables, physical files, logical files, data queues, flat files |
| Data Scope | DDS-defined records, multi-format logical files, fixed-length records |
| Output Format | Parquet, Avro, XML, CSV, TXT, TSV, CSV, Excel |
| Metadata Handling | EBCDIC-to-UTF-8 conversion with full codepage mapping (CCSID) |
| Transformation Rules | EBCDIC conversion, packed decimal normalization, date standardization |
| Retention Management | Policy-based retention with legal hold and WORM controls |
| Deployment | On-premises · Cloud (AWS) · Hybrid |
| Security & Compliance | TLS 1.3 in transit · AES-256 at rest · SEC Rule 17a-4 · WORM immutability |
| Authentication | Full and incremental |
How It Works
Up and Running in 4 Steps
No engineers. No weeks of scoping. No surprises.
01
Connect to IBM i
Authenticate via IBM i JDBC (JT400) or FTP. Archon auto-discovers DB2 for i tables, physical files, logical files, and data queues, cataloguing schema and record layout definitions. 02
Map & Configure
Define file scope, DDS layout mappings, EBCDIC codepage settings, transformation rules, and retention policies. IBM i templates accelerate common banking and manufacturing patterns. 03
Validate & Preview
Run a dry-run against sample data. The quality report flags encoding anomalies, packed decimal mismatches, and null field handling issues before full extraction begins. 04
Archive & Monitor
Execute the full extraction with real-time progress tracking. Full audit logs and cryptographic hashes generated at point of ingestion. Data immediately searchable via Archon Analyzer.FAQ
Common Questions About the IBM AS/400 Connector
- 1. Does Archon support all IBM i (AS/400) operating system versions?
Yes, Archon supports a wide range of IBM i versions, including legacy AS/400 environments.
- 2. How does Archon handle DDS-defined record layouts without manual copybook translation?
Archon automatically interprets DDS definitions and maps record structures without manual intervention.
- 3. Can Archon extract data from IBM i without impacting production system performance?
Yes, it uses optimized, low-impact extraction methods to avoid disruption to production workloads.
- 4. How does Archon ensure EBCDIC conversion accuracy for banking and financial data?
Archon ensures EBCDIC conversion accuracy through validated conversion routines with data integrity checks to ensure accuracy and consistency.
- 5. What happens to AS/400 data in ADS after the hardware is decommissioned?
After the AS/400 is decommissioned, the data remains fully accessible, searchable, and independent of the original AS/400 system.
Decommissioning IBM i hardware or migrating off AS/400?
We’ll walk you through extraction scope, EBCDIC handling, and timeline.
Free technical scoping session.
