Mainframe and Open Systems services and expertise

Mainframe engineering, modernisation and information systems integration

Mainframe and Open IT expertise

HH&S senior consultants bring extensive experience of both IBM Mainframe environments — z/OS MVS, z/VM and Linux on IBM Z — and Open Systems, including UNIX/Linux, Windows, Java and Internet technologies.

What sets us apart is the breadth of our IT background. We began our careers on IBM Mainframe systems and followed the evolution of computing through minicomputers, distributed systems and modern platforms. This broad perspective gives us the technical depth required to design, migrate, transform and modernise IT architectures.

Our core specialism is the IBM Mainframe, particularly z/OS MVS and z/VM. We provide Mainframe expertise and guidance to organisations that no longer have these capabilities in-house.

Our strength is our ability to discuss bits and bytes with engineers and developers, SLAs with operations and application managers, TCO and ROI with IT procurement teams, and strategy with the CIO.

Our technical expertise, responsiveness and delivery record across consulting, development, migration, technical support, systems and network administration, and training have earned us a strong reputation with major IT organisations.

HH&S also provides its clients with practical research, evaluation and technical prototyping capabilities. By continually assessing and testing new solutions, we maintain a clear view of the technology landscape and help clients build robust, sustainable and cost-effective architectures while avoiding common technical pitfalls.

As an independent firm, we are responsive and flexible. We have built a reputation for fast, effective delivery among both major organisations and SMEs.

Our clients also value our ability to share knowledge. Our assignments and training help their teams gain practical answers, new ideas and clear technical recommendations.

Expertise

Technical capabilities

Projects and architecture

  • Project leadership, coordination and alignment between business and IT teams
  • Technical scoping
  • Cross-platform Mainframe/Open technical leadership
  • Mainframe and Open application estate audits and inventories
  • Auditing and tuning of business-critical workloads
  • Mainframe migration, modernisation and replatforming
  • Infrastructure transformation: mergers, carve-outs and lift-and-shift projects

Systems, applications and middleware

Systems and platforms

z/OS (MVS), z/VM / VM/CMS, AIX, UNIX/Linux and Linux on Z.

Languages and legacy technologies

JCL, REXX, COBOL, PL/I, ASM/370, C, UNIX shell, Perl, Python, PHP, SQL, Java, JavaScript, HTML and XML.

Data, middleware and integration

VSAM, IMS, DB2 for z/OS, DB2 LUW, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, IBM MQ, CICS, ESB, EAI, Apache, Tomcat, WebSphere, PACBASE, legacy application estates, EDI and Output Management, and data-flow processing.

Networking, security and automation

TCP/IP, DNS, proxy servers, DHCP, SNMP, SSH and VPN; SNA, VTAM, APPC and LU6.2 in legacy environments; LDAP and RACF; Ansible and Mainframe/Open schedulers including TWS/OPC, Control-M, CA-7, Dollar Universe, AutoSys and VTOM.

Selected projects and assignments

  • Audit and inventory of an existing technical and application estate: Mikros / Datapost merger, 2002.
  • LPAR separation and consolidation studies: Nationale Suisse Assurances, 2007.
  • RFP preparation and management: Pages Jaunes, 2008; Aperam Mainframe Exit Programme, 2017.
  • Transformation and modernisation programmes: Datapost, Mikros, TESSI, KBL and the Swiss Central Compensation Office.
  • Mainframe rehosting: Aperam, 2018; Liberty Liège-Dudelange, 2020.
  • OpenShift infrastructure on z/VM and Linux on IBM Z: IBM GTS, 2020.
  • Development of a Linux on Z service offering: BNP BP2I, 2021.
  • JCL-to-Shell conversion prototypes and proofs of concept using ACMU.

Training and knowledge transfer

HH&S helps teams build a practical understanding of systems, operations, administration, databases, programming languages and development tools, as well as migration and modernisation methods.

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