Summary
In part 3 of this blog series, we de-risk migrating legacy Informix apps (4GL, C-Routines) to ARM64 with unmatched modernization expertise.
Table of contents
Introduction
Okay, let’s get to the real challenge.
In this series, we’ve covered the huge TCO savings (Part 1) and the powerful IoT/edge capabilities (Part 2) of Informix on ARM64. But none of that matters if you can’t get there. And for many long-time Informix users, there’s a big hurdle: a mission-critical application built decades ago.
It’s not the database you’re worried about—it’s the complex application stack built on top of it. It could be written in Informix 4GL, C-Routines, PowerBuilder, or a complex web of Shell Scripts. It may even be running on an old, unsupported OS like SCO UNIX.
We call this the “Legacy Application Hurdle.” How can you possibly migrate that to a modern 64-bit Linux distribution on an ARM64 processor?
The “Unicorn” Skill Set You Can’t Hire
This is the hard truth: it is not just a database migration; it is an application modernization project. The challenges are significant:
- The Application & Dependency Hurdle: An x86 application simply will not run on an ARM processor. Your entire application, plus all its third-party drivers and dependencies, must be recompiled for the ARM64 architecture.
- The Legacy Modernization Hurdle: Porting a 32-bit application from a legacy OS to a modern 64-bit Linux environment is an act of technical archaeology. The in-house expertise to manage this code may have retired years ago.
- The Data Integrity Hurdle: A cross-architecture, cross-platform migration is one of the highest-risk operations in data management. You must prove that 100% of your data arrived at the new ARM64 target uncorrupted, with no data loss.
Let’s be honest: the “unicorn” developer who understands your 32-bit legacy C-code and modern cloud-native ARM architecture probably doesn’t work on your team. They’re nearly impossible to find.
XTIVIA: “The Last Informix Shop Standing”
This is exactly why we call ourselves “The Last Informix Shop Standing.” We are that team.
While others abandoned the platform, XTIVIA invested. Our team’s institutional knowledge is unmatched, anchored by senior consultants and DBAs who worked directly for Informix Software back in the day. Our team has been supporting all versions of Informix for over 25 years. We have a dedicated team with deep, proven expertise in modernizing the entire Informix application ecosystem.
We don’t just manage legacy Informix; we modernize it.
- Proven Legacy Modernization: We have a documented track record of success. For a finance client, we migrated their entire complex environment—including Informix 4GL, C-Routines, and PowerBuilder—from an unsupported architecture to a modern Red Hat Linux environment.
- Unmatched Troubleshooting: Our expertise runs deep, allowing us to diagnose obscure problems on legacy systems. For instance, we solved a client’s persistent application errors—which were generating core dumps—by tracing the cause not to the database itself, but to an often-overlooked 2GB file limit on their 32-bit SCO UNIX file system. This is the level of expertise required to de-risk your migration.
Your End-to-End Partner: From Legacy to ARM64
XTIVIA is uniquely positioned to be your single, end-to-end partner for this entire journey.
- Professional Services: Our legacy modernization and cloud migration teams work together. We will port your custom applications (4GL, C, or otherwise), re-link your libraries, modernize your scripts, and migrate your database to the ARM64 cloud platform of your choice—all as a single, managed project with rigorous data validation.
- Virtual-DBA®: Once you’re modernized, our 24/7/365 Virtual-DBA® service takes over. Your internal team is freed from firefighting a legacy app and can now focus on high-value projects. We handle all the monitoring, tuning, and management of your new, cost-effective, high-performance environment.
Don’t let your legacy code hold you back from a high-performance, low-cost future. The benefits of Informix on ARM64 are real. XTIVIA is the partner with deep historical knowledge to protect your past and modern cloud expertise to build your future.
Please contact us for more information.