As Cat® dealers evaluate their long-term IT strategies, the conversation around sunsetting DBS/DBSi has become increasingly critical. For many dealers, sunsetting DBS/DBSi doesn't mean pulling the plug entirely. Instead, it involves transitioning primary operations while maintaining the IBM i platform for a period of time to securely house, access, and query historical DBS/DBSi data.
Even after transitioning away from DBS/DBSi, the IBM i platform can remain a critical repository for years of vital business records. Ensuring that this historical environment remains stable, responsive, and secure—without draining your internal IT bandwidth—requires the right hosting and managed services partner.
At FDC Solutions, we know that managing a legacy data retention strategy is a major undertaking. The path forward requires a partner that understands both infrastructure and the specific nuances of the IBM i environment. That is why we prefer working with Lightedge Solutions.
The Challenge of Maintaining Legacy Historical Data
Retaining historical data on an aging or rigid IBM i environment, whether hosted locally or sitting with a traditional hosting provider, comes with distinct operational hurdles. Dealers often face limitations tied to outdated hosting contracts, constrained core capacity, and persistent performance bottlenecks when running complex queries or generating historical reports.
Transitioning your historical IBM i environment to a managed, cloud-based platform with Lightedge allows your company to handle data retention securely and efficiently. Key benefits include:
- Reliable Performance for Complex Queries. Accessing historical data shouldn't be a sluggish, frustrating process. Upgrading to a modern, optimized infrastructure ensures that pulling legacy records, audits, and past reports happens quickly and seamlessly.
- Modernized Hosting Flexibility. Moving your historical IBM i environment to Lightedge simplifies your operational management and gives you dynamic options for scaling.
- Reclaimed Internal Bandwidth: With a partner like Lightedge providing 24x7 monitoring, backups, and system administration, your internal IT team can stay focused on forward-looking digital initiatives rather than archival upkeep.
Why Cat® Dealers Trust Lightedge for IBM i Workloads
Lightedge provides a comprehensive managed services ecosystem tailored to mission-critical environments. Lightedge boasts several key capabilities to help Cat dealers deal with long-term data retention and phased legacy transitions.
- Customized Managed Services. Tailored day-to-day administration, batch job monitoring, and robust, zero-downtime backup solutions designed to safeguard your historical records.
- Hybrid Cloud and Storage Expertise. Expert support for both IBM i and x86 environments, ensuring all supporting infrastructure for your data archive operates in harmony.
- Proactive NOC Support. A Network Operations Center that monitors your archival assets around the clock, taking action on potential issues before they impact your business or your compliance requirements.
Is Your Company Ready for the Next Step?
As you look toward sunsetting DBS/DBSi and defining your archival strategy, don’t settle for a hosting approach that treats your historical IBM i environment as an afterthought. Lightedge can help you keep your legacy data secure, accessible, and reliably maintained for as long as your business requires.
If you are currently evaluating your infrastructure roadmap and data retention plans, let’s talk. At FDC Solutions, we help dealers connect with the right technologies and partners to ensure your transition is smooth, compliant, and built for long-term success.
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