Jason's Blog on Oracle Modernization Solutions

I wanted to follow up on a few ideas from an earlier post and talk a bit more about how practically to move these kinds of datastores (Sybase) and what tools you have available to do this.

SQL Developer Migration Workbench

Oracle has recently released a newly resigned migration work bench. We've had the Migration Workbench around for years, but now it is integrated into SQL Developer. So, now we can have an integrated, repository based way to migrate various 3rd party databases, including MS Access, SQL Server, MYSql and Sybase.

What's cool about the SQL Developer Migration Workbench

The Modernization Team is quite busy with these migrations right now so we are putting the tool through the paces. What's cool about this tool is that it is built upon YEARS of experience moving these data stores. Barry and his team in Ireland have been at this tool for years. It has evolved from the old Migration Workbench (Which you can still use for Informix and DB2).

The automation rate for Schemas and Triggers is quite high. Usually when me or one of my team mates are doing an on-site discovery (which is something that Oracle Modernization can do for you at no cost to help you create a roadmap to modernization...be it from SYBASE or the mainframe...drop me a line to know more) we are able to covert the schemas on the spot.

The Stored Procedures are supported to a very high degree as well. The biggest part of these migrations are around testing. That is a large percentage of the project. Yes, of course you will have to modify the source code to call Oracle instead of Sybase, but that can be done at a pretty automated rate with scripting tools. Again, it comes down to testing.

Did I mention the tool is free? Cool eh?

If you are looking for a step by step guide take a look here
This is a great resource from how-to's to even some ways to estimate.

Again, drop me a line if you want some more specifics on a project you are working on.

Hey Folks
Sue Harper is about to release a book on SQL Developer with PacktPublishing.
Btw---and another shameless plug..they are the same publisher who did our book on Modernization

Anyway, back to Susan's book. This is good stuff. With more folks getting their knowledge on with SQL Developer will enable more and more migrations...which is good.

Here are the highlights...(taken from the publisher's site)

* Build complex queries based on a number of tables using visual Query Builder
* Assess the health of your database, data structure of your application, and data in that application with built-in as well as user-defined reports
* Create, compile, and debug PL/SQL code and explore some useful features available to facilitate writing PL/SQL code
* Integrate your SQL Developer with open source version control systems CVS and Subversion, which allow checking out of files from a repository, editing, and checking them back in
* Enter and execute your SQL, PL/SQL, and SQL*Plus statements with the SQL Worksheet interface
* Produce easily replicable scripts that copy and move data from one database instance to another, or from one schema to another
* Create advanced database connections using a variety of connection and authentication types available for Oracle as well as non-Oracle databases
* Create, review, and update database schema designs with SQL Developer Data Modeler
* Augment your environment with features that are specific to your needs by extending your SQL Developer with XML structured user-defined extensions
* Monitor and manage your Application Express applications by integrating with SQL Developer
* Set up an easy and quick migration environment for your database schema by using the migration repository

* Browse and review non-Oracle databases, before using the migration environment to migrate and consolidate databases on the Oracle platform

Anyway...go pre-order!