Re: Port Informix 3.3 -> Current Version. How Difficult?

My predecessor was in the process of moving from Informix 3.3 on an Altos 2000 system using "Altos" Unix Ver 5.3d to Informix 4.1 on an Altos 10000 using SCO Unix 4.1 almost 3 years. I have continued the process for over 6 months. Yes, there is much re-writing. In reports "read" statements have to be changed to "select" statements, which often requires "re-thinking". Table names have to be added to Perform screens. Dates have been changed from "5/9/96" to "5/9/1996" format, which requires some changes. C programs in essence have to be totally re-written, which very often has required MAJOR re-thinking. And When I finally figured out how to re-write the stuff, I estimated the time it was going to take to complete the process, about 9-12 months. I talked with my supervisor and we decided to move Informix 3.3 and not upgrade to 4.1 just to get this monkey off my back and move on to other things. This should be a quick move, right? Wrong! It is not possible. Informix 3.3 will not run under SCO Unix 4.1. I get memory fault errors. Next strategy. I'll just install the old version of the operating system on the Altos 10000. Guess what? They are not compatible either. The Altos tech support that I spoke with said that they spent a lot of time about 4 years ago trying to do what we want to do and they finally had to conclude it was not possible. As a matter of fact they are moving away from Informix themselves. Now I am really going to be without support. I too am very interested in the possibilities of moving to WindowsNT. The only "drawbacks" would be having to buy more PC's to replace the "terminally ill" terminals (maybe the stripped down "Internet PC's" would be a good option). And the fear management has about employees having "access". I would be interested in continuing the "upgrade" process with you via e-mail and/or phone. Maybe we can get through this together. Jennifer Harris jkharris@utk.edu (423) 974-2176 > >On Tue, 2 Apr 1996, Bob Roswell wrote: > >> Date: Tue, 02 Apr 1996 22:17:42 GMT >> From: Bob Roswell <broswell@syssrc.com> >> Newsgroups: comp.databases.informix >> Subject: Port Informix 3.3 -> Current Version. How Difficult? >> >> I'd like some advice/comments on the following debate. >> >> A company has an Informix based system (C Programs calling Informix >> 3.3 database, running on a AT&T 3B2 computer). The system meets the >> company needs, but the hardware is too slow and and is too hard to >> support. >> >> One side of the debate suggests porting the Informix 3.3 to a current >> version running on a Pentium and SCO Unix. This side is claiming that >> the port is trivial. >> >> The other side is claiming that the architecture of the new version of >> Informix is completely different and the system need a full rewrite >> just to port the system. Then, as long as we are rewriting, we should >> use SQL Server and NT. >> .