Case Study: Diebold achieves improved availability and reduced Informix/Baan database size with Solix Technologies' archiving solution

Implementing Database Archiving for B ERP R i I f i Baan ERP Running on In formix

Diebold Incorporated, a global provider of self-service delivery and security products, was running an aging Baan ERP on Informix whose production database had grown to about 3 TB across multiple instances. The oversized database and Baan’s hash-index behavior were causing severe performance degradation and availability problems in the North America supply chain environment, threatening production-line efficiency while Diebold prepared to migrate to Oracle E-Business.

Diebold selected Solix to implement a database-archiving solution; Solix developed Baan-specific archiving templates and worked on-site with Diebold (the engagement was roughly 80% consulting, 20% software). Archiving is in production for 4 of 6 modules, the system is performing properly and on track for the Oracle migration, and historical data remains accessible (with audit records and “de-archive” capability). The multi-month effort required significant internal staff time plus 1–2 Solix consultants, used additional disk for archives, and cost just over $100K; lessons included the need to scope resources carefully and choose a flexible, experienced vendor.

Diebold

Russell Dawson

Director, IT Operations