Migrating DB2 database to Oracle 19c for India’s leading insurance firm

Daffodil adopted a consulting approach with the client, during which our Cloud experts provided insights to their team regarding the limitations of the current state of the Documentum-powered Content Server and Documentum Client WebTop. It was discovered that both components were running on outdated versions—D7.2 for the content server and WebTop 6.x, respectively. These versions proved inefficient in managing a large volume of data within the Documentum repository, leading to issues such as performance lag, incompatibility, and increased demands on system resources.

Furthermore, during our assessment, we identified a critical aspect— Documentum had discontinued support for DB2 database, signaling the need for a proactive approach. In response, we recommended a strategic database migration from DB2 to Oracle 19c, presenting a solution that not only resolved immediate compatibility challenges but enhanced system performance and long-term sustainability.

Our expert team started with the requirement gathering process and conducted a comprehensive impact analysis of both the client and server upgrade. We examined the system sizing, encompassing both logical and physical architecture, to ensure it could effectively handle the requirements of Documentum stake. With all this information documented and a solidified roadmap in place, the Daffodil team initiated the upgradation and migration process. This involved leveraging Documentum Webtop suite, Oracle DB, Java/J2EE, and Documentum APIs.

Content server upgrade from D7.2 to D 20.2

To ameliorate the existing EMC Documentum Content Management System, our development team commenced with comprehensive planning, including the review of release notes and the evaluation of existing customizations, specific to the D7.2 version. A test environment, mirroring the production setup, was then established for rigorous testing. During the upgrade, database schema and software installations were performed, configurations were updated, and customizations were applied for compatibility with CS D 20.2. Thorough testing in the test environment validated the success of the upgrade, assuring that critical functionalities were preserved.

WebTop upgrade from 7.2 to 20.2

The Daffodil team conducted an in-depth study of the existing WebTop application, analyzing interfaces, and configurations such as roles, groups, and document types. This detailed review ensured a clear understanding of the current state and informed the upgrade strategy.

As part of the upgrade, we utilized Webtop Project Admin and the project import/export module. This approach facilitated the deployment of the same configurations in the WebTop 16.7.4 application. The team carefully applied customizations, adjusted configurations, and executed extensive testing in the test environment to validate the seamless transition of interfaces and configurations.

A backup and rollback strategy was established, and database schema changes specific to the upgrade were executed. User acceptance testing, involving stakeholders, also validated that existing functionalities, configurations, and interfaces aligned with expectations.

Database server migration: moving from DB2 to Oracle 19c

In response to the client’s significant 60 TB of data within the existing DB2 database, our development team opted for a strategic migration to Oracle 19c, leveraging Oracle’s robust capabilities for handling large datasets and proven scalability. Our approach began with a thorough analysis of the database structure, ensuring a clear understanding of the relationships and dependencies.

The migration planning phase emphasized the critical task of mapping data from DB2 to Oracle, identifying any required data transformations. During execution, the team seamlessly extracted, transformed, and loaded data into Oracle, leveraging optimized loading mechanisms.

The deployment to production was executed with a carefully scheduled downtime, ensuring that all migration activities were performed with zero downtime—a critical consideration given that the data resided in a mission-critical live application.

Building in-house utility for smooth data migration

One of the major hurdles we encountered in the migration process was dealing with the disparity in data types between the DB2 and Oracle databases, creating a compatibility challenge. To navigate this hurdle, our team implemented a methodical approach. Initially, we moved the DB2 database to a local one, where our experts manually mapped fields with the required Oracle format. Subsequently, utilizing our in-house utility, we transferred this refined local database to Oracle, ensuring data integrity throughout the process.

In an effort to optimize cloud storage expenses, we advised our client to migrate this refined dataset to the Oracle instance on AWS RDS, leveraging the robust capabilities of Amazon’s cloud servers. Our team efficiently integrated the data with upgraded Documentum servers, managing tasks such as provisioning AWS instances, implementing robust security measures, and ensuring seamless compatibility between Documentum and AWS RDS for efficient data archival.

The adoption of AWS cloud services not only led to a reduction in storage costs but also delivered enhanced scalability and performance for our client’s Documentum servers. Through extensive documentation and knowledge-sharing sessions, our team empowered the client’s operations team with the skills required to effectively manage the newly integrated AWS Cloud environment.

Captiva scanning tool

Our team also installed and configured the Captiva scanning tool to enhance document processing for our client. This tool was integrated into the client’s platform to streamline the insurance application process by automatically scanning and extracting crucial details from various user-submitted documents.

Captiva excelled not only in scanning text documents but also in analyzing images. For instance, when users uploaded documents such as PAN cards, insurance application forms, and images of vehicles, Captiva scanned both text and images. It automatically extracted details, such as PAN card numbers and vehicle registration information, efficiently indexing this data within the system.

The team seamlessly configured the Captiva scanning tool with the upgraded content server, ensuring its seamless operation on stored data when needed. This tool significantly streamlined the document management process, alleviating manual efforts for the internal team.