Toray Successfully Migrates 224 Business Applications to AWS RDS in Record Time

Successful Migration of Business Applications from Oracle Exadata to AWS RDS

In a remarkable feat of efficiency and technological prowess, Toray System Center has successfully transitioned 224 business applications from Oracle Exadata to Amazon RDS for Oracle, achieving this major migration within a tight timeframe of just 15 months. The project underscores not only the company’s commitment to modernizing its IT infrastructure but also showcases the capabilities of its consulting partner, Insight Technology.

Background of the Cloud Shift Project

As a key player in the Toray Group's information infrastructure, Toray System Center initiated the Cloud Shift Project with the aim of converging data center functions. A significant challenge was the escalating maintenance costs associated with Oracle Exadata and the need to address aging hardware. With the deadline for Exadata’s maintenance looming, the urgency to migrate 224 critical applications became paramount.

The migration had to be meticulously planned to minimize disruptions. This included preserving complex data reference relationships between applications while ensuring that performance degradation was carefully assessed. Recognizing the need for expert support, Toray System Center turned to Insight Technology, known for its deep database expertise.

Role of Insight Technology

Insight Technology employed its consulting service, Insight Consulting, to provide essential support throughout the migration process. Utilizing its proprietary SQL testing automation software, Insight SQL Testing, the partnership was able to achieve the following goals:

1. Performance Assessment: Insight SQL Testing enabled the team to replicate Exadata’s SQL on RDS, quantifying performance disparities in advance. This proactive analysis allowed application managers to identify tuning needs with confidence, easing the migration process.

2. Bidirectional Data Migration: To address the challenge of not being able to pause all systems simultaneously, AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) was utilized to create a bidirectional connection. This innovative approach facilitated data flow from the newly migrated RDS back to the remaining Exadata systems, allowing for a phased migration approach while minimizing downtime.

3. Network and Monitoring Optimization: A dedicated line was secured based on traffic testing, effectively preventing network issues during migration. Additionally, Insight Technology developed scripts to gather internal Oracle monitoring data that AWS's standard monitoring could not access, resulting in a centralized monitoring system.

Project Outcomes

The project was executed flawlessly over a span of slightly more than a year, involving over 40 rehearsals and migration activities, culminating in the successful transfer of all 224 applications without a single rollback.

- Cost Reduction and Operational Efficiency: By transitioning from the costly Enterprise Edition to the more economical Standard Edition, the project achieved significant cost savings and reduced operational strain.
- Stable Performance: Post-migration, the new environment exhibited exceptional stability, alleviating concerns regarding SQL performance issues that had been frequent during the Exadata era.
- Recognition for Excellence: The success of this complex migration was recognized within the company, earning the project the President's Award from Toray System Center.

Testimonials from Toray System Center

Ranko Masuda, Executive Director of IT Infrastructure Services at Toray System Center, acknowledged, “Had we not received the preliminary verification results from Insight SQL Testing, we might have decided to continue with Exadata out of fear. The migration was challenging, but the resulting environment is incredibly stable and has significantly reduced our operational burden.”

Kenya Hanawa, from the ERP Infrastructure Group, added, “During moments of trouble, including DMS errors, Insight Technology was quick to provide solutions more swiftly than AWS, which ensured the project’s success and eliminated our worries about needing to stay on Exadata.”

About Insight Consulting

Insight Consulting is a consulting service offered by Insight Technology, a team of experts in database technologies. The service is designed to assist customers facing challenges in building data infrastructure, from consulting on data integration for digital transformation to providing implementation support for proprietary products.

For more information about Insight Technologies and its consulting services, please visit Insight Technology.

For inquiries, contact Insight Technology.

About Insight Technology

Since its inception in 1995, Insight Technology has been dedicated to pioneering database technologies, providing solutions that enable businesses to harness valuable insights from their data effectively. The company emphasizes data governance and promotes data utilization while offering both defensive and offensive benefits to maximize data value.

Also, the company organizes the “db tech showcase” conference, attracting data technology experts globally to share their knowledge and insights with around 1,000 participating engineers each year.