SKYLIFTAI
MigDB for IBM Informix

Zero-Downtime Informix Database Migration
from On-Premise to AWS & Beyond.

SkyliftAI MigDB delivers enterprise-grade Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) migration with real-time CDC, bidirectional replication, relay architecture for cross-region workloads, and fully automated deployment — with zero business disruption.

0%
Downtime
Multi TB
Data Migrated
60%
Faster Migration
50%
Faster Load
24/7
Expert Support
About SkyliftAI

25+ Years of Database Modernization Excellence

SkyliftAI is a global technology company with offices in Europe, North America, and Asia, specializing in database modernization and migration. With over 25 years of experience, we have successfully helped organizations transform and optimize their data infrastructure for the cloud.

Our deep expertise spans legacy-to-modern database migrations, cloud adoption strategies, and data performance optimization. Our proprietary in-house tools with Generative AI are designed to streamline and accelerate customers' journey to the cloud — ensuring minimal disruption and maximum efficiency.

✦ 24×7 global support across all time zones for all products.

AWS-Qualified Experts, Real Results

Managing AWS infrastructure shouldn't feel like a second job. From unexpected downtime and security vulnerabilities to runaway costs, the challenges are real — and costly. MigDB is an AWS Qualified Software, bringing certified expertise to plan, secure, and optimize your cloud environment around the clock. We take ownership of your infrastructure so you can focus on growing your business.

Product Overview

MigDB Product Introduction

Introducing Skylift AI's MigDB: Revolutionize Your Database Migrations. Experience the future of enterprise data management with MigDB, the AI-powered solution ensuring zero data loss and seamless transitions from legacy IBM Informix systems to modern, resilient environments.

MigDB Product Introduction

What Makes MigDB Different

Proprietary in-house solution with built-in optimization and advanced CDC — purpose-built for IBM Informix at enterprise scale

Automated Deployment

Fully automated, one-click software deployment with complete solution packaging — no manual setup complexity, error-free installation.

Agentless & Remote Architecture

MigDB agentic process beats network latency. Remote deployment accesses on-premise Informix Dynamic Server instances without installing anything on-site.

Enterprise Security

AES 128/192/256-bit encryption of data at rest and in transit. Secured credential store for database connectivity. SSL/TLS for all cross-region transfers.

50% Faster Initial Load

Optimized initial load with data partitioning and simulated parallelism — enabling terabyte-scale table and BLOB/TEXT data to complete within hours, not days.

Robust CDC

Highly accurate and stable Change Data Capture process built on the native Informix CDC API and logical (transaction) log. Captures real-time inserts, updates, and deletes with no impact on source database performance.

Intuitive GUI

World-class, user-friendly interface enabling mid-level engineers to manage complex Informix migrations without deep CDC expertise.

MigDB for IBM Informix — Supported Versions

Enterprise-grade Informix Dynamic Server migration to AWS and beyond — covering both Enterprise Edition and standalone on-premises deployments

Informix Sources

Source environments

  • Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) — Enterprise Edition
  • Informix Dynamic Server (standalone/on-premises)

AWS & Multi-Cloud Targets

Target environments

  • Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) — Enterprise Edition
  • Informix Dynamic Server (standalone/on-premises)

MigDB SKU Ecosystem

Full product portfolio

  • MigDB for Oracle
  • MigDB for SQL Server
  • MigDB for MySQL & MariaDB
  • MigDB for PostgreSQL
  • MigDB for SAP Sybase ASE
  • MigDB for IBM Db2 & Db2 for z/OS
  • MigDB ComparePad for Data Verification

Supported Migration Topologies

SkyliftAI MigDB supports homogeneous and heterogeneous migrations with zero downtime across all deployment patterns

Migration Topologies

Deployment Architectures

Three flexible deployment models engineered for Informix — from same-region migrations to global cross-continent workloads

Architecture 01

Unidirectional Replication

MigDB migrates Informix data securely one-way from a legacy on-premise environment to a target Informix Dynamic Server (Enterprise Edition) instance on AWS. An initial bulk data load creates the baseline, then ongoing CDC maintains continuous synchronization — with zero source downtime throughout.

Phase 1 — CDC Capture
  • MigDB Agent initiates CDC from the source Informix logical log via the Informix CDC API
  • Tracks real-time inserts, updates, deletes into secure CDC files
  • CDC Watchdog monitors capture health, lag, and consistency
Phase 2 — Initial Bulk Load
  • MigDB extracts data using inbuilt bulk load functionality (dbexport/HPL-based unload)
  • Splits into multiple encrypted dump file chunks, transferred securely
  • MigDB Agent on target decrypts and ingests into the target IDS instance
Phase 3 — CDC Apply & Monitoring
  • Applier reads CDC files and applies changes to target in source order
  • Ensures transactional consistency throughout migration window
  • MigDB Console + Amazon CloudWatch for real-time observability
MigDB Informix Unidirectional Architecture

Unidirectional — On-Premise Informix → Informix Dynamic Server on AWS (Same Region)


MigDB Informix Bidirectional Architecture

Bidirectional — On-Premise Informix ⇄ Informix Dynamic Server on AWS (Same Region)

Architecture 02

Bidirectional Replication

Secure, continuous two-way data synchronization — both on-premise and AWS-hosted Informix environments function as source and destination simultaneously. Enables active-active operation, rollback confidence, and warranty-period source continuity before decommission.

Forward Replication (On-Prem → AWS)
  • CDC capture from source Informix logical log, initial load via encrypted dumps
  • Applier applies changes in source transaction order to the target IDS instance
  • Near real-time synchronization maintained throughout
Reverse Replication (AWS → On-Prem)
  • MigDB Agent also captures changes on the target IDS instance
  • CDC files securely transmitted back to source environment
  • Enables active-active, rollback, and warranty-period support

Architecture 03

Relay Deployment

Purpose-built for cross-region and cross-continent Informix migrations. The SkyliftAI Relay Architecture reduces replication latency by placing the MigDB relay near the target Informix instance — proven in a large-scale intercontinental migration spanning over 6,000 miles.

How the Relay Works
  • Source MigDB Agent deployed at customer on-premise data center
  • CDC files sent securely to the target-side remote MigDB deployment
  • Relay Engine on EC2 (private subnet) applies data to the target Informix Dynamic Server instance
Security & Network Design
  • AES 128/192/256-bit encryption; source encrypted before transit
  • VPC with public/private subnets, NAT Gateway, security groups
  • CloudWatch monitoring for full cross-region visibility
MigDB Informix Relay Architecture

Relay Deployment — Cross-Region / Cross-Continent (e.g. Amsterdam → Singapore)

Database Assessment

The first and most critical step — analyze your source environment and provide a detailed report for a smooth migration.

When to Use
  • Before starting any migration
  • During migration planning and strategy phase
  • To evaluate compatibility with target Informix Dynamic Server environments
  • To estimate infrastructure sizing and cost
  • To identify risks, blockers, and required changes
Key Features
  • Analyzes database size, schemas, and object distribution
  • Provides feature compatibility analysis (fragmentation, encryption, data types, etc.)
  • Identifies migration blockers and required actions; captures performance metrics (CPU, IOPS, Memory Usage)
  • Generates detailed assessment reports for planning
  • Maintains assessment job history for tracking and reuse
Advantages
  • Helps in choosing the right target instance and configuration
  • Reduces migration risks by identifying issues early
  • Provides clear visibility into database complexity
  • Enables cost optimization with accurate sizings
  • Improves migration success rate with data-driven insights
Usage & Recommendation
  • Database Assessment is integrated with SkyliftAI MigDB as the initial phase of migration
  • Once the assessment is completed, it suggests the most suitable target Informix Dynamic Server (Enterprise Edition) instance sizing
Recommendations are based on:
  • CPU usage (peak & average)
  • Memory requirements
  • IOPS and storage patterns
  • Database size and growth factor
  • The generated report should be referred to finalize infrastructure decisions
Report Access & Download
  • Assessment reports are downloadable at any time
  • All assessments are stored under Assessment Jobs History
  • Users can revisit, review, and download any past assessment report whenever required
  • This ensures easy access for audits, planning, and future reference
Final Outcome
  • Using the assessment report, teams can confidently select the right infrastructure, avoid over/under provisioning, and ensure a smooth and optimized migration process

Ready to Migrate Informix to AWS?

Let's discuss how MigDB can move your IBM Informix databases to the cloud — across any region, any scale, with zero business disruption.