Overview

Product video
Provided by AWS with Stromasys, Virtualization for SPARC emulates classic SPARC V8/V9 hardware. It relies on Charon-SSP which replicates the virtual SPARC hardware on industry-standard x86 computer systems. The emulation is fully binary compatible with SPARC hardware, including storage, Ethernet, and serial line I/O. The Charon-SSP virtual layer behaves as SPARC hardware and is compatible with SunOS, Solaris, and associated applications. This compatibility allows applications to be quickly re-hosted in the Charon-SSP virtualized environment, bypassing software code conversion, changes, or replacement.
Using Virtualization for SPARC necessitates Solaris, Linux, and Stromasys skills. Rehosting and migrating SPARC-based Solaris applications requires professional services engaged as part of a migration project. Please contact and engage your AWS representative for guidance. You can also contact an AWS specialist at mainframe@amazon.com .
Virtualization for SPARC replaces SPARC systems from the Sun4m, Sun4u, and early Sun4v (pre-Oracle) family. Virtualization for SPARC supports versions SunOS 4.1 to Solaris 11.4. Solaris is Bring-Your-Own-License (BYOL) for Virtualization for SPARC, and customers must make their own Solaris ISO image available for the initial install, after which the original filesystems from the legacy SPARC system may be migrated. Please note that this solution requires customers to review their specific licensing agreements pertaining to Sun/Oracle SPARC and Solaris.
Highlights
- BUSINESS CONTINUITY. Minimal disruption, as all applications, middleware, and data remain as is, and migrate unchanged.
- REDUCED RISK. Charon solutions diminish your risk of unplanned downtime by removing the dependency upon classic hardware
Details
Introducing multi-product solutions
You can now purchase comprehensive solutions tailored to use cases and industries.
Features and programs
Financing for AWS Marketplace purchases
Pricing
Dimension | Cost/hour |
|---|---|
c5.2xlarge Recommended | $5.00 |
m7i.2xlarge | $5.00 |
z1d.xlarge | $2.50 |
r7iz.8xlarge | $20.00 |
m5zn.2xlarge | $5.00 |
r7iz.16xlarge | $40.00 |
m7a.4xlarge | $10.00 |
m7i.8xlarge | $20.00 |
m7i.4xlarge | $10.00 |
m7i.16xlarge | $40.00 |
Vendor refund policy
If you need to request a refund for software sold by Amazon Web Services, LLC, please contact AWS Customer Service. Web and Phone Support: bit.ly/1Q6bE3
How can we make this page better?
Legal
Vendor terms and conditions
Content disclaimer
Delivery details
64-bit (x86) Amazon Machine Image (AMI)
Amazon Machine Image (AMI)
An AMI is a virtual image that provides the information required to launch an instance. Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) instances are virtual servers on which you can run your applications and workloads, offering varying combinations of CPU, memory, storage, and networking resources. You can launch as many instances from as many different AMIs as you need.
Version release notes
Additional details
Usage instructions
Connecting to Instance:
To connect to your instance, you will need to use SSH over port 22. The default username for connecting is sshuser. For further information about the standard AWS method of connecting to an instance, see information described here: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/AccessingInstances.html
Basic configuration of the environment includes:
- Install and Initializing the Charon Manager on a client machine, either Windows or Linux
- Get your vdisk or iso image to the Charon instance on AWS.
- Connect Charon Manager to Charon instance, create a virtual SPARC VM, and configure the vdisk and other items
- Startup the virtual SPARC VM via Charon Manager
Please see Virtualization for SPARC on AWS with Stromasys documentation for further configuration information: Charon-SSP Version 5 for AWS Cloud - Getting Started
Additional Details:
- There are no security keys or credentials in place that need to be rotated
- There is no customer data that is collected in order for this software to function
Resources
Vendor resources
Support
Vendor support
Support is available through forums, technical FAQs and the Service Help Dashboard. Paid support is available.
AWS infrastructure support
AWS Support is a one-on-one, fast-response support channel that is staffed 24x7x365 with experienced and technical support engineers. The service helps customers of all sizes and technical abilities to successfully utilize the products and features provided by Amazon Web Services.
Similar products
Customer reviews
Modernization of legacy banking workloads has improved migration, automation, and cloud integration
What is our primary use case?
I support a bank that uses a COBOL-based mainframe application, which processes fund transfers and maintains customer account balances. The bank wants to migrate it to AWS while preserving its existing business logic. The workflow operates as follows: the customer requests a transfer through the banking application, which validates the customer and available account balance, and the modernized banking service executes the existing and advanced transfer business logic. The database records debit and credit transactions, the application returns the transaction status to the customer, and the monitoring and audit logs capture the events for operational troubleshooting and compliance. This is one example, and we have other scenarios and use cases as well.
What is most valuable?
All features are necessary as per our requirements. AWS Mainframe Modernization - Virtualization for SPARC can reduce the dependency on legacy infrastructure, improve application scalability, accelerate software delivery, simplify maintenance, and enable access to modern cloud, analytics, and AI services, which positively impacts our organization.
I see that all these positive outcomes are happening, but currently, as I mentioned, I am learning and we are moving through phases, so I believe that in a few months we will gain more clarification on all these benefits.
What needs improvement?
For how long have I used the solution?
What other advice do I have?
I give it an eight because I reduced two points for the improvements needed. Regarding AWS Mainframe Modernization - Virtualization for SPARC's security and AI capabilities, AWS provides security and governance capabilities through services and controls such as IAM, IAM encryption with AWS KMS, private connectivity, monitoring, and access management. Organizations should also implement the appropriate processes with data protection policies.
In terms of accuracy and reliability of output, AWS Mainframe Modernization - Virtualization for SPARC supports application analysis, automated code transformation, and testing to help preserve existing business functionality. Accuracy and reliability depend on application complexity, transformation quality, and thorough functional and performance testing before production deployment.
AWS Mainframe Modernization - Virtualization for SPARC can be deployed in our organization depending on the chosen approach and available services, and applications can run with the replatformed or refactored setups on AWS infrastructure.
I would advise others looking into using AWS Mainframe Modernization - Virtualization for SPARC to read the description, documentation, and support carefully before purchasing any product. People sometimes purchase based on the company or product name but face many issues during integration due to a lack of support from large companies. It is important to read all documentation carefully, provide training to developers, and then move forward with the product.