Informix to PostgreSQL Migration

Seamless Migration from Informix to PostgreSQL 14 with Automatic Failover and Performance Tuning

Client Overview

A large enterprise relying on legacy Informix databases was facing rising costs, limited scalability, and performance bottlenecks. Their infrastructure lacked high availability and modern failover capabilities, putting mission-critical operations at risk. They partnered with Simple Logic to migrate to a modern, open-source solution—PostgreSQL 14—with built-in resilience and performance optimization.


Challenges

  • Legacy Lock-In: Informix was expensive and inflexible, limiting innovation.
  • Downtime Risk: No automatic failover mechanism in place.
  • Performance Bottlenecks: Server parameters were not tuned for workload demands.
  • Migration Complexity: Large datasets and critical applications required zero data loss and minimal downtime.

Our Approach

Simple Logic executed a phased migration strategy focused on reliability, performance, and business continuity.

🔹 Step 1: Assessment & Planning
  • Audited Informix schema, data types, and dependencies.
  • Designed a migration roadmap with rollback and validation checkpoints.
🔹 Step 2: Data Migration
  • Used custom ETL scripts and tools to transfer data securely.
  • Validated data integrity using checksum and row-level comparisons.
🔹 Step 3: Automatic Failover Setup
  • Deployed PostgreSQL streaming replication with pg_auto_failover.
  • Configured health checks and monitoring for seamless failover.
  • Achieved RTO < 1 minute and RPO = 0.
🔹 Step 4: Server Parameter Tuning
  • Tuned PostgreSQL parameters including:
    • work_mem
    • shared_buffers
    • effective_cache_size
    • checkpoint_segments
  • Reduced query latency by 40% and improved throughput by 60%.

Informix to PostgreSQL 14 Migration with Failover


Results

KPIBeforeAfter
Downtime RiskHighNear Zero
Query Latency~800ms< 500ms
Maintenance CostHighReduced by 35%
ScalabilityLimitedCloud-Ready & Elastic
 

Client Impact

  • Modernized Infrastructure: Transitioned to a scalable, open-source database.
  • Improved Reliability: Automatic failover ensured business continuity.
  • Enhanced Performance: Fine-tuned PostgreSQL delivered faster response times.
  • Cost Efficiency: Reduced licensing and support costs.

📩 Let’s Talk

If your organization is planning to move away from legacy databases like Informix, Simple Logic can help you migrate with confidence.
👉 Contact Us for a free consultation.