For decades, enterprises have relied on mainframe and distributed systems to run their most critical operations — but keeping that data synchronized has been slow, complex, and resource-intensive. Traditional ETL and replication tools often reload entire datasets, consuming unnecessary CPU and delaying analytics.
PropelZ™ Incremental Mode identifies and updates only what’s changed. The result: up to 20× faster processing with full data accuracy and governance — all with no code required.
Demonstrating Incremental Mode in Action
In this demo narrated by Vince Re, Chief Technology Officer of VirtualZ, PropelZ’s Incremental Mode was tested using a VSAM dataset containing more than 76,000 airport records.
The dataset, viewed in IBM File Manager, included multiple field types — binary, EBCDIC text, packed decimal, and floating-point — all defined by a COBOL copybook. PropelZ automatically interprets this metadata to generate a corresponding schema in the target database.
Running the PropelZ command with the Incremental option captured a digital signature of the source file. This allows PropelZ to compare file states between runs and identify only the records that have changed.
Within seconds, PropelZ populated a MySQL database, mirroring the VSAM structure precisely, including indexes for fast query performance. Complex data formats translated seamlessly, proving PropelZ’s ability to handle mainframe-specific structures across modern environments.
Updating Only What Changed
To demonstrate the feature, two records in the VSAM file were modified and marked as “new.” When the same command was executed again, Incremental Mode instantly recognized those two updates and refreshed only those records in the database.
The process completed about 20 times faster than a full reload. A quick SQL check confirmed the changes were applied accurately — validating PropelZ’s precise, incremental update logic.
Why It Matters
PropelZ Incremental Mode dramatically reduces processing time, CPU usage, and complexity for organizations that rely on both mainframe and distributed data. By intelligently updating only what’s changed, enterprises can achieve near-real-time synchronization between IBM Z, Linux, and Windows platforms — without scripting or manual intervention.
This capability modernizes data pipelines, supports compliance, and enables faster insights across hybrid cloud and on-premises environments.
PropelZ: No-Code ELT for the Hybrid Enterprise
PropelZ delivers multi-platform, no-code data movement and transformation that connects IBM Z, Linux, and Windows systems to modern databases, analytics, and AI platforms. With Incremental Mode, organizations can modernize and integrate their data ecosystems faster, safer, and at lower cost.
PropelZ: Move your data where it needs to be. Fast. Accurate. Governed.
Next Steps
- Schedule a PropelZ briefing.
- Watch a demo of PropelZ.
- Try PropelZ.
Learn More
- Visit our Customer Briefing Center.
- Review all VirtualZ Use Cases, Thought Leadership papers, and Solution Briefs.
- Explore our YouTube channel, podcasts, and blog.
- Still have questions? Contact us.