First step is to take a rain check on your current applications - and
look at how closely wedded they are to MPE and/or how much interaction
they have with other servers.  Do you use lots of JCL, direct use of HP
intrinsics in the application,  how easy would it be to replace your
screen handling with a new layer.  

Also take time out to look at George Stachnicks (check spelling) white
papers / web sessions that cover the initial steps you need to take and
discuss the pros and cons of the replace vs re-write etc approach.   If
you can't locate them, I'll find the URL for you.   The HP web sites
also document all vendors who can help you in different ways. 

Do not underestimate the steep learning curve you'll need even once
you've chosen what appears to be a suitable set of products and
hardware/operating system. Keep reminding yourself that with the HP3000
you usually had all layers of the application in one box and supplied by
one vendor : user interface layer (view),  application (cobol) and
database layer (Image/Ksam).   You could take the opportunity to use
migration to convert to a RDBMS - and as some vendors have stated - in a
way that is transparent to the application.   However, I would advise
against this approach - if you're using Image, then use Eloquence.  If
you're using KSAM, use an ISAM file system.   

Finally, keep bullying your contacts at HP for advice. 


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