Balaji Sankaran is an IBM i Solution Architect with 16+ years at HCLTech across delivery and consulting roles, specializing in cloud migration, backup and recovery, AWX-led automation, enterprise modernization, and practical infrastructure transformation.
Balaji brings deep experience in IBM i architecture, operations, and modernization, with a career shaped within HCLTech across roles in HCL Technologies and HCL America since December 2018.
Work spans IBM i administration, cloud migration, operating system upgrades through V7R6, backup and recovery, HMC and firmware management, automation architecture, monitoring, and steady-state operational transitions for customers.
Alongside infrastructure delivery, currently exploring how AI can be applied meaningfully in IBM i environments — particularly in operational efficiency, knowledge support, and modernization workflows.
Anna University · Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
June 2004 – April 2008
A snapshot of current focus areas, active projects, and the modernization thinking that's shaping day-to-day work.
Exploring how AI can be applied meaningfully in IBM i environments — particularly in operational efficiency, knowledge support, and modernization workflows.
Building reusable Ansible playbooks on the AWX platform to reduce manual operations, standardize repeatable tasks, and accelerate delivery across IBM i environments.
Day-to-day delivery for enterprise IBM i environments — PTF patching, OS upgrades, HMC and firmware work, change execution, client coordination, and weekly status presentations.
Breadth and seniority across infrastructure delivery, migration planning, resilience, automation, and customer-facing execution.
Migration planning and execution for IBM i environments, including on-prem to Skytap on Azure initiatives, ROBOT HA-driven migration work, phased delivery, risk assessment, and minimal-disruption implementation.
OS upgrades through V7R6, scratch installs, HMC configuration, firmware work, VIOS management, PTF management, partition builds, and steady-state operational transitions for new customers.
Backup strategy, BRMS, ICC, FalconStor VTL implementation, disaster recovery activities, recovery planning, and operational continuity for critical enterprise workloads.
AWX environment setup, Ansible playbook development for repeatable IBM i operations, monitoring solutions, and exploring how AI can be applied meaningfully to IBM i workflows.
Long-term IBM i specialization within HCL: growing delivery scope, with steady movement into architecture, migration, automation, and customer-facing leadership.
Best Performer awards in 2013 and 2014 · Track lead for two consecutive years · 100% SLA on handled tickets and changes · 100+ IBM i partitions supported across enterprise environments.
Examples that combine enterprise impact with technical specificity, practical execution, and modernization-focused outcomes.
Completed end-to-end cloud migration from on-premises infrastructure to Skytap on Azure for IBM i environments using ROBOT HA.
Implementing FalconStor VTL for IBM i partitions hosted on Skytap, strengthening backup architecture and supporting modernized recovery operations.
Scratch-built an AWX environment, connected IBM i systems for automation, and authored ~20–25 Ansible playbooks for repeatable operational tasks.
Performed scratch installation of the latest IBM i operating system V7R6, alongside HMC V10R3 and VIOS 4.1.0.21 builds on Power infrastructure.
Successfully completed proof of concept for IBM i Migrate While Active, demonstrating phased migration with near-zero downtime for production workloads.
Implemented BRMS and ICC backup solutions across cloud and on-prem partitions, ensuring continuity for critical enterprise workloads.
Thought leadership that goes beyond delivery — contributing to the broader modernization conversation around IBM i migration strategy and business continuity.
Contributing author on HCLTech's March 2026 white paper on IBM i Migrate While Active — describing how phased migration and background synchronization enable near-zero downtime transitions for IBM i workloads.
Read white paperMigration strategy, phased delivery models, business continuity, and modernization patterns that minimize operational risk for legacy-critical workloads in regulated industries.
Continued learning and verified IBM ecosystem skills — fitting a modern technical profile focused on enterprise infrastructure and modernization.
Reflecting ongoing professional development across IBM technologies, cloud fundamentals, and related technical learning.
View Credly profileIBM Power infrastructure, IBM i administration, cloud fundamentals, security awareness, and modernization-focused learning paths aligned to enterprise client needs.
Currently based in Morrisville, North Carolina and open to consulting, full-time, and architect-level opportunities. Happy to discuss IBM i strategy, migration roadmaps, or operational transformation.