[Info-vax] OpenVMS Finally Comes to x86, x64

[Rich Jordan]

On Mar 31, 11:03 pm, David J Dachtera <djesys... at spam.comcast.net>
wrote:
> OpenVMS Finally Comes to x86, x64
>
> Palo Alto, CA
> April 1, 2009
>
> Hewlett Packard (HP) announced today the release of the much anticipated
> and long awaited OpenVMS-x86 and OpenVMS-x64 for processors by both
> Intel and AMD.
>
> According to the press release, OpenVMS-x86 is the 32-bit version and
> offers full feature parity with what would have been OpenVMS-VAX V8.2,
> and also offers a unique floating point emulation library which allows
> VAX floating point formats to be fully supported by conversion to/from
> IEEE format at run-time. The release notes indicate that while there is
> a significant performance penalty for this, it does allow both source
> code and data to be migrated from VAX to x86 without changes.
>
> The press release also stated that OpenVMS-x64, the 64-bit version which
> can also run in 32-bit mode based on a boot flag passed to it from the
> console, has full feature parity with OpenVMS-I64. The release notes
> indicate, however, that in 32-bit mode many 64-bit RTL elements and many
> system services either are not available or do not function as they
> would running 64-bits, and that the 32-bit mode is not functionally
> comparable to OpenVMS-x86.
>
> Several major ISVs responded in an overwhelmingly positive way and
> indicated their immediate plans to begin migrating their mid-tier server
> software to OpenVMS-x86 to meet the demands of their respective customer
> bases for secure, stable mid-tier application servers.
>
> When asked, HP shareholders unanimously applauded the release indicating
> that offering the marketplace a secure, stable, feature-rich alternative
> operating platform by finally making OpenVMS compatible with the most
> ubiquitous CPU architecture on the planet will go a long way toward
> recovering much of the value HP shares have lost during the economic
> downturn, and may help counter Kodak's "Stop overpaying for ink"
> marketing campaign for Kodak's newest consumer ink-jet printer products
> which recently debuted on U.S. commercial network television during such
> highly-rated programs as "Dancing With The Stars" on ABC.
>
> Calls to HP's press relations department seeking further comment were
> not immediately returned.

This shows up in Google as March 31st.  That means we can hold David
to it, since it is clearly not an April Fools missive.