[Info-vax] OpenVMS Hobbyist licence - howto

[Jan-Erik Söderholm]

AdeV wrote:

> Hi froup,
> 
> Once upon a many a blue moon ago, I used a VAX 8800 (at North Staffs 
> Polytechnic, as it was then). And, despite the many intervening years, I 
> still have fond memories of that machine. More recently, I (very 
> briefly) had to support a Sybase database running on a VAX (can't 
> remember what model), which rekindled my interest. On the back of that, 
> I acquired a MicroVAX 3100, which languished in a box for many years.
> 

If it is one of the MV3100/80 or /90 modells, it a nice box.

> As far as I can tell, a Hobbyist licence will now cost me $50 (or £45, 
> being based in Rip-Off-Britain) per year; is that the case, or is it 
> actually still available free & I'm misreading something somewhere?

As I understand, it's the cost of membership in one of the things
that replaced DECUS. And if I'm not totaly wrong, there use to be
some variant of membership that is free (?).

> 
> Also, what's the swiftest way to obtain the necessary PAK codes 
> (obviously, I'd like some apps to run on the machine, and ideally some 
> programming languages over & above DCL)? 

http://www.openvmshobbyist.com/news.php

> 
> Now, my plan is to start off using simh; but eventually, I'd like to 
> migrate to the real VAX (i.e. the uVAX 3100). I have a variety of dumb 
> terminals. including a couple of genuine DEC terminals; will I be able 
> to install using one of those, or will I need a special console?

The best/easiest way is to hook up a PC running some VT-emulator to
the console port. Simple file transfers (such as the text mails with
the PAKs) can be transfered thgrough a simple cut-n-paste into
the terminal emulation window (with a "$ CREATE <some-file>" command
first).




> Also; 
> there's a CDROM in the base unit, but no hard drive. Will any SCSI unit 
> do, or does it need to be a special DEC item?

I guess the VMS FAQ has some info about that.

http://www.hoffmanlabs.com/vmsfaq/



> 
> Many thanks in advance,
> Ade.
> 
> PS: Happy christmas/holidays/newyear to all :)