[Info-vax] VMS Forever?

[Stanley F. Quayle]

On 30 Mar 2009 at 8:25, tadamsmar wrote:
> Am I being too optimistic?  Is Charon mature?
> I wonder if and when Charon will be cheaper than a refurb DS-10.

Speaking as a CHARON reseller [Shameless Plug Alert (tm)], I'd say that the VAX products 
are mature.  The big things on the roadmap for this year are Windows Server 2008 support 
and VMware support.  (Yes, I'm still pushing for Linux support.)

The Alpha product line is still growing.  It can easily replace low-end (up to DS10 and 
maybe bigger) systems quite easily.  CHARON-AXP prices were lowered beginning this year.  

Products for the DS20, ES40, GS80, and GS160 are under development.  Nothing's been 
announced for pricing yet.

The big cost savings I've seen with CHARON-VAX and now CHARON-AXP are due to the decrease 
in hardware support costs, not the initial purchase of the product.  As systems age, 
support of old hardware grows exponentially.  At some point, the lines cross.

For example, I have a customer saving $100,000 per year in hardware maintenance.  Check 
out:

  http://www.stanq.com/wf1.html

There's also the allure of running on new hardware -- both in reduced downtime, reduced 
energy consumption, and reduced hardware footprint.

Will every VAX and Alpha move to CHARON?  Of course not.  But it's an alternative worth 
looking at.  In the meantime, my VAX experience is still highly useful.

--Stan Quayle
Quayle Consulting Inc.

----------
Stanley F. Quayle, P.E. N8SQ  Toll free: 1-888-I-LUV-VAX
8572 North Spring Ct., Pickerington, OH  43147  USA
stan-at-stanq-dot-com   http://www.stanq.com/charon-vax.html
"OpenVMS, when downtime is not an option"