[Info-vax] x86-64-based Superdomes on the way (says HP)

[JF Mezei]

Michael Kraemer wrote:

> But for this one doesn't need to port off the Itanic.
> Those systems just keep running until the hardware
> it controls is replaced by something else.
> If they're still on VAX and thus on an OS
> whose development has stopped ten years ago,
> they will even survive if HP stops selling
> VMS tomorrow.

However, a formal end to VMS development would send the message that HP
is getting out of that business and thus generate questions about
continued support an availability of spare parts etc.  It could be that
HP would provide sufficient assurance and confidence that they will
continue to support them. Or maybe not.

For customers on Alpha and IA64 however, the story is different because
they still expect software updates and new VMS versions, so formal end
to VMS development will affect them. (but so is the formal end of Oracle
and RDB development as per Oracle's decision to abandon IA64).