[Info-vax] VMS port to x86

[Johnny Billquist]

On 2012-03-20 12.29, Bob Koehler wrote:
> In article<543564.889.1332262058086.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums at vbgx21>, abrsvc<dansabrservices at yahoo.com>  writes:
>>
>> As with previous ports, there are many things involved.  Simply porting the=
>>   compilers won't be enough.  The Macro compiler and the bliss compiler use =
>> the GEM backend code generator.  That too would need to be developed.  Also=
>> , tehre are "hardware assists" that are used to implement some of the VMS "=
>> isms" that exist.  For example, I don't think that the x86 has the concept =
>> of 4 operating priv modes.
>
>     Jees, how many times have we been over this.  80386 and later all
>     have the 4 modes needed by VMS.  There are no "hardware assists"
>     added to Itanium just to make VMS work.

No, they don't. But VMS don't actually need four hardware modes in order 
to work, which is what Itanium proves.

	Johnny