[Info-vax] VMS port to x86

[jerry at virtual-vax-alpha.com]

On Mar 23, 7:36 pm, onedbguru <onedbg... at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Sadly, I am not sure I would be that generous... Even though it still runs my home web server and offsite backups for a long-time customer who uses it daily - I am not sure what I will do when their DS10 dies as it has been running 24x7 since 1999 when it replaced a MVII that ran for equally as long. The custom app was "migrated" via VEST because the developer did not appear to keep the entire app source code on the customer system and subsequently was hit by a bus and there was no good backup before the old system died - except for the executables and some of the source code
>

Have you considered emulation?  You can run a virtual VAX or Alpha (or
both at the same time, if you wish) on just about any relatively
recent x86 (x86-64 for Alpha) system, including consumer desktops or
laptops. Even modest PC hardware configurations can provide better
(often much better) performance  than desktop or deskside VAX or Alpha
systems with much less power consumption and heat generation. VAX/
Alpha virtualization won't be the right fit for everyone, of course,
but in many cases it can provide the best of both worlds - the
benefits of modern hardware while retaining the stability of your
software enviuronment - with a relatively quick and inexpensive
migration path.

Disclosure: I sell these emultor products. I also use them because I
like running VMS and they're much cheaper and easier to maintain than
15+ year old hardware.  And I no longer have the patience to wait for
a real MVII, 3100, or 4100.