[Info-vax] OpenVMS versus Windows/GE Telemetry Control Systems.

[MG]

On 11-jan-2013 16:03, Bob Gezelter wrote:
> OpenVMS is still an HP product, with officially committed support
> dates. The Alpha hardware is still usable, and supported through
> various channels (e.g., Nemonix). I would not worry about the short
> and intermediate term support issues. Long term, I would at the
> least, want to move to an Itanium system.

One of the concerns is, I can imagine, that HP hasn't done a number
of major features which they promised in their roadmaps over the
years (and not just for, or with regard to, VMS either).

Did you also recently see Stephen Hoffman's transcript, of that rare
(if not only) demonstration/event HP Discover 2012, of a few months
ago?  It wasn't exactly reassuring...


> The Windows arguments are far less clear. Each Windows version has
> a life of a handful of years, and longevity IS an issue. In that
> world, system lifespans are often presumed to be three to five years.
> Older hardware is often a problem for new software releases, and
> newer hardware is often not supportable on older software releases.
> With these lifecycles, sparing hardware can, and often is, far more
> of a challenge than those in the OpenVMS community are used to.

That's a good point.  But, to play devil's advocate: unlike HP, MS
doesn't show any intention to want to discontinue and downgrade
Windows.  HP's stance with regard to VMS seems a bit like a bet,
it's anyone's guess as to what they really intend to do with it.


> Windows systems also have had extensive security problems requiring
> ongoing patches. Adopting Windows means adopting its patching
> requirements.

Yes and frequent rebooting...

  - MG