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

[David Froble]

MG wrote:
> 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).

I too deplore this, but, I can also ask, is this bad?  VMS isn't 
starting out, it's a rather mature environment, and if it doesn't 
change, at least in certain ways, then what's so bad about an 
environment that doesn't keep changing on you?

Stuff I wrote 30 years ago is still running.  No expensive maintenance 
required because of OS changes.

There is something to be said for consistency.  Not that Microsoft 
agrees ....

> 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...

HP's neglect of VMS is not good.  I think we can all agree with that.

>> 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.

Hey, good job security for all the weendoze people.  Nice and expensive 
for their employers too.  Oh, wait, maybe employers don't like expenses. 
  Oh, well, too bad ....

> 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.

Microdorf has discontinued weendoze OSs.  Where's Windows95, Windows 
2000, ...  and soon to be Windows XP.

Not all software will run on their newer products.

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

Now this one is real good.  SCADA could involve internet connections.  I 
can see the $25,000 water bills now.  Or the free water service.

So like Clint said in the movie, "do you feel lucky today?".  When I 
have a working solution, I stick with it.