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

[Michael Kraemer]

abrsvc schrieb:
> There are many takes on "forced".  My take in this instance would when the hardware is failing or has failed and there are little to no options for continued function.  If, for example, this business stays on Alpha and 5 years from now, the particular hardware variant is no longer available form anyone...
> 
> Not a good position. 

Exactly.
At least from the management point of view.
To recollect the OP: they're running on
hardware which has been declared dead more than
a decade ago, and an OS which gets little
more attention than maintenance upgrades.
The OP wasn't specific on the nature
of their main app, but it doesn't need
a lot of imagination to guess that it
is just as aging as the underlying platform,
no matter whether it's developed
inhouse or by a third party.
A VMS-loving techie might be satisfied
with this situation, given the usual
stick-the-head-in-the-sand and
put-the-fingers-in-your-ears attitude.
But for the responsible management,
it is a very unpleasant situation.
If something fails, you bet 100%
they will be blamed: "how dare you
to run our important stuff on obsolete IT,
here's your pink slip".

Even below desaster level, it is uncomfortable.
New corporate, customer or legal requirements
might force rapid changes which can't be met
by the current setup. Just think of the various
deficiencies of VMS in TPCIP space.
Or hardware breaks and you can't obtain new
license keys because the app vendor doesn't
support it anymore.

With this in mind, the GE offer is very attractive,
since if something fails, you can blame or sue
them. And you'd never be accused for having
chosen what most people think is a "standard OS".