[Info-vax] Unix on A DEC Vax?

[Wilm Boerhout]

Stephen Hoffman mentioned  on 19-1-2013 16:25:
> On 2013-01-19 13:46:13 +0000, Wilm Boerhout said:
>
>> The past few years we've replaced systems that control (e.g.)
>> warehouse systems. The warehouse hardware (cranes, belts etc. ) have a
>> long lifespan. The VAXes and Alpha's (and the occasional PDP-11) are
>> sturdy, but maintenance is very expensive and uncertain. Hardware
>> replacement and emulation never, I repeat, never fails.
>>
>> The software in this systems is coupled to the layout of the
>> warehouse. Rebuilding the software on Linux/C++ platform is costly and
>> the expense is never justified. So unless and until the warehouse is
>> fundamentally rediesigned, the VMS or Ultrix application S/W stays in
>> place. Happily, on an emulator.
>
> You're probably not going to do significant new development work on this
> target, right?
> Likely incremental enhancements and updates as needed, but probably not
> significant new work.
> Which means this gear will age out, as was mentioned up-thread.
>
>
Well, the "gear" will not age out, assuming you mean hardware. I've seen 
emulated VAXes go through several generations of increasingly newer and 
faster host platforms.

The software, as I think I mentioned, is relatively stable, because it 
is tied to the layout and functionality of the warehouse.

/Wilm