[Info-vax] Unix on A DEC Vax?

[Wilm Boerhout]

Stephen Hoffman mentioned  on 19-1-2013 21:16:
> On 2013-01-19 18:46:43 +0000, Wilm Boerhout said:
>
>> Stephen Hoffman mentioned  on 19-1-2013 16:25:
>>>
>>> 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 crane.  The warehouse.  The production line.  Whatever the VMS
> software was embedded within.  That will age out.
>
>> The software, as I think I mentioned, is relatively stable, because it
>> is tied to the layout and functionality of the warehouse.
>
> So no significant new work.
>
> When the new crane, new warehouse or new factory floor line — the next
> generation or replacement — is contemplated, that probably won't target
> an emulated environment.
>
> Which means the emulated gear will age out, too.

Yes, this is what's happening. Lifetime of a typical warehouse layout 
(book logistics, auto spare parts) is like an airplane, 20 to 30 years 
or so. So emulation is almost mandatory, because the functionality has 
to have the same lifetime, and even the old DEC hardware gives in finally...

And yes, this is maintenance mode mostly. Add a few picking stations, a 
new logistics manager wants to implement a scheme she learned in school, 
that sort of thing.

So once or twice a year we do a few weeks of the old CMS/MMS/COBOL 
stuff. This can go on forever, or at least until the present crisis runs 
its course, and real investment and innovation will return.

/Wilm