[Info-vax] Reimplementing VMS, was: Re: HP adds OpenVMS Mature Product Support beyond the end of Standard Support

[JF Mezei]

On 14-02-03 04:17, Johnny Billquist wrote:

> While I suspect that there was not much point in porting to the 32-bit 
> x86, any porting to 64-bit x86 would have little relation to multicore 
> and multiprocessor issues, since those are changing all the time anyway.

Before 8086 gained quickpath/CSI, it had poor multi-core/multiprocessor
scalability, something where IA64 had an advantage, and something which
the BCS customer base looked for for large "mainframes".

As a result, until x86 gained not only 64 bit but also good memory
subsystem, there was no compelling reason for BCS customers to want to
go to x86. Hence no good justification to spend money to evaluate ports
to 8086.

It is only once 8086 was announced to go 64 biuts and gained parity with
IA64 with CSI/Quickpath (announcement in 2004) where porting might
become viable.