[Info-vax] Using VMS for a web server

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2015-06-06 10:35:49 +0000, Jan-Erik Soderholm said:

> This is of course a good thing for the users, but it does not help 
> building and maintaining the knowledge in the support group. :-) And 
> that is actualy seen as a real problem...

Ayup.  Skills can and do atrophy.

> But the system still does what it has done the last 30+ years, the 
> users are happy and we have several different projects for additional 
> functionallity. Mostly new connections to PLC's and logging additional 
> status from the assembly lines.

Very familiar with that environment.   Thankfully, most PLCs are slight 
less stupid than they once were.  Slightly.   Biggest discussions and 
debates tend to happen with the next-generation installations.  When 
the production line or the factory is due for replacement.  That's when 
OpenVMS installations tend to be replaced.  With the existing 
production lines, changes are rare and incremental, and spare parts are 
accrued and the old server boxes are lovingly and very effectively run 
into the ground.

The support staff can get stuck in their own time warp — donno about 
your bunch Jan-Erik, but I've seen it happen in factory environments — 
in terms of their skills with OpenVMS and with newer and competitive 
automation systems and PLCs, and also around newer development tools 
and approaches.


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