[Info-vax] VMS Software Inc. OpenVMS 8.4-1H1 Boots on i4 System

[lists at openmailbox.org]

On Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:36:23 -0400
David Froble via Info-vax <info-vax at rbnsn.com> wrote:

> lists at openmailbox.org wrote:
> > On Wed, 18 Mar 2015 17:53:52 -0400
> > "Robert A. Brooks via Info-vax" <info-vax at rbnsn.com> wrote:
> > 
> >> On 3/18/2015 3:46 PM, David Froble wrote:
> >>
> >>> The only question I'd ask, solely out of curiosity, is where are the
> >>> VAX/VMS V7.3 sources and build procedures?  I've seen too many things
> >>> end up in dumpsters.  Sad.
> >> We have the VAX sources, including the V.next builds.  I don't think 
> >> there was much change from V7.3, however, so don't get too excited.
> >> We do not have a VAX here (yeah, we could get an emulator, but it's
> >> not something that's needed now).
> >>
> >> I don't think there will be much interest by anyone at VSI in playing 
> >> around with anything related to the VAX in the near- or mid-term, as
> >> we have enough stuff on our collective plates.
> > 
> > Ok, so you'll be open sourcing 7.3? :-)
> > 
> 
> The way I understand the agreement between VSI and HP, the product(s) 
> are not the property of VSI and they cannot do as you suggest.
> 
> Don't know what VAX/VMS is good for, unless you got a VAX or are running 
> an emulator.

simh is the cat's meow. Unlike most of the other emulators it's apparently
written very portably and runs on most (all?) UNIX-like OS without
prejudice. Seems to run VMS great. And it's a good way to learn VAX for the
VAX-impaired among us.

> There is better HW to run or emulate.  Alpha comes to mind.

If simh would emulate Alpha I'd run that too. As it is I don't have anything
to run an Alpha emulator on since there aren't any AFAIK that don't require
Windows (I don't do) or 64 bit Linux (don't need).

> I just don't like seeing things just disappear.  I have a hard time 
> throwing some of my junk, and it's truly junk, in a dumpster.

Classic OS and software and doc should definitely be preserved. If nothing
else, it gives people something to argue and cheer about decades later. I
never saw a VAX or knew anything about VMS other than the name back in the
day. Not that I know much more than that now but at least with the
hobbyist program and simh there's a chance.

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