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

[Jan-Erik Soderholm]

lists at openmailbox.org skrev den 2015-03-20 13:29:
> On Fri, 20 Mar 2015 13:07:30 +0100
> Jan-Erik Soderholm via Info-vax <info-vax at rbnsn.com> wrote:
>
>> lists at openmailbox.org skrev den 2015-03-20 12:45:
>>> 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,...
>>
>> Nothing, if you are not *forced* to used it.
>
> There are people interested in retrocomputing either to use the hardware
> and software they used when it was in its prime or to learn about systems
> they never had access to. Good stuff doesn't go out of style.
>
>>
>>>> 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...
>>
>> And why would anyone (professionaly) want to "learn VAX" *today* ??
>
> What difference does it make to you?

I care if someone thinks it would make a difference to VSI.


> If VAX was an important architecture
> does that mean it becomes worthless for all purposes after it goes out of
> production? Is the value of something defined by how new it is?

No, by how usable it is. I'd guess. A VAX is useless for any
practicaly purpose today.

>
> And why are you singling out VAX? Don't you also wonder why anyone
> (professionaly) would want to "learn Alpha" *today* ??

It's hard to compare old 32-bit systems with what still is
one of the best 64-bit environments. And besides, VMS still
runs with the latest version on Alpha and a lot of Alphas
are still in production.