[Info-vax] Alpha emulator for OSX

[lists at openmailbox.org]

On Mon, 8 Feb 2016 04:10:38 -0800 (PST)
johnwallace4--- via Info-vax <info-vax at rbnsn.com> wrote:

> On Monday, 8 February 2016 10:20:06 UTC, li... at openmailbox.org  wrote:
> > On Mon, 8 Feb 2016 00:10:48 -0800 (PST)
> > Arie de Groot via Info-vax <info-vax at rbnsn.com> wrote:
> > 
> > > Op donderdag 4 februari 2016 07:50:15 UTC+1 schreef
> > > li... at openmailbox.org:
> > > > On Wed, 3 Feb 2016 21:32:52 -0600
> > > > "Craig A. Berry via Info-vax" 
> > > > 
> > > > What commercial Alpha emulators run on anything but Windows and
> > > > 64-bit Linux?
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > vtAlpha runs on X86 without the need for an extra OS like Windows or
> > > Linux. Or OSX for that matter. Everything you need is included in the
> > > product. Install it on an X86 host (or a virtual equivalent in any of
> > > the popular VM products) and you are set. If you like to know more:
> > > vtalpha.com.
> > > 
> > > For the record: we are the makers of vtAlpha. This is not a shameless
> > > plug but I felt all alternatives should be mentioned.
> > > 
> > > Arie de Groot
> > > AVTware
> > 
> > Hi, thanks for the info. I didn't respond to Vaxman's post earlier
> > because I didn't want to get involved when I have no money to spend on
> > this (no commercial need).
> > 
> > I am a VMS hobbyist (barely) and not looking for a commercial solution
> > but I was interested in this issue for two reasons. One as a hobbyist I
> > would like to be able to run VMS Alpha which I currently cannot because
> > I don't have Windows or 64 bit Linux. The second is I think being able
> > to host an emulator on non-Intel hardware would be very useful. And
> > sometimes that trickles down into a non-commercial freebie for
> > hobbyists.
> > 
> > For example, I have been advocating VMS should be moved to POWER
> > hardware instead of Intel. A platform independent Alpha emulator would
> > make that more possible. SPARC is also a good platform. I think more
> > choices are better and running a premium OS (VMS) on premium hardware
> > is better than running it on fast/cheap/bad hardware (Intel).
> > 
> > I understand the value of running bare metal and that is also obviously
> > a very smart and good option. More choices are almost always better!
> > Thanks for the info.

> 
> You mention bare metal. Arie says "vtAlpha runs on X86 without the
> need for an extra OS like Windows or Linux." He doesn't say "bare
> metal" here, but the term is used on their website.
> 
> Unless something has changed since the last significant discussions
> I remember on this topic (several years ago), vtAlpha runs on top of
> a cut down Linux (it'd be unrealistic to expect it to run on random
> x86 systems *without* an underlying OS, or at least a HYPErvisor).
> 
> So it may not fit everyone's definition of "bare metal". Others may be 
> perfectly happy with a setup like that. Take your pick.

Thanks, that's a good point. I probably misunderstood what was said in the
post although the fact you say "bare metal" is mentioned on the website
does muddy the waters. From the end-user point of view there isn't much
practical difference but from a technology point of view there is certainly
quite a distinction and it would be nice to clarify how it works.

I am not a fan of Linux nor of Intel so as much of that as can be removed
from the equation is A Good Thing IMHO. After all we are talking about
something to run OpenVMS on and the chain is only as strong as the weakest
link.