[Info-vax] Updated HPE/VSI OpenVMS V8.4-2L1 Marketing Brochures

[Kerry Main]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Info-vax [mailto:info-vax-bounces at rbnsn.com] On Behalf
> Of Stephen Hoffman via Info-vax
> Sent: 01-Oct-16 10:08 AM
> To: info-vax at rbnsn.com
> Cc: Stephen Hoffman <seaohveh at hoffmanlabs.invalid>
> Subject: Re: [Info-vax] Updated HPE/VSI OpenVMS V8.4-2L1
> Marketing Brochures
> 
> On 2016-10-01 13:25:57 +0000, David Froble said:
> 

[snip..]

> > I'll just ask, other than the concept that there is something
> special
> > about open source, just what real world benefits can you
> imagine there
> > might be?
> 
> Asking a question is a very good start to learning.   Apache and
> nginx
> are available, common and with active development, known
> configuration
> syntax and other benefits.   As good as WASD is and as well-
> integrated
> as it is, it's yet another thing that folks would have to learn, if
> WASD were to be the web server integrated into OpenVMS.
> Postfix and
> other common packages are similarly known.   ISC BIND is already
> part
> of OpenVMS, albeit not particularly integrated and a very old
> version.
>    And yes, there are platforms that put very effective GUIs in
> front of Apache, Postfix, BIND and other tools.
> 

While ports are available on different platforms, Apache and nginx are native *nix developed so have a *nix focus of development.

IIS is a good example where the vendor Microsoft has developed a platform specific alternative to Apache/nginx. While many could argue which web solution is better on a Windows platform, there are a lot of Windows focused groups who do IIS because it is a native Windows solution.

Imho, the bundling of a solution developed specifically for a platform e.g. WASD does not prevent an alternative solution like Apache from also being used on a specific platform. A pre-installed Apache on LD container similar to how Perl is distributed on OpenVMS might be one option.

In terms of overall solutions enhancement, I remember what a Microsoft Engineer told me one time - the biggest driver for new features and enhancements to the core Windows platform did not come from Customers, but rather the internal SQL Server, IIS and Exchange groups at Microsoft. In other words, the Windows core was not being enhanced for other vendor products.

That’s a pretty amazing concept - support other options like Apache, but focus major core improvements on platform specific solutions.

> Everybody has to train new staff to local practices, of course.   If
> there aren't younger folks coming into OpenVMS, then existing
> organizations are going to have to train their new staff in the
> operating system and tools.
> 

I do agree training is important and using multi-platform tools is a way to minimize the differences between platforms. 

Key areas of focus for improvement are on those areas where enterprise L1 admins do the majority of their work - backups (often a third party product), account admin (LDAP /AD), File mgmt., scheduling (often third party product).


Regards,

Kerry Main
Kerry dot main at starkgaming dot com