[Info-vax] Programming languages on VMS

[Bill Gunshannon]

On 02/01/2018 06:00 PM, Jan-Erik Soderholm wrote:
> Den 2018-02-01 kl. 23:37, skrev Bill Gunshannon:
>> On 02/01/2018 05:27 PM, Jan-Erik Soderholm wrote:
>>> Den 2018-02-01 kl. 20:42, skrev Bill Gunshannon:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Really.  So when the system disk dies who replaces the software
>>>> on it?  The PC weenie down the hall?
>>>>
>>>
>>> You replace the failing disk in the mirror-set and HBVS rebuilds
>>> the failing disk. No software is "replaced".
>>
>> Who is "you"?  The secretary?  The Credit Union Manager?
>> The PC weenie down the hall who is lucky if he can install
>> a printer?
>>
> 
> Well, if you do have a system, I guess you do also have someone
> to fix small issues or someone to call in. Note that a failed
> disk in a mirror-set is not that urgent, in particular if it
> is an 3-disk mirror set. It is not a show-stopper and you
> can get it fixed at office times.

But that was my point exactly.  It would take someone familiar with
not only VMS but the hardware that VMS runs on, which is not PC
class hardware.  With the number of Credit Unions all over the
country.  A simple Google search shows at least 20 in Wilkes-Barre
PA alone.  All local.  So, where are all these people who can
maintain these systems?  Unless, they really are just PC's running
Windows.

> 
>> Of course, you are describing systems that cost more than
>> the entire credit union's value but that's OK.
> 
> I don't even know what credit union is, but I do not see
> that it makes any difference.

Really?  You don't see a problem with a bank that spends all of its
available cash on office automation equipment?  How long do you
think they would stay in business?

> 
>> Very few people in this group actually live in this reality. :-)
> 
> Here you lost me. What specific reality are you refering to?
> Aren't disk quite cheap today? It is just one or two extra disks
> (and one or two spare replacement disks).

Isn't the list of hardware compatible with VMS rather limited?  Doesn't
it still take someone with VMS experience to do the tasks needed to
replace a disk in a shadow set? (I seem to remember a recent thread
here trying to explain to someone how to do it.  And there was more
than explanation given.)  And, that's assuming they have enough hardware
to have the system on a shadow set. Maybe you haven't noticed but VMS
systems haven't been competing with PC's very well lately.  And all of
these credit unions are relatively new (with more popping up every day)
and it is very unlikely that anyone there would ever have heard of VMS
as opposed to Microsoft Windows Server.  Do you see now where I get my
idea about this group and reality.


> 
> Ah, I guess you meant this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_union

Exactly.  While most of them are of very dubious legality based on
current banking regulations it does not appear the government cares
and they propagate faster than rabbits.

bill