[Info-vax] OpenVMS servers and clusters as a cloud service

[Kerry Main]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Info-vax [mailto:info-vax-bounces at rbnsn.com] On Behalf Of
> DaveFroble via Info-vax
> Sent: January 6, 2018 11:46 AM
> To: info-vax at rbnsn.com
> Cc: DaveFroble <davef at tsoft-inc.com>
> Subject: Re: [Info-vax] OpenVMS servers and clusters as a cloud service
> 
> Kerry Main wrote:
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Info-vax [mailto:info-vax-bounces at rbnsn.com] On Behalf Of
> >> Stephen Hoffman via Info-vax
> 
> An interesting discussion.  Kerry sees things one way, Steve sees them
> another.
>   Discussion is good.  Getting entrenched in a position can be be less
> productive.
> 
> VSI will do whatever they are going to do, and, it appears VSI is listening
> to
> the customers.  How else did we get a new release for Alpha?  At one
> time, it
> was declared such would not happen.  Apparently there was enough
> customer
> demand, and VSI was flexible enough to listen to the customers.
> 
> This does remind me of DEC listening to customers.  At one time this
> listening
> to customers got some credit for DEC's success.  Heck, they even listened
> to me,
> and isn't that a bit scary?
> 
> We all see things from different perspectives, and it is most likely the
> customer's perspective(s) that will decide things.  Each will decide what
> they
> perceive is best for themselves.  The market will decide whether they
> are correct.
> 

Agree Cust feedback and support is critical. 

Imho, that was huge driver for VMS Engineering back in the DEC days and within VMS Engineering it has not changed much over the decades - even today with VSI.

Other factors like Senior Mgmt. above VMS Engineering is another discussion 😊

In retrospect, as mentioned in another thread, OpenVMS was one of literally thousands of products in DEC/Compaq/HP. With each acquisition, OpenVMS became a smaller fish in a larger ocean - all competing for decreasing marketing and research $'s.

If one looks at the commodity OS competition, how much competition does Windows get within Microsoft? 

Or Linux within Red Hat?

Similarly, while there are certainly still lots of hurdles ahead, now that OpenVMS is in the hands of a company with one product (VSI), at least the field is a bit more level right now.

Regards,

Kerry Main
Kerry dot main at starkgaming dot com