[Info-vax] OpenSSL CSWS-2.2-1

[Scott Dorsey]

Bill Gunshannon  <bill.gunshannon at gmail.com> wrote:
>But that doesn't pay for the new equipment which will be an
>additional expense.  Management look at everything. If they
>have to buy new machines and new software and new licenses
>they will be looking at the big picture.  And the competitors
>to VMS are going to be more in the front of their minds
>because they see the ads on TV during the golf and in  their
>trade journals and on billboards when they drive to work.

Computers are cheap.  Support is expensive.

If you're already paying for support, the new software and new licenses
will be coming along for free in the bargain.  Your cost is the
hardware and that of transitioning your own software in that day when the 
move to x86 becomes essential.

If you're not paying for support, then you have more serious problems
to worry about.

Timeline: you move from HPE support to VSI support right now.  This is
likely to be a cost savings rather than an extra cost.  When the x86 port 
comes along, you buy x86 hardware and move your applications to it.  That
will cost money, but that's not today, and it's likely a drop in the
bucket compared with the support costs.

If, on the other hand, you are running unsupported software on unsupported
hardware, you have the choice of either putting up the money and getting
support, or continuing on with the same path.  Depending on how critical
your system is, you may realistically prefer either one.  I have a vax
right now in the corner of the machine room for reading the occaisonal
9-track tape.  The OS is not supportable, neither is the hardware, but if
it breaks I'll fix it.  If it takes a few weeks for me to get it done, 
that's okay.  It doesn't need support.  On the other hand, we also have 
critical systems that need and have support.
--scott

-- 
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."