[Info-vax] question about VSI licensing

[Neil Rieck]

On Thursday, July 25, 2019 at 9:43:17 PM UTC-4, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 7/25/2019 8:29 PM, Simon Clubley wrote:
> > On 2019-07-25, Neil Rieck <n.rieck at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> >>
> >> That's actually the sticking point with my immediate manager. We
> >> purchased a new  Itanium server mid 2015 along with new licenses. As part
> >> of that purchase we got free support, hardware and software, for three
> >> years. Saving money by not having to buy support for three years was part
> >> of that business case. The support quote from VSI last year included the
> >> purchase of new licenses and that's when the boss flipped. He didn't care
> >> that HP/E was getting out of the OpenVMS business. So we were forced to
> >> stay with HPE until the end of this month. We just received a new quote
> >> from HPE which the boss hasn't signed but I can't help feeling we're
> >> wasting money because the HPE contract doesn't allow us to upgrade past
> >> version 8.4
> >>
> >
> > To be honest Neil, I have some sympathy for your manager's viewpoint.
> >
> > VSI have been promoting themselves as the continuation of the VMS world
> > and that they are in close partnership with HPE, including providing
> > some support services to HPE.
> >
> > In that setup, it's not unreasonable for the manager in question to
> > expect that their agreement with HPE would also carry forward when
> > the company in question starts working directly with VSI.
> >
> > Yes, I understand why VSI did what they did, but I also understand
> > somewhat why your manager feels the way he does.
> >
> > Simon.
> >
> 
> Well I don't understand it at all.
> 
> The guy (manager) is going to perhaps stick to his position, and if he 
> cannot get what he expects from VSI, he might start listening to those 
> people chanting about Linux.  In such a case, VSI will get nothing.  Or, 
> VSI could provide the licenses, for maybe a 3 year commitment to 
> support, or just realize they can get support for years, or get nothing.
> 
> Neil, you any good at being the "hard ass" customer?  Get with VSI, let 
> them know the options, and strongly request they honor the HP licenses 
> from 2015.  Very strongly.
> 
> Even if the manager capitulated, there would be resentment against VSI. 
> Not a good thing for either side.
> 
> 
> -- 
> David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
> Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
> DFE Ultralights, Inc.
> 170 Grimplin Road
> Vanderbilt, PA  15486

I am no good at being a "hard ass" customer but my manager will not capitulate. They have been on a mission to reduce costs since the 2008 economic meltdown and that zeal has reached reached the proportions of a religious crusade. That was the main reason for the shift from UNIX to Linux in our largest data centers in Toronto and Montreal. I am in a small data center in Waterloo where spending money attracts unwarranted attention then we hear the inevitable "why are we spending money out there?" To be honest, I was surprised we were able to buy a new Itanium from HP in 2015. But then we heard an additional sermon from the naysayers when HP split into two companies, HP and HPE. What is that Chinese curse about living in interesting times?

Neil Rieck
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
http://neilrieck.net