[Info-vax] question about VSI licensing

[Kerry Main]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Info-vax <info-vax-bounces at rbnsn.com> On Behalf Of Neil Rieck via
> Info-vax
> Sent: July 26, 2019 9:54 AM
> To: info-vax at rbnsn.com
> Cc: Neil Rieck <n.rieck at sympatico.ca>
> Subject: Re: [Info-vax] question about VSI licensing
> 
> 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

Neil - as is the case with any platform (including HPE-VSI and Integrity)
that uses socket based pricing, the number of sockets on each server makes a
big (ok, huge) difference in base OS AND LP licensing (e.g. DECset is big
cost with larger socket counts).

If you are using older IA64 I2 systems with 4 sockets, then it might make
much better business sense to buy a 1 socket IA64 I6 (I4?) server with a few
more cores (if even needed with better performance of I4 cores vs I2)

2 socket systems = 2 x VSI base product + LP costs
4 socket systems = 4 x VSI base product + LP costs

(not withstanding any discounts)

If not already considered, something to think about.

Another reason why future VSI subscription models are potentially going to
be much better.


Regards,

Kerry Main
Kerry dot main at starkgaming dot com