[Info-vax] X86 first boot? - A Really Stupid Question

[Craig A. Berry]

On 3/29/19 12:03 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> On 3/29/19 11:57 AM, Dave Froble wrote:

>> Or, you David could set up an operation to mfg and sell systems that 
>> meet rigid specifications, which VSI could support.
> 
> While this sounds like a nice solution, sadly, I doubt there
> would be enough business to make it work.

It does seem a little daft to suggest that Island Computers get into the
manufacturing business when there are already so many custom server
vendors who will happily put together whatever you want, for a (high) price.

A more reasonable role for the traditional VMS resellers would be to
work with VSI to understand exactly what combinations of cpu, chipsets,
I/O, networking, etc. have been qualified, navigate the HPE and Dell
configuration systems to put together something that matches, and sell
those things to people that want them, along with VMS licenses and VMS
pre-installed.

In other words, resellers will do exactly what they have always done,
and the vast majority of customers will do what they have always done
and place orders with those resellers.  The very largest customers,
i.e., the only ones who have been allowed to buy VMS systems directly
from DEC/Compaq/HP/HPE in recent memory, will either do the same
homework the resellers have done and know what systems to order directly
from the manufacturers, or they will switch to using resellers.