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

[Dave Froble]

On 3/29/2019 8:07 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> On 3/29/19 5:02 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>> On 3/29/2019 1:03 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>> On 3/29/19 11:57 AM, Dave Froble wrote:
>>>> On 3/29/2019 10:35 AM, David Turner wrote:
>>>>> Seeing as how incompatibilities exist even on 1 Alphaserver or
>>>>> Integrity
>>>>> server, how the hell is VSI going to maintain drivers/support for
>>>>> options and servers and workstations running VSI x86-64 VMS?
>>>>>
>>>>> I mean, just buy a DELL server for example.
>>>>> Even under the same part number,  1 server may have a Broadcom network
>>>>> chip on the board, while the other may have an intel chipset.
>>>>> Same goes for SAS controllers, with ever changing firmware levels...
>>>>>
>>>>> And the support for a multitude of different branded servers using
>>>>> ever
>>>>> changing chipsets and cpus?
>>>>>
>>>>> Even Proliant servers, which are more parts-vendor stable, come
>>>>> from the
>>>>> manufacturer with different firmware levels. Everything seems to go
>>>>> out
>>>>> to the highest bidder on memory products, USB chips.....
>>>>>
>>>>> This is going to be TRUE HELL unless there is a very small and finite
>>>>> date code, product code, firmware version etc.
>>>>>
>>>>> Otherwise it is going to be a Sh*tstorm for VSI Support.....
>>>>>
>>>>> Methinks 2 very specific servers - HPE only - with some seriously
>>>>> limited options and expansion capabilities, is the only way forward...
>>>>>
>>>>> My opinion but experience does sometimes trump logic.
>>>>
>>>> One simple option David.  VirtualBox.
>>>
>>> I never found VirtualBox good enough for a production environment.
>>> Maybe it's changed since  my latest retirement, but I doubt it.
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Or put another way, let others handle all the different
>>>> configurations, in the case of VirtualBox, that would be Oracle.  In
>>>> the case of VMware it would be, I believe, Dell.
>>>
>>> VMWare is another option but it adds a substantial additional cost
>>> on any production system.
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Will everyone like this solution?  I doubt it.  I didn't until
>>>> recently.   Some will feel they just have to have things running on
>>>> "bare metal".   Some may need that.
>>>>
>>>> I'm not one who advocates HPE servers.  Perhaps I'm wrong in feeling
>>>> that way, but I'm more than a little upset about how HP treated VMS.
>>>> Just call me "Grudge".  Then again, I've usually suggested "don't cut
>>>> off your nose to spite your face" and "don't burn bridges behind you".
>>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>
>>> bill
>>>
>>>
>>
>> What?  You don't anticipate a big rush to x86 when it's ready?
>>
>
> If every VMS system in the world were to convert tomorrow I doubt
> it would be enough business to cover the cost of creating a hardware
> design and manufacturing company.
>
> bill
>

What about making a deal with an existing mfg?

There is enough components available today to just purchase and assemble.


-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
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