[Info-vax] State of the OpenVMS hobbyist program?

[Dave Froble]

On 11/20/2019 5:07 PM, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
> In article <qr3fcn$t7m$1 at dont-email.me>, Simon Clubley
> <clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP> writes:
>
>>> What is the probability that, as mentioned in the first conference call,
>>> VSI will have a hobbyist programme similar to that of HP at the time?
>>> When can we expect it to be set up?
>>>
>>> At the same conference call, it was said that Alpha and x86 would be
>>> supported in the same cluster, at least for migration, so presumably
>>> there will be Alpha and x86 hobbyist licenses, or one which works for
>>> both, though perhaps only for some VSI version of Alpha VMS.
>>
>> You are coming across as having a bit of an entitlement complex Phillip.
>
> No, not at all; I'm merely recalling what was promised.

I don't recall any such "promises" from VSI.  Intentions, perhaps.  Such 
can change.

>> You can't assume that whatever hobbyist licence VSI may come up with will
>> allow full access to the range of VMS capbilities. Didn't someone say that
>> the current VSI student kit doesn't have clustering support ?
>
> Back then, "similar to what is currently available" was what was said.
>
>> You also can't even assume that VSI will finally decide to create a VSI
>> hobbyist licence. There is absolutely no obligation on them to do so.
>
> I never said that there was, merely that VSI people said during the
> conference call that there would be.

And there most likely will be, when they have time for it.  Getting VMS 
in front of as many eyes as possible is in VSI's best interest.

>> I personally think VSI not creating a hobbyist program will be very
>> short term thinking on the part of VSI which will damage them, but that's
>> for VSI to decide. I just wish VSI would make up their minds quickly
>> so we know whether it's worthwhile to continue maintaining a VMS hobbyist
>> setup at home.
>
> Agreed.  MANY hobbyists would probably BUY x86 hardware if they could
> run VMS on it.
>
>> VSI will also need to be convinced that any hobbyist program will be used
>> within the constraints that VSI state, so anyone suggesting ideas to
>> work around the end of the existing hobbyist licences from HPE are just
>> damaging the prospect of any future hobbyist program from VSI.
>
> Indeed.
>
>> To rephrase that: you are _not_ entitled to a free or low cost hobbyist
>> licence and if such licences are issued, any organisation issuing them
>> needs to be convinced they are going to be used within the constraints
>> the organisation have laid out. I think it's in the best interests of
>> VSI for them to maintain an active hobbyist program, but that's for VSI
>> to decide.
>
> Agreed.
>


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