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

[Dave Froble]

On 11/20/2019 8:32 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> On 11/20/19 6:07 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>> On 11/20/2019 5:04 PM, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
>>> In article <qr3dqa$j3k$1 at dont-email.me>, Simon Clubley
>>> <clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP> writes:
>>>
>>>> Unless something dramatic happens, I suspect there will be no VAX
>>>> hobbyist
>>>> licence of any kind after the end of 2020, regardless of whatever
>>>> hobbyist
>>>> program VSI may eventually come up with.
>>>
>>> Perhaps, but what good reason is there not to have one?
>>
>> It is not a question of to have one, or not.  It is a question of who
>> will provide such.
>
> After 2020 it wold have to be VSI as there will be nobody else in
> the VMS business.
>
>>
>> VSI as far as I know has nothing to do with VAX.  They are not in any
>> position to do anything with a VAX hobbyist program.  They most likely
>> are prohibited to do so, and, why should they?
>
> I would need to hear that from VSI before I would accept it as a fact.
> I can think of no reason why having anything to do with the VAX would
> have been prohibited.
>
>>                                                Why would they want to
>> do so?
>
> Why are there computer museums popping up all over the place running
> real hardware rather than just having pictures or non-functional static
> displays?  Why are there still VAX VMS Hobbyists?
>
>>
>>>  Those people
>>> running VAXes in production have commercial licenses, which don't
>>> expire.  No-one will say "how, I can get a hobbyist license, I'll set up
>>> my new commercial application on a VAX and save on license costs, even
>>> though it is against the rules".  If anything, people running VAXen in
>>> production will be paying for support, not for licenses, but will that
>>> be available from any of the (current or former) owners of (some aspects
>>> of) VMS?
>>>
>>
>> Not from HPe.  Not from VSI.
>>
>
> I agree with this statement.  There is no VAX support offered now and
> hasn't been for quite some time as far as I know.  We are  not talking
> about offering support, only making it possible for people who have an
> interest in archaic hardware and software to continue.
>
> bill
>

Perhaps HPe will turn over to VSI all VMS stuff they have, including the 
HP versions, which would include VAX and the hobbyist program.

It would be good for the VMS community.

Not sure if it would be good for VSI.

I doubt HPe will do anything worthwhile.

It could be argued that HPe is abandoning VMS.  That would be helpful.

-- 
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