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

[Bill Gunshannon]

On 11/20/19 9:31 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
> 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.
> 

Not for those of us still wanting to run VMS on a VAX.

bill