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

[Hans Bachner]

Simon Clubley schrieb am 25.11.2019 um 19:46:
> On 2019-11-24, Hans Bachner <hans at bachner.priv.at> wrote:
>> Hans Bachner schrieb am 23.11.2019 um 23:49:
>>> the x86 entitlement, but support contracts for VSI OpenVMS IA64 did
>>> include the right to go to V9 i they were purchased from VSI (or their
>>> resellers) and not from HPE.
>>
>> The slides from the webinar on Apr 9 this year (pg. 9) contain this info:
>>
>> ----------
>> What are some of the benefits of working with VSI direct or through
>> Channel Partners?
>> ? The Rights to New Versions - Meaning that when customers purchase VSI
>> upgraded licenses with VSI support from VSI or a VSI Partner, they have
>> the right to automatic upgrades and future license upgrades at no cost.
>> This includes the upcoming V9.2 major releases on Alpha, Integrity and
>> x-86 products.
>> ? [...]
>> ----------
>>
>> Of course, support contracts sold with this entitlement remain valid,
>> but new support contracts will be sold without the right to new major
>> versions, according to Terry Holmes. I don't know how switching to x86
>> will be dealt with.
>>
> 
> Just so I understand this, are you saying that new major releases
> within the _same_ architecture will no longer be available as part
> of the VSI support contract ?

The VSI Support Service descriptions have contained this sentence since 
I know them:

"Right to new minor releases of a VSI product"

On top of that, customers were entitled to use new major releases if 
they purchased the support contract from VSI (partners), but not from 
HPE. This seems no longer true for future support contracts.

> I'm not familiar with how the Itanium contracts are handled by HPE,
> but in the Alpha systems, you used to be able to purchase the right
> to upgrade as part of your support contracts.

To the best of my knowledge, HPE support contracts always included the 
right to upgrade. The last HPE major version (8.2) was released in 2005.

> Is that no longer the case for VSI, and if so, do you at least get
> a _major_ discount on the new VSI VMS version ?

I don't know. After all, there is no VSI major version release available 
(yet).

> Do VSI require you to purchase and upgrade to the latest VSI VMS
> version before they will sell you a new support contract when your
> existing contract becomes due for renewal ?

I don't think so, as VSI always supports at least the current and one 
prior version, sometimes more  - currently, three IA64 versions are 
under Standard Support
(see <http://vmssoftware.com/pdfs/VSI_Support_Policy_10-24-2019.pdf>).

Hans.