[Info-vax] VSI software

[Phillip Helbig undress to reply]

In article <houaskFpnp5U1 at mid.individual.net>, Hans Bachner
<hans at bachner.priv.at> writes: 

> > Can I cluster VSI VMS with versions of VMS from DEC/Compaq/HP?  If so,
> > which ones?
> 
> Yes, clustering Alpha and Integrity 8.4[-*] from VSI and HP works. Don't 
> know off my head how far you can go back with HP versions - I believe 
> 8.3 and even 7.3-2 should work as well, but you want to check with VSI 
> documentation. In any case, you need an LMF patch for VSI OpenVMS.

Hopefully that's true.  Other responses have indicated that it is NOT 
possible.  That's why I asked.  :-|

> Things will change when 9.x comes into the play. Changes to/improvements 
> of cluster communication (at least) will require special patches for 
> 8.4, which will exist for VSI versions of OpenVMS only. In other words, 
> OpenVMS V9.x on any platform can no longer cluster with HP[E] versions.

So I could have a mixed HPE/VSI Alpha cluster, then after it is all VSI 
have a mixed Alpha/x86 cluster?

> > How does one get the software onto the system?  CDs delivered by mail is
> > probably too oldschool.  Download an image?
> 
> Yes. Burn the image to a DVD or provide it with Infoserver software on a 
> VMS system to boot/install over the network.

In the past, I've had a bootable image on a hard disk.  Is there any 
reason that won't work, i.e. it has to be a DVD?

> Again, this may be other options with V9. The first versions of V9.0 
> were/are distributed as a VM image. Just unpack this image and start the 
> VM, no installation needed/possible.

I'll wait for bare metal.  :-|

> Basically right. IIRC the VSI OpenVMS Alpha documentation (Release 
> Notes?) contains a chapter on setting up LMF properly in a mixed 
> producer cluster (= requiring licenses with different producer fields), 
> including some special handling of licenses in this case.

OK, good to know, if a mixed HP(E)/VSI cluster is possible.