[Info-vax] Thoughts on VSI Community License Program

[Dave Froble]

On 8/12/2020 7:32 PM, John H. Reinhardt wrote:
> On 8/12/2020 6:01 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>> I see a lot of posts about problems or potential problems.
>>
>> But I think we should look at the big picture.
>>
>> HPE killed the hobbyist program with very short notice.
>>
>> VSI announced and started the new Community License Program pretty
>> quickly.
>>
>> Considering how many very important tasks VSI has at the moment,
>> then I consider that pretty impressive.
>>
>> So VSI has proven their good will.
>>
>> Maybe the license mix is not optimal.
>>
>> But based on the past then I would expect VSI to listen to
>> suggestions when they do an evaluation in 1 or 3 or 6 months.
>>
>> (excluding VAX licenses which seems to be a non-starter)
>>
>> Arne
>
>
> I hope my post today doesn't sound like whining, but I suppose it can be
> seen that way.  I fully expect the VSI Community License program to
> evolve the way HP's Hobbyist program did over the years.  My purpose was
> to document what was available.  I know VSI did this in somewhat of a
> hurry, I think they expected up to another year before needing to roll
> this out.  I'm hoping that the lack of compiler PAKs on the Integrity
> side is just an "oh, crap, we forgot those" thing since the install
> files are in the downloads.  Perhaps the OpenVMS-BOE includes them, I
> have not worked with the VSI side before. I know HP's BOE did not.
>
> If nobody says they want Integrity licenses for Clustering and Disk
> Shadowing, then VSI will never know that we want it.  I assume a good
> percentage of "serious" hobbyist will want them.  After all, Clustering
> and even HBVS are two of the main pillars of what VAX/VMS - VMS -
> OpenVMS are all about.  Looking at the VSI SPD for OpenVMS it seems that
> the HAOE gets you clustering, disk shadowing and RMS Journaling.  All of
> these were available previously so hopefully whatever reason it was
> behind not including it can be reversed.
>
> I also know that talking about it here isn't the best channel in getting
> back to VSI.  True many VSI people frequent here but I imagine emails to
> training at vmssofware.com would be very helpful as well.
>

Just some thoughts.

If one feels that something is missing, definitely ask VSI.  They don't 
know unless you ask/tell them.

Regardless, my opinion is that VMS strengths should be shoved in front 
of as many faces as possible.

Itanics seem a dime a dozen anymore, regardless, it's not something I'd 
consider for a hobbyist / CL set-up.  But so what, it's perfectly Ok for 
others to want to do so.

I seem to recall a mention of "testing".  If that is testing for a 
commercial purpose, then a developer license would be appropriate, not a 
CL license.

I'm a bit confused with the compiler licenses.  I have Alpha licenses 
from DEC, and they are still on the Alpha with the VSI V8.4-2L1 release. 
  Perhaps the DEC product and license is still good for a non-VMS 
product on a VSI release.  Not sure how DEC Basic, C, and such is 
considered.

-- 
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