[Info-vax] VAX VMS going forward

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 7/22/2020 11:52 AM, Dave Froble wrote:
> Wonder why it is that those who stand to benefit the most from continual 
> scrapping what works and replacing it with new always suggest said 
> scrapping?
> 
> Most might feel that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
> 
> Then there are IT people who say "we need the work, throw out and replace".
> 
> :-)

There are a few good reasons to upgrade systems and a few bad reasons.

If we start with bad reasons then this is management covering their
ass by choosing the same as everybody else, management showing
"drive" by changing something just to change it etc..

Good reasons:

Even though something works just as well today as it did
25 years ago, then there may be a better solution today.
Non-IT example: horses still works fine, but most people
agree that cars are significantly better.

Even though something works right now, then there is no
guarantee that it will continue to work. Running obsolete stuff
is a risk. If the HW breaks can it be replaced. If something
changing breaks the SW can it be fixed. If the people running
the stuff quits can they be replaced. Running on current HW,
supported SW and widely used SW reduces risk. Non-IT example:
it is July and you are checking your roof and you can see that
the beams are seriously weakened - it will collapse if it
gets 2 feet or more of snow. Do you note that the roof is
working and that there is an OK chance that there will not
fall 2 feet of snow the coming winter and do nothing or do
you replace the roof.

Arne