[Info-vax] OpenVMS Hobbyist Notification

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 3/8/2020 3:00 AM, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 3/7/2020 1:48 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>> On 3/7/2020 12:51 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>>> On 3/7/2020 11:01 AM, caoimhe at pitbulluk.org wrote:
>>>> I don't think I'll be interested in the x86 port. I don't imagine VSI
>>>> will be interested in writing device drivers for the plethora of
>>>> cheaper desktop motherboards and PCIe adaptors most hobbyists will go
>>>> for. It's going to be high-end mostly, although hyper-v and vmware
>>>> driver development might work.
>>>
>>>> Besides which, the "State of the Port" seems almost laughable at
>>>> present.
>>>
>>> I confess to curosity, why do you write that?  It seems to me they
>>> (VSI) are trying to complete the port.
>>>
>>> One can hope that x86 VMS does not run exclusively on high end
>>> expensive hardware.
>>>
>>> However, they say it will run on VirtualBox, and I'd think that for
>>> any hobbyist, as well as others, this might be enough.
>>
>> Exactly.
>>
>> The virtualization software exposes something standard and
>> VMS just use that.
>>
>> Hobbyists and developers may be using VirtualBox.
>>
>> Production may run on VMWare.
>>
>> Very few will run on bare metal.
> 
> I'm doubting that.  Most VMS users are used to running on what we're now 
> calling "bare metal".  I'm thinking most will continue to do so.

Things will change with x86-64.

I don't think the intention with VMS x86-64 is to stay isolated from
the rest of the IT world just on another CPU - the intention should be
to make VMS much closer to main stream. That includes virtualization.

>                                                                  Why 
> introduce the complexity of using a VM when it's not necessary or 
> desired?

Do you think the Linux and Windows world has switched to virtualization
just for fun.

Of course there is reason. It is called money. Todays servers
come with extreme CPU power (16/24/32/64 core CPU's). You save
money on running multiple VM's on such a beast.

>   Even so, some will do just that.  Else, who's been asking for 
> VMware?
> 
> Using a VM is not all good.  Some will not want another layer involved.

The development setup a la VirtualBox is another layer. A
layer that rarely creates any problems. Instead it solves
problems by avoiding HW specific issues.

But VMWare ESXi is not another layer in a traditional sense.
It is using features within the CPU itself.

Arne