[Info-vax] OpenVMS Hobbyist Notification

[Dave Froble]

On 3/8/2020 1:43 PM, Zane H. Healy wrote:
> jeffrey.s.katz at aya.yale.edu wrote:
>> Well, I have a physical VAXstation 4000-60 that is running, solely as a
>> hobbyist, and the VMS team has been very helpful in getting me through my
>> PAK loads initially.  So I really hope they will issue a set of PAKs that
>> don't expire if they close the hobbyist program.  Perhaps they can issue
>> final PAKs keyed to a serial number or Ethernet MAC address so they can
>> only be used by the hobbyist, if that is the issue?
>
> Having a license keyed to your S/N or MAC address is a very bad idea, then
> when the physical hardware dies, you're unable to run your software.  I've
> been in this situation in the distant past, it's not fun.  Of course you
> could spoof the MAC address if you were to move to SIMH.
>
> Realisitically what would be best is if VSI were to support Hobbyists with
> Alpha PAK's for older versions of OpenVMS,

Right now they cannot do that.  They can only issue licenses for VSI 
supplied releases of VMS.

> since they can also be used on
> the VAX.  They wouldn't be providing "VAX" licenses, but they'd be providing
> ones that would work on VAX.


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David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
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