[Info-vax] New VSI Community license PAK

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2020-10-20 23:56:29 +0000, Dave Froble said:

> Not saying anything definite about this thought, but, right now, as I 
> understand it, the source code for VSI Alpha VMS V8.4 2L1 and VSI Alpha 
> VMS V8.4 2L2 is exactly the same.  No differences.  2L2 was compiled 
> with compiler switches to use EV6 instructions, which I seem to recall 
> Clair mentioned that it had a performance increase just in the OS of 
> around 15%.  So a version without the EV6 only instructions should run 
> on any "supported" Alpha HW.  Not getting into anything like the Multia.

There were other changes.

VSI OpenVMS Alpha V8.4-2L2 is the first OpenVMS Alpha release that can 
be installed.

VSI OpenVMS Alpha V8.4-2L1 only works as an upgrade. Not as an install.

This was seemingly documented nowhere, save by its omission.

This limitation was known to VSI Support.

Hopefully, that documentation been remedied.

New VSI OpenVMS Alpha installations also ended up paying more than 
upgrades. Though that's all using SaaS / subscription pricing now.

But yes, there are differences between OpenVMS Alpha V8.4-2L1 and 
OpenVMS Alpha V8.4-2L2 beyond the compilation differences.

VSI OpenVMS I64 V8.4-2L1 can be installed, and can be an upgrade.

Past the OpenVMS I64 V8.4-2L3 update / roll-up / remaster, I wouldn't 
expect to see more than maintenance on Alpha and Itanium.



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