[Info-vax] VSI strategy for OpenVMS

[Bill Gunshannon]

On 9/14/21 3:23 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 9/14/2021 8:53 AM, Jan-Erik Söderholm wrote:
>> Den 2021-09-14 kl. 14:25, skrev chris:
>>> On 09/14/21 13:16, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>>>> On 9/14/2021 12:41 AM, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
>>>>> In article <shopgc$b49$3 at gioia.aioe.org>, =?UTF-8?Q?Arne_Vajh=c3=b8j?=
>>>>> <arne at vajhoej.dk> writes:
>>>>>> On 9/13/2021 8:01 PM, chris wrote:
>>>>>>> On 09/13/21 18:24, Scott Dorsey wrote:
>>>>>>>> Bill Gunshannon<bill.gunshannon at gmail.com>Â  wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Any browser requires a desktop.  I thought that idea had been
>>>>>>>>> abandoned?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> No it doesn't, that is the beauty of DECWindows.  Mind you, 
>>>>>>>> there's
>>>>>>>> really
>>>>>>>> no reason to have a browser on a machine without a desktop, other
>>>>>>>> than
>>>>>>>> for diagnostic purposes and downloads.  But it's not required, and
>>>>>>>> it is
>>>>>>>> occasionally handy.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Does "occasionally handy" warrant an enormous effort to port a
>>>>>>>> modern
>>>>>>>> browser
>>>>>>>> to VMS?  I don't think so.  But if someone here wants to give 
>>>>>>>> it a
>>>>>>>> try, have
>>>>>>>> at it.  That's the beauty of open source.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> A lot of system management is done via browsers, for years now. 
>>>>>>> Also,
>>>>>>> for software dev, nothing beats a windowing system with multiple
>>>>>>> terminal windows and tabbed full screen editors. I used to be pretty
>>>>>>> deft with edt on a vt terminal but those days are gone forever.
>>>>>>> All the
>>>>>>> ilom i've worked with works far better using a browser for access. A
>>>>>>> sort of universal access method for systems. So yes, lack of a
>>>>>>> browser
>>>>>>> might be seen as a serious disadvantage.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Web interfaces are very common for admin stuff today.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> But usually running the browser on a PC will work fine.
>>>>>
>>>>> Right. But if one downloads and uploads files from VMS, then a browser
>>>>> on VMS allows one to avoid going through a third system.
>>>>
>>>> Most VMS systems runs something important and do not have
>>>> access to download directly from the internet.
>>>>
>>>> Arne
>>>>
>>>
>>> A lot of excuses why a browser should not be included. It's a
>>> standard tool that everyone takes for granted these days and is
>>> universal in terms of cross platform operation and compatibility
>>>
>>> just one more thing that would help drag vms into the modern age..
>>>
>>> Chris
>>>
>>
>> No, a web *browser* on VMS would do nothing positive for VMS.
>> It is simply neither asked for or needed.
>> Browsers are run on desktop environments.
> 
> Desktop?  No freaking way that RX2660 in the basement is getting 
> anywhere near my desk.  Loud doesn't even begin to describe it.
> 
> :-)
> 

I had a VAX 8600 three machine cluster as a desktop once.  The
machine remained in the computer room and the monitor, keyboard
and mouse were on my desk.  Long cables under the raised floor.
The same can be done with x86/64 class machines.  Easier, actually.

bill