[Info-vax] VSI Hobbyist licences

[Dave Froble]

On 9/15/2022 10:39 AM, John H. Reinhardt wrote:
> On 9/15/2022 6:58 AM, chris wrote:
>> On 9/15/22 05:35, Steven Schweda wrote:
>>>> [...] a Sun T5220 SPARC system,
>>>> which is similarly noisy and I suspect power hungry. But I can remotely
>>>> power it up, so I don't have to be close. It is in the basement, [...]
>>>
>>>     All true for my rx2660, too, but it's in an old house with old
>>> wiring, and fuses, one of which might pop if I try to make toast while
>>> the rx2660 is on.
>>>
>>>> ITS $ show cpu
>>>
>>>     Also potentially interesting: show lice /unit
>>>
>>> ITS $ show lice /unit
>>> OpenVMS I64/LMF Charge Information for node ITS
>>> This is an HP rx2600  (1.50GHz/6.0MB), with 2 cores active
>>> This platform supports up to 2 processor socket(s)
>>> Type: PPL,   Units Required: 2  (I64 Per Processor)
>>> Type: PCL,   Units Required: 2  (I64 Per Core)
>>>
>>> ITX $ show lice /unit
>>> OpenVMS I64/LMF Charge Information for node ITX
>>> This is an HP rx2660  (1.59GHz/9.0MB), with 4 cores active
>>> This platform supports up to 2 processor socket(s)
>>> Type: PPL,   Units Required: 4  (I64 Per Processor)
>>> Type: PCL,   Units Required: 4  (I64 Per Core)
>>
>> One way around the cpu limitation might be to physically
>> remove one cpu and keep as a spare. Will reduce power
>> consumption as well. Do that often on various 2 socket
>> machines here to save power. For hobby use, probably
>> not even noticeable from a performance pov....
>>
>> Chris
>>
>
> I was just guessing when I said the new Integrity PAKs were for a 1-CPU, 2-core
> system.  I have a rx2660 with two CPUs but it's down because of a main board
> fault that I haven't been able to diagnose.  I have an HP c3000 Bladeserver
> chassis with a couple of BL860c i2 blades but I haven't been able to fire them
> up in a while due to heat (I'm in Texas).  One of my BL860c blades is a dual
> CPU, quad(?) core that I planned on taking one CPU and putting it in the other
> BL860c since it's a faster chip to get around the unit limitations of the VSI
> PAKs - I'm really missing HP at this point because HP put no limits on what a
> Hobbyist could run and VSI is quite adamant that you can only run one or two
> DS10 class systems.
>
>

Yeah, but, ...

As a developer, and I'd guess as a hobbyist also, I'm quite happy with the 
AlphaServer 800 (one CPU) that I'm using.  I have several EV6 systems which I 
haven't powered up in quite a while.  No need.  Also have an itanic that isn't 
powered up.

I will admit that there might be some hobbyist usage that would benefit from 
more capability, but so far I haven't imagined what that would be.

Actually, when I don't need current VMS, I'm happy with the VAXstation 4000 
Model 90A that I use quite often.  But it's not a hobbyist system, got a real 
license.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
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