[Info-vax] clock problems with OpenVMS x86 on VirtualBox

[Johnny Billquist]

On 2023-05-09 17:49, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 5/8/2023 8:43 PM, terry-... at glaver.org wrote:
>> On Monday, May 8, 2023 at 7:39:59 PM UTC-4, Robert A. Brooks wrote:
>>> I can say with a staggeringly high level of confidence that
>>> VSI will *never* release anything for the VAX.
>>
>> I'm just going by https://vmssoftware.com/about/v9-qa #12,
>> "Can I cluster VAX 7.3 with OpenVMS x86?"
>>
>> I wasn't implying that VSI might produce a whole new VAX/VMS
>> kit, just that if there's going to be supported clustering, most times
>> in the past with HPaqital it has usually required a "cluster com-
>> patibility" kit on the older systems. I seem to remember some of
>> these being listed as "supported" and some "only as a temporary
>> migration aid".
>>
>> Whether such a thing is desirable or practical is only known to
>> VSI. If some customers are migrating from VAX to x86-64 it could
>> be useful.
>>
>> I'm aware that there are finite resources being pulled in several
>> different directions. As I said in the previous paragraph, VSI is
>> in the best (only) position to know if this is a good use of those
>> resources.
>>
> 
> Ok, here is how I understand the issue ...
> 
> VSI is able to release a new VSI VAX/VMS.  They choose not to do so.  A 
> reasonable decision.  That is not their future.

That's what I understand as well, and seems to be a reasonable 
conclusion. I doubt they'd get any money from such an initiative.

> VSI is not allowed to release anything for DEC/Compaq/HP releases of 
> VMS.  I may not understand correctly, but that seems to be what they 
> have said more than once.  Thus, they cannot legally release a cluster 
> compatibility kit for VAX/VMS.  Unless they issued a new release of 
> VAX/VMS, which most likely will not happen.

That sounds strange. Anyone could release any kind of software for any 
VMS version. I doubt HP can say anything about that.

What VSI cannot do is issue licenses for an HPE owned version of VMS, 
which is where the VAX issue is stuck.

HPE don't give any more licenses for VMS for VAX, and VSI are not 
allowed to for the versions that exist.

VSI could give licenses, if they made a release. But see above...

With regards to the cluster compatibility kit - if such a thing is a 
separate product, then I think VSI could very well do that. But I think 
it also falls on the same problem - VSI have no interest in doing it. I 
doubt they'd make the money back from the work required. So it would 
also more be a goodwill thing. But if we want to talk goodwill, a VSI 
licensed version of VMS for VAX would most likely generate way more 
goodwill.

   Johnny