OVMS - OpenVMS - Keep OpenVMS Allive - Frontier Computer Corp

For your viewing pleasure! DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORP. (DEC) ARCHIVES!

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Keep OpenVMS Alive Commentary below:

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Dear Users of Alpha and OpenVMS,

Please be aware that just because they don't sell "New" Alphas anymore, doesn't mean you have to migrate to Itanium, although we do sell Integrity machines.

We sell a wide array of used and refurbished AlphaServers and StorageWorks solutions. Keep your old software applications running! Keep your highly coveted versions of VMS or OpenVMS that you have grown to love. Keep updating or replacing the hardware that got you to where you are today. Yes this is all possible; it's actually what keeps us in business!

Many people have asked me, "when will you stop selling AlphaServers"? or " What is the roadmap for AlphaServer Support"? The answer is simple, you will continue to get sales and support from Frontier until there is no demand for such products or services.

We will continue to support legacy AlphaServers running OVMS and TRU64 for many years to come.

We actually just shipped out a MicroVax II system last Month (comment added 06-06-08)

For manufacturers, the answer is simple. Move to faster, less expensive, somewhat expandable, and for the most part disposable solutions. For the users, life is not exactly that easy. Some of our clients are already running integrity servers and are quite satisfied with the overall performance and migration path provided by HP. Other customers are happy to hear that AlphaServers are still available and readily shipping. "There's just something about being able to continuously run OVMS 7.3-2 on the same hardware we purchased it with" (comment from one of our customers). We sold him spares for his DS20 in July of 03' and he has not used any of them to date (06-06-08).

You see, that's the funny thing about AlphaServer or VAX users, its that old "if it's not broken, don't fix it" mentality. I specifically remember dealing with this when I used to try and sell customers Upgrades for thier AlphaServer 2100's or DECstation 3000's. They'd say, "well, it seems to be operational just as it was when we bought it." being that this was three years back you'd think they would have outgrown these systems? Not really. This made it sometimes very difficult to be a successful in return customer sales.

Really a true testament to the quality of folk at the old DEC plants. Whether it was engineering, manufacturing, sales support, or field service engineers, you just couldnt run across someone that wasn't willing to help you be happier than you were before you talked to them. The funny thing is, I still run across many old DECies out there who remember the same. We get talking and I forget why they really called me. Usually it's to see how much stock we have on an old 36.4GB SBB drive or if we can still get our hands on older versions of ACS for HSZ50 controllers. I even had a call last month for a complete suite of AlphaStation 200 4/166 with fortran and Cobal, the whole nine yards. We were able to locate the items we didn't have in stock and fulfill his dreams of not having to rewrite his simulator software. Aside from a few Watchdog items that I hadnt ever heard of before, we provided him with a complete quote and delivery shcedule.

It's really quite amazing if you think about it. Who would have thought that such an almighty and highly respected platform would be "offed" the way it was? Oh they tried, but they are not capable of subduing such a great following of users and developers by moving them to another platform. I don't think they realized how many people were in love with VAX, Alpha and OVMS. I still have governmental RFQ's coming in for RZ26L Drives for crying out loud! These customers never even knew what a DS25 was let alone needed one, they were still too busy typing out console commands on a VT200 to listen to the stealthy marketing about newer Alpha Microprocessor Technology. I used to say it all the time, "DIGITAL is way too far ahead of itself technologically speaking, but customer satisfaction is right on the money"

ADD YOUR COMMENTS

If you are interested in Purchasing an Upgrade for your current AlphaServer, a complete AlphaServer, a self spares contract, an OpenVMS phone support contract, or a full onsite service contract, please contact us today to take advantage of the variety of products and services we offer!

Best Regards,

Benjamin C. Ingwersen / Frontier Computer Corp.

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OpenVMS' inherent features allow transitions in technologies and architectures, whether they involve CPUs, storage, or networking, to take place in a controlled, low-risk fashion, without the awareness of users and applications. This goes uncommented by the OpenVMS community, but is unthinkable in other environments.

These features made possible the approaches to system management problems that are presented in a series of publications including:

Strategies for Migrating from Alpha and VAX systems to HP Integrity Servers on OpenVMS

Other sessions of interest

Each of these sessions, based upon our consulting practice, highlighted the business benefits that OpenVMS provides, in decreased risk, increased reliability, and operational flexibility.

- Bob Gezelter
http://www.rlgsc.com

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Greetings,

With VMS I have developed systems that controlled massive manufacturing processes and delicate devices that are implanted to keep people alive.
With VMS I have implemented systems that move the railroads and put men into space. I have never gotten that kind of job satisfaction from windows.

Have Fun,

TW Heim Jr.
Software Engineer

Heim EnterpriZes

"VMS, It's What I Do!"
OpenVMS.HeimNet.com
"Have Laptop, Running OpenVMS, Will Travel"
Member HP Developer & Solution Partner Program (DSPP)