[HECnet] HPE OpenVMS Hobbyist license program is closing

[Johnny Billquist]

On 2020-03-07 08:12, Rob Jarratt wrote:
> Yes, I have received it too. I think this is just corporate speak for 
> saying that they are closing the hobbyist licensing program, presumably 
> because they no longer support VMS. I think they should officially 
> release the PAK tool, or allow hobbyists to request non-expiring 
> licenses (although that wouldn’t help new hobbyists).

Well, it obviously also would not help VSI, who now "owns" VMS, if they 
were to release the PAK tool...

In a sense, a totally expected development. HPE have for a long time 
said they are going to get out of VMS. Hobbyist was not expected to fare 
any different. It is now truly up to VSI to decide what happens next.

The one, potentially scary thing, is the question of licenses for VAX. 
VSI didn't, as far as I can remember, formally take over the VAX side of 
things, which could mean that VAX people might be left out in the cold 
no matter what VSI does.

   Johnny

> 
> Regards
> 
> Rob
> 
> *From:*owner-hecnet at Update.UU.SE <owner-hecnet at Update.UU.SE> *On Behalf 
> Of *David Moylan
> *Sent:* 07 March 2020 05:14
> *To:* hecnet at Update.UU.SE
> *Subject:* [HECnet] HPE OpenVMS Hobbyist license program is closing
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> Just received the e-mail below. I’ve hunted around all the various 
> Hobbyist locations and licensing pages and can’t find any additional 
> information.
> 
> I’ve already replied back to ask what the impact of Hobbyist renewal 
> licensing will be. I have no further information at this stage.
> 
> Have others received this as well? Does anyone have any further 
> knowledge on this?
> 
> I can see a few people have forwarded/posted the same message on 
> comp.os.vms.
> 
> Cheers, Wiz!!
> 
> *From:*OpenVMS Customer Lab [mailto:openvmscustomerlab at hpe.com]
> *Sent:* Saturday, 7 March 2020 3:13 PM
> *Cc:* OpenVMS Customer Lab
> *Subject:* OpenVMS Hobbyist Notification
> 
> Dear HPE OpenVMS hobbyist,
> 
> This is to inform you that HPE is concluding the HPE OpenVMS Hobbyist 
> license program in alignment with the HPE OpenVMS support roadmap.
> 
> If you wish to understand more details, please reach out to us at the 
> earliest through the usual license renewal webpage.
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> HPE OpenVMS team
> 

-- 
Johnny Billquist                  || "I'm on a bus
                                   ||  on a psychedelic trip
email: bqt at softjar.se             ||  Reading murder books
pdp is alive!                     ||  tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol