[HECnet] HPE OpenVMS Hobbyist license program is closing

[Rob Jarratt]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hecnet at Update.UU.SE <owner-hecnet at Update.UU.SE> On Behalf
> Of Johnny Billquist
> Sent: 07 March 2020 11:59
> To: hecnet at Update.UU.SE
> Subject: Re: [HECnet] HPE OpenVMS Hobbyist license program is closing
> 
> 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...

Yes, I thought about that, but perhaps VSI could create a licensing
mechanism for Intel that isn't PAK? Not sure how hard that would be though.
I don't recall if they intend to support anything other than Intel though.

> 
> 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