OpenVMS FAQ

This "OpenVMS FAQ" document addresses common questions about the OpenVMS operating system, covering its current status, future roadmap, technical features, competitive advantages, migration paths, and support ecosystem.

Key takeaways include:

• Status & Roadmap: OpenVMS is actively supported by HP, with current versions 8.3-1H1 (Integrity) and 8.3 (Alpha). Version 8.4 is slated for Q3 2009 with features like Tukwila processor support and 64-core capabilities. OpenVMS continues to be a key product in HP's portfolio, with ongoing support for Integrity and Alpha systems, and legacy VAX support until 2012.
• Competitive Advantages: OpenVMS offers high availability (e.g., 99.978%), ease of management, and robust security (DoD C2 rating). It boasts the best Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Total Cost of Upgrade (TCU) compared to other UNIX solutions on entry-level and midrange servers, offering significant savings and improved performance/power efficiency.
• Technical Features: OpenVMS is structured into three Operating Environments (FOE, EOE, MCOE) for varying levels of management and availability. It excels in clustering (up to 96 nodes, 500 miles apart) and disaster tolerance, with capabilities like host-based volume shadowing and rapid recovery. It supports virtualization technologies, web applications (browsers, servers, web services), and provides a comprehensive development environment with various compilers and security features (AES, SSL, Kerberos, IPsec, SSH).
• Migration & Support: There are compelling reasons for VAX customers to migrate to OpenVMS on Integrity, with methods including recompiling, binary translation, or emulators. HP offers substantial assistance for migration, including a Customer Lab for compatibility testing. A wide array of Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and partners provide extensive applications and solutions. HP also provides system management tools, storage solutions, comprehensive post-sales support, training programs, and extensive online documentation and whitepapers.