HPE OpenVMS Hobbyist license program is closing

[James B DiGriz]

On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 20:06:04 -0400
Bill Gunshannon via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On 3/11/20 6:26 PM, Katherine Barto wrote:
> > 
> >   
> >> On Mar 11, 2020, at 3:18 PM, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk 
> >> <cctalk at classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk at classiccmp.org>> wrote:
> >>
> >> On 3/11/20 3:59 PM, James B DiGriz via cctalk wrote:  
> >>> On Wed, 11 Mar 2020 08:08:43 -0700
> >>> Al Kossow via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org 
> >>> <mailto:cctalk at classiccmp.org>> wrote:  
> >>>>
> >>>> Release of Classic HP3000 died for the same reason from the same
> >>>> company.
> >>>>  
> >>> After HP bought TI's DSG lines, TI SysV was eventually turned
> >>> over to a 3rd party, who has so far been unresponsive to my
> >>> inquiries about possible hobbyist licensing, either binary or
> >>> source. Evidently S1500's may still in use somewhere, unless I'm
> >>> just the wrong person asking, or the maintainer simply no longer
> >>> has the time, having moved on to newer platforms. In which case,
> >>> why not a FOSS release? I understand it's his baby, but still...
> >>> Oh, well, I guess there's always the Linux port I was working on
> >>> off and on. Hate to have to reinvent the DNIO stuff when I don't
> >>> even have the binaries, but there you go.  
> >>
> >> I assume SysV means Unix SysV.  Unless there has been a change
> >> I have not heard about nothing newer than V7 has been released
> >> for use by the holders of the Unix IP.  I have a copy of that
> >> somewhere.
> >>
> >> bill
> >>
> >>  
> > 
> > Unix newer than V7 is available at https://www.tuhs.org
> > 
> > Including System III, 32V, and BSD ports up to and including 4.4  
> 
> The last time I wanted access to anything newer than V7 I had
> to provide a copy of an original AT&T Unix license.  I haven't
> looked lately.
> 
> bill
> 
> 

Something like that may be a factor in the S1500. I have a running
system, but not with the full kit. No dev tools, no sources, no DNIO,
(for interfacing with DX10 and DNOS filesystems on 990s.), no TCP/IP,
and a few other things. 

 At one point the maintainer was offering source and binary
licenses, though for rather princely sums, as far as a hobbyist would
be concerned. I no longer see them on their website, but presumably
they're still available. If, however, they can be *sold* without
constraints from the current Unix owner, I would hope they could just as
well be opened up, and I would hope a similar argument could apply to
the OpenVMS situation. 

jbdigriz