[Simh] OpenVMS Hobbyist Program

[Bob Eager]

A comment from Usenet, from VSI:

"The HPE OpenVMS Hobbyist licenses we are issuing in 2020 will be the
last set. Subsequently, HPE will not issue new HPE OpenVMS Hobbyist
licenses. Attached is the final set of the HPE OpenVMS Hobbyist
licenses. These final licenses are valid through December 31st, 2021.
We hope that this additional validity period will enable users to plan
for the future.

Users who wish to avail of HPE OpenVMS long term licenses are encouraged to
purchase permanent licenses at standard prices. You may contact for the
same."

On Sat, 7 Mar 2020 17:37:30 -0600
Gary Lee Phillips <tivo.overo at gmail.com> wrote:

> Yes, quite important seems to be an understatement. HPE is dropping
> the program, apparently because the OpenVMS product line is now the
> responsibility of VSI. But I can find no sign that VSI will continue
> the hobbyist license program in any form. Those of us with actual
> Alpha/Itanium/Vax hardware may be completely shut out?
> 
> I own two Alphas and also run Vax on Simh. This is not amusing. VSI
> appears to be focused on OpenVMS for x86 processors, which is fine if
> they can do that. But without a way to renew license keys our Alpha
> and Vax systems will be dead silicon. I don't require support or even
> patches. I just need to keep my systems running.