15 Oct
2022
15 Oct
'22
6:32 p.m.
On 10/15/22 12:01, Robert Armstrong wrote:
Yup. A fantastic archive. Finding/having the software distributions
isn't really an issue, thanks to large archives like this. My desire
for RPM on that OS is to save time and effort, just like it does for
RSX. Time is short and the museum work queue is long, so anything that
saves time is welcome.
It's also nice to be able to show off the fact that "antique" OSs can
do many of the same things that more modern ones can. Of course I'm
aware that VMS is a current OS, but the general perception is that it's
vintage, just like mainframes. The analogy that I usually use with
museum visitors is: "There were cars in 1903, but not all cars are from
1903".
What I'd
really love to see is similar efforts for RSTS/E and VMS.
As far as VMS goes, do you know about
http://www.vaxhaven.com/CD_Image_Archive
He has copies of most of the DEC Software Product Library CDs for both VAX and Alpha.
The SPLs contain pretty much every product DEC ever made for that platform. Most of them of course will require a license PAK.
There are a couple of images of the freeware CDs there too, but for some reason he
doesn't have all of those.
PAKs aren't a problem, generally.
FWIW, there is an APL for VAX/VMS too; it's in
the 1994 VAX/VMS SPL (but I've forgotten which CD - sorry). I installed it on LEGATO
just for fun and it seems to work - at least it passes the IVP - but I don't know
enough APL to get it to do anything meaningful. It does know how to download the special
fonts to a VT2xx or later terminal, or to the DECwindows or VWS terminal emulators too.
Nice, I will have to set that up!
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA