X-server recommendation

[Steven Underwood]

We are currently upgrading one of your OpenVMS Oracle DB servers from v7.3.4.4 to v9i, which requires a graphical interface.

I have gotten the system running using an older (v6.1) version of Hummingbird Exceed but it appears we need to purchase a couple of licenses for a Windows (98, 2K, XP) X-Server product for the DBA's to efficiently do their work when needed.

I am aware only of Exceed. Are there any ideas for another similiar product? Cost is a factor and why I am asking rather than simply purchasing the Exceed product.

Thank you for any insight you may have.

P.S. If this request should be in another category, please let me know.

[Bojan Nemec · Accepted solution]

Hi,

There are many X servers for Windows. You can use eXcursion which is on the PATHWORKS 32 client kit. This kit is included in the CD distribution of the OpenVMS operating system.
See http://h71000.www7.hp.com/pathworks32/index.html . You receive some licenses when you buy a new OpenVMS Alpha server. We used eXcursion some years ago and works fine.

If cost is a great factor you can go OpenSource.
One is Cygwin/X see http://x.cygwin.com/
Another one is Win32-X11 http://sources.redhat.com/win32-x11/

I use Linux on my desktop. Linux has already an X-server, because Linux uses X Windows as GUI. (And is much more stable as M$ - my desktop uptime is 326 days which is nothing for VMS but a lot for a PC)

Bojan

[Bojan Nemec]

After writing my previous response I remember one more thing relating your question.

For OpenVMS Oracle you need X-server only during installation. All the administration can be made from a PC. You must install the administration applications on this PC. I think that they come on a separate CD with Oracle. So you dont need X-servers to administer. The applications connects directly to Oracle over TCP/IP.

Bojan

[Martin Vorlaender]

Ken Lee's web site lists a couple of dozen X servers for PCs: http://www.rahul.net/kenton/

HTH,
Martin

[Antoniov.]

Hi Steven,
in pathwork32, well suggested by Bojan, you can find too traditional VT emulator and printer service for windows platform.

Antonio Vigliotti

[Ian Miller.]

I've used eXcursion for years. It knows about VMS systems so very quick to setup. Check carefully as you may have licences already.

[Rick Dyson]

I use eXcursion pretty much as a rule. It comes with the OpenVMS CDs and/or Pathworks that we use.

However, long ago we also had purchased Attachmate's KEA!X server, too. I understand it is still updated and there is a free demo available for evaluation.

*IF* you only need a couple licenses and the eXcursion one works and you already have licenses (I recall elsewhere that someone had claimed we all get 1 or 2 PW PAKs with OpenVMS somehow), then by all means use eXcursion. It works and if it is free, go for it!

BTW, there are actually many X11 servers available, mostly commercial. I came from an X11 shop and they had extensively searched and a couple years ago there wasn't any "free" servers available that we could find, so hearing about these freeware/shareware ones is good news!

rick