OpenVMS v6.2 on a PC?

[J. Paul Douglas]

Can OpenVMS v6.2 run on a PC?

[Kris Clippeleyr · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the VMS forum.

VMS is currently available for the VAX (7.3 is latest version), the Alpha (8.2 is the latest version) and the Itanium architecture (8.2-1 is the latest version).
VMS 6.2 is available for the VAX and the Alpha (if you can find the installation CD).
So, the simpliest answer to your question is "No, VMS does not run on a PC".

However, there is a product called Virtual Alpha (and Personal Alpha to play) that can emulate an Alpha under Windows XP. It is then possible to install VMS (I've tried OpenVMS Alpha V8.2) on a PC.
See:
http://www.emulatorsinternational.com/en/virtualalpha.htm

There is also a product called Charon-VAX that emulates a VAX on a PC (I haven't tried that one yet).
See:
http://www.emulatorsinternational.com/en/emulation.htm

Regards,
Kris (aka Qkcl)

[Martin Vorlaender]

There also is a free VAX emulator on http://simh.trailing-edge.com/ which runs on various platforms including Win32 and Linux (and OpenVMS Alpha). This will run OpenVMS/VAX (I have a V5.5-2 and V7.3 system running, so V6.2 should be okay, too).

HTH,
Martin

[Volker Halle]

CHARON-VAX has a free demo version for Windows (limited to 3 hours run-time). It works fine to get you started...

And there is also the FreeVMS Open Source project:

http://freevms.free.fr/indexGB.html

Once that would be finished - don't hold your breath - VMS might really (natively) run on a PC.

Volker.

[J. Paul Douglas]

Kris, Martin, and Volker,

Thank you all very much for taking the time to put together your quick and useful responses. They've all helped me tremendously.

Cheers!

Paul

[Stanley F Quayle]

OpenVMS 6.2 will run on VAX and Alpha, so it's your choice...

Just Wednesday, versions of CHARON-VAX were announced that are "smaller" (fewer disks, smaller memory) than the CHARON-VAX/XM product. CHARON-VAX ranges from 16 MB, one processor, up to 3 GB, 6 processors.

Also, versions of CHARON-AXP (pronounced CHARON-Alpha) are now available that are real products.

If you're in North America, I can send you the full product for evaluation.

[comarow]

As one other idea.

You can get both VAXes and Alphas dirt
cheap on EBAY.
Some are even surplus and new.
Simply go to EBAY and search for VMS or VAX under Computers.

You can get some really neat deals for often under $200.

Be careful to search only under computers.
Otherwise, you could get the only VAX that sucks, a British high end vacuume cleaner.
It does not run VMS.