Continuing on a system that has aged beyond its end-of-life can be challenging. It is more so for operating systems used by enterprises. Your entire workload depends on the one entity all your processes and applications hinge on. OpenVMS has explored modernization solutions.
The story of the highly loved OS, the OpenVMS software, depicts exactly that. It was highly in demand back in the late 1970s and 1980s, remained popular from the 1990s to 2000s, and kept performing admirably in the 2010s. However, it failed to continue with the same vigor in 2020s.
Its official support ended in 2022. The reasons may be multifaceted, but the outcome is the same: companies doing a countdown of how long their systems will last. The results might differ from company to company, but modernization is needed, one way or another.
Key Takeaways
- Continuing with an end-of-life system like OpenVMS can create challenges for enterprises dependent on it.
- CIOs face two main options: replacing OpenVMS with a new OS or preserving it for now while evaluating alternatives.
- Choosing a new OS requires careful planning and consideration of current infrastructure and future needs.
- Staying with OpenVMS might be beneficial temporarily due to its specialized functions and employee familiarity.
- OpenVMS virtualization or emulation offers a third option, allowing modernization without immediate migration.
Table of contents
What is OpenVMS?
OpenVMS is an operating system that ran/runs on VAX, AlphaServer, Integrity, and x86-64 servers. It originally ran on VAX computers as the VAX/VMS OS, then ported to Alpha AXP, followed by Integrity servers based on Intel Itanium.
Finally, it was ported to x86-64 by VMS Software, Inc. (VSI). It is one of the longest running operating systems in the world, that has gone through multiple hardware. It will not be renewed anymore, as we mentioned. However, you will keep getting support for maintenance and fixes from Broadcom, the owner.
What Should I Do with the OpenVMS Operating System?
CIOs have mainly two options if their company uses the OpenVMS OS. They are:
Replacing OpenVMS with a New OS Immediately
The first choice for any enterprise facing the reality of OpenVMS becoming EOL is to make suitable preparations for it. This equates to getting a new operating system and installing it in your infrastructure.
However, this is not as simple as installing an app on your mobile phone; this is an OS for your enterprise on which your entire work is based. That means you have to be careful of every activity and every effect it has.
This includes the applications and security features to run on it and existing platforms that must integrate with it. Both the hardware and software that the company already has must work with it.
The operating system should also be compatible with the requirements of the business. You should keep in mind that your enterprise succeeds only if the OS can produce the results customers are looking for.
You should also keep your workload, particularly its increase, in mind. The workload will not only expand in volume, but new applications could also be added as the days go by. Your OS should have the scalability to handle both the vertical and horizontal growth.
Another thing you should keep in mind is the kind of reliability and stability you receive, be it uptime, performance, or complexity handling. Also ensure your operating system has a long enough life for your business to settle down into it.
Never forget the kind of professional help you receive. This includes training after you get the OS, as well as troubleshooting and consulting during operations. The response time and level of help determine your experience immediately before and during the use of the operating system, as well as after the decision to decommission.
Of course, choosing and installing a new operating system after OpenVMS will take time, patience, and hard work. However, the right decision will make your system stable for a long time. It does require careful thought though, considering what systems you have already and what you plan to have in the future.
The decision is not just yours; it is not just that of a team of technical employees or general workers. It is of the entire group of people involved in the decision-making, installation, and operation of the new OS after OpenVMS.
Preserving the OpenVMS OS for the Time Being
Modernizing your operating system environment is tough. You not only need to think about your hardware and software but also consider their compatibility, your requirements, and your future needs. Testing before and after, correct steps throughout, careful migration – it can be stressful, and your normal work cannot be ignored.
As a result, many CIOs often decide to hold on to their legacy OS, in this case, OpenVMS. Yes, you need to relocate your operating system soon, but it can now take the time, effort, and resources needed without blowing through any of them.
However, you do need careful deliberation, so start the process of evaluation of OSs as soon as possible. Just because you decided to remain with OpenVMS does not mean you can push back the thought process.
Staying with OpenVMS for the time can be a good idea, especially if you have specialized functionalities and technical tasks, or need clustering for disaster recovery. The OS has several qualities you will not find easily or collectively in another OS.
Plus, your employees, who are so used to working in OpenVMS, will not have to immediately think about a changed system or a different mechanism. You don’t need your own technical experts or hire external specialists right now.
You don’t need to think about fixing new security measures or checking out the compatibility of the OS with your hardware or applications. You do not need to worry about maintenance or think about which support option will work best.
You also do not have to decide the acceptance of the results you provide by customers. Staying with OpenVMS a little longer has several perks as you consider, test, and finally decide on another OS to take its place.
What is the Final Outcome to this Dilemma?
Choosing the first option brings urgency; choosing the second has a high chance of making you stagnant. This either/or situation makes you wonder which option to select as the final solution to your problem.
Our answer? Choose neither. Or rather, choose an in-between, with OpenVMS virtualization or emulation. You get to maintain your old working style while transforming your outdated hardware.
To Change or Not to Change
Yes, OpenVMS has gone beyond the expiration date. No, you do not need to move to a new operating system immediately. There are other ways to go around a total migration while still modernizing. Virtualization and emulation pave the way for enterprises that want such an avenue. With companies like Stromasys, you too can elevate your work around OpenVMS and maintain your comfort.
