Hi Rome,

        Good to see that you've joined the list.   We are all the better for it!  As for you proposal, I only wish I was geeky enough to help because I surly would.  As it stands, if you can' write the OS in COBOL, then I'm at a loss.   :-(

        BTW, tell the wife I said hi!!

Regards,


Ray Shahan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rome Samo
> Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 12:47 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:           Re: [HP3000-L] OpenMPE Question
> 
>  Jerome Finn wrote:
> >>Just an idea,
> >>
> >>Why doesn't HP release MPE, but only allow it to be
> >>ported to HP-UX via license?
> >
> >
> > The question makes no sense. You don't port one OS to another.
> > You port an OS to another hardware.
> >
> > MPE and HP-UX run on the same hardware
> > OS/400 and AIX run on the same hardware
> > VMS and Tru64 run on the same hardware
> >
> > Its been a lot more economical to share hardware costs across lines for a
> > long time.
> >
> > DEC would let you just let to choose to install VMS or Tru64 on an Alpha
> > machine.
> >
> > HP will provide a kit to convert HP3000 to HP9000. Keep the same box.
> >
> > IBM could do the same with iSeries to pSeries.
> >
> > Ask these companies what hardware is shared between these boxes. They have
> > the same processors. I don't know at what level IBM and HP keep these
> > machines from crossing over. Possibly with some firmware or maybe these
> > machines have some equivalent of a PC BIOS were they can imbed the
> > impediment. But if they wanted to they already could let you cross install
> > either the way DEC did on Alpha. Its not that hard, but that would hurt
> > marketing strategies that allow you to charge different cost for the same
> > box.
> >
> > Its a matter of will not effort.
> >
> > Jerry Finn
> >
> > * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
> > * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *
> >
> 
> 
> I think we're all missing the point here...
> 
> If I may read between the lines, what we really want, is to re-create
> MPE on other platforms.  Currently, the best we have out there is
> OpemMPE.org.  Unfortunately, HP will really never let this happen,
> unless they can make some money out of the transaction, or they feel
> that doing so will hurt their compitetors.
> 
> I don't believe these issues will get resolved.  So, we're looking at
> MPE dying a slow death (painful for some of us).
> 
> I propose that we start thinking about "re-developing MPE on our own".
> Most of the O/S can be developed over (on top) of some other operating
> system for starters.  At some point, once the code base is good enough,
> one can start thinking of creating a "real" operating system (on other
> hardware/platform).
> 
> If we can create the CI (shell) that can execute all MPE commands, then
> this would be a good start.  At least it would give all MPE folks out
> there an environment that they can use on various other platforms.  In
> order for this to happen, one needs to start re-creating the
> functionality built into the system XL: developing functions such as
> FOPEN, FCLOSE, and so on.
> 
> The other issue here is what language should be used to develop the XL.
>   Although there are many out there, I suggest a language that is
> low-level, fast, free (open-source), and housed on many, many operating
> systems.  Given these limitations, there are not that many languages
> that can be used.
> 
> Although my favorite languages are "Wirth" flavored (modula-2, pascal,
> etc), I propose going to some assembly (although, admittedly modula-2
> produces the fastest and smallest code I have seen [if written properly]).
> 
> The two assemblers that come to mind are: NASM, which runs on just about
> ALL platforms, and, my current favorite: HLA (high-level assembler).
> HLA is not your usual asm: it has a standard library similar to c++> 
> (stdlib), conditional constructs (if, else, etc), and very enjoyable to
> code in.
> 
> I would be willing to join such a group, and start the ball rolling on a
> new MPE.  This new Open-source MPE should be available for free,
> downloadable from the internet.  Version 1.0 should have, as a minimum
> the CI.
> 
> Any takers?
> 
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