Richard Gambrell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Just coming from an informal HPUX class at HP in using BRAT and the
>coming of Ignite(spelling?), with a number of Unix sys admins from large
>companines, I think it is most amazing the tools we MPErs take for
>granted that would make life much easier than for Unix (and I would
>guess twice said for NT).
>
>Two capabilities that BRAT/Ignite *begin* to bring about:
>1: The capability to take a configured system onto new hardware without
>hours of mindless redoing configuration or carefully plotted scripts
>that sys admins wrote for themselves.
>
>Long ago a sysdump tape on a classic could move a configuration over to
>new hardware, change the IO on the way up, then restore to have a fully
>running system. (So, did sysdump always have this capability?) With
>BRAT, you can edit an ascii file and if you get it wrong, you have to
>figure out how to fix it when it boots up the new system... Even sysdump
>had some error checking and sysgen/ioconfig has a lot more.
>
>2: The ease and speed of backing out a patch or O.S. update.
>
>Now MPE can stage many O.S. updates and backout in almost no time by a
>simple reboot from disk. BRAT now allows a SLT w/backup type recovery
>(something we've always had even in sysdump days).
>
>Now, consider that BRAT is unsupported until it's Ignite look-a-like is
>considered ready for prime time and before it these things were really
>up to the sys admin's personal or corporate bad of tricks.
>
>Way to go CSY. Please find a way to market (communicate) these MPE
>strengths.



CSY can't do everything.  But we can certainly help.  How about spreading
the word ourselves?

I am sure Richard shone some light during that HP-UX class during coffee
breaks and such.  As a consequence of Richard's efforts, at least one HP-UX
instructor and at least two "Unix sys admins from large companies" learned
something new about MPE/iX that they did not know before.  The seeds of
some healthy doubts about their absolute (and unquestioned) "truth" have
been planted.  If a few thousand HP3000 users do this constantly and
consistently, the multiplier effect will produce amazing results.

Naturally, we should also communicate the weaknesses of MPE/iX to HP so
they can beef things up.  We can't afford to rest on our laurels.  This is
a two-pronged approach :-)

Way to go, Richard!


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|            r  |  Alfredo              mailto:[log in to unmask]
|          e    |                           http://www.adager.com
|        g      |  F. Alfredo Rego               Tel 208 726-9100
|      a        |  Manager, R & D Labs           Fax 208 726-2822
|    d          |  Adager Corporation
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