John,

        Just talking as an individual here, I agree with all three points.

SSCONFIG - HP said they would not release it to the public.  The didn't
really address the option of allowing a few trusted partners have it for the
very reasons that Terry mentioned.  They did say they would be willing to
use it on a "Time & Materials" to make changes, but for how long.  Surely
the interest within HP-Support is going to wane quickly.

Firmware - Not really addressed at all by HP, unless they are considering
firmware upgrades to fall into the area of "Move e3000-specific content of
ITRC that requires support contracts to "free" area", which I doubt.

9000 => 3000 - HP gave this a flat 'no', but it seems like somebody should
be able to make a strong business case for selling the old PA-RISC based
9000s instead of scrapping them (just to keep them out of the hands of the
MPE community).

Thanx,
        Jon

-----Original Message-----
From: OpenMPE Support Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
John Burke
Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 5:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [OPENMPE] Hardware Flexibility


Terry Simpkins already mentioned ssconfig (a prominent item on Burke's
Manifesto for HP) and Tom Brandt mentioned firmware updates. Both excellent
suggestions.

I also think that even though HP specifically said no, we should continue to
press them on converting used PA-RISC HP9000s to HP3000s. If Itanium takes
off, it is the nature of the Unix world to want the latest, hottest box.
This will free up large numbers of A-/N-class HP9000s that could be used as
HP3000s.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jonathan M. Backus [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 9:40 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Hardware Flexibility
>
>
>         Let's focus a bit on this part of HP's presentation.
> Does anybody have any
> thoughts, questions, or concerns about this part of what HP presented?
>
> "Hardware Flexibility"
> * Modify platform hardware
>  - Provide new and/or remarketed A/N Class hardware add-ons after 2003
> (CPUs,
> embedded disks, memory, I/O, and network cards).
>  - Install remarketed or used e3000 boards at Time &
> Materials through EOS
> (under investigation after that).
>  - Continue software license transfer process.
>  - Extend 3000 -> 9000 conversion kits through 2006.
> * Acquire new peripherals
>  - Provide new/or remarketed external storage for A/N Class
> after 2003,
> limited by supply and demand.
>  - Enhance MPE/iX to mount "big" disks.
>  - Improve capabilities of SCSI pass-thru driver.
> * Integrate MPE/iX environments with changing IT infrastructure (e.g.
> networking, storage)
>  - Provide new/or remarketed external storage for A/N Class
> after 2003,
> limited by supply and demand.
>
>
> Thanx,
>   Jonathan (Jon) M. Backus, MPE-CSM ~ President
>   Tech Group ~ 15 Catawba Place ~ Hagerstown, MD ~ 21742-6515
>   Email: [log in to unmask] ~ AIM: JMBackus
>   Vmail: 301.988.0614 ~ Fmail: 301.714.1854
>   Web: www.TechGroupMD.com
>