On 3000-L:

> > As an interim measure they could have made an announcement
> > that they would allow the latest version of MPE to run on an HP-
> > 9000 when sales of the 3000 are disontinued.

Jeff Vance replied:

> There will be no PA-RISC 9000s being sold in the near future.
>  All 9000s will be IA-64 based -- then what?  ......
>
> ....  Today, MPE runs on essentially 9000 h/w.  It takes most of our
> R&D lab just to make this a viable option. .......... Running MPE on
> a 9000 is not a sustainable option.      .............

> ....  By 2006 MPE will not boot on any 9000s being sold regardless
> of code in MPE to detect 3000 vs. 9000.

I have no doubt Jeff is right about the "will not boot as-is on 9000s
being sold in 2006".   But I would offer one counter-point;  that could
IMO be important for one or more segments of the MPE user base (I
have no idea what the percentage will end up being, so won't try and
guess):  Those users who for one or more reasons don't want to or
can't (because of time and / or dollars) follow HP's official advice to
"migrate" before 2006:

If MPE would be allowed after October 2003 to boot on *current* HP
9000 boxes (and however many new ones will still be delivered using
PA-RISC after Oct 2003 (PA-RISC all gone for new 9000s by 2006,
but not for a while yet, I believe) ), that would yield a huge increase in
the number of suitable "late model" used (and some new;  for a while)
boxes on which MPE could run perfectly well for quite a few years
after 2006; at least until 2010 - 2012 I'll bet;  given reasonable 3rd
party support.....  Remember that after 9000 line switches wholesale
over to IA-64, there should fairly quickly be huge numbers of "old"
PA-RISC boxes on the market..  heck, another group here on Station
had an ancient *Series 70* that was running in production until about
two years ago...  I know, I know:  For many customers;  especially
those of the "enterprise variety", that type of situation is unacceptable.
I just don't think we should discount the segment of the user base that
*would* gain a significant benefit;  and who could at least get a much
longer "bridge" to their distant future, whatever that may be....

Ken Sletten

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