I was going through my backup DVDs when I found an ISO file for OpenVMS/VAX 7.3, no doubt left over from some earlier period of hobbyist exploration. As I'm trying to learn more about large systems, I decided to give it another whirl and renewed my licenses. Unfortnantly, the ISO I had around contains only a small amount of "extra" stuff: DECWindows, Motif, TCP/IP, Kerberos, DCE and DECnet. Where can I find stuff like programming languages and stuff? MACRO is too low-level for me at the moment, and the only other easy-to find language seems to BLISS, which isn't exactly a well-documented language. I plan to get a media kit when I can get the money together, but given my student status, that might be a while...
Also, there's gads of layered products for which PAKs are issued but which aren't listed as part of the hobby media kit? What if I wanted to try to use DEC Write (assuming, of course, I can get X11 working)?
Thanks for the info. I was planning on getting an actual hobbyist distro at some point when I have the $30 to spend. As a college student, I don't often have money around, especially not during breaks when I don't even have my job at my school's campus center to fall back on as a funding source. I was just wondering if there was a way to get a bit of a head start. Clearly it seems like there's not, so I'll just have to forego a night out during the semester or something to get that kit.
malmberg August 04 2022 No more VAX hobbyist licenses. Community licenses for Alpha/IA64/X86_64 VMS Software Inc. Commercial VMS software licenses for VAX available from HPE.
ozboomer July 20 2022 Just re-visiting.. No more hobbyist licenses? Is that from vmssoftware.com, no 'community' licenses?
valdirfranco July 01 2022 No more hobbyist license...sad
mister_wavey February 12 2022 I recall that the disks failed on the public access VMS systems that included Fafner
parwezw January 03 2022 Anyone know what happened to FAFNER.DYNDS.ORG? I had a hobbyist account here but can longer access the site.
gtackett October 27 2021 Make that DECdfs _2.1A_ for Vax
gtackett October 27 2021 I'm looking for DECdfs V2.4A kit for VAX. Asking here just in case anyone is still listening.
MarkRLV September 17 2021 At one time, didn't this web site have a job board? I would love to use my legacy skills one last time in my career.
malmberg January 18 2021 New Hobbyist PAKs for VAX/VMS are no longer available according to reports. Only commercial licenses are reported to be for sale from HPE
dfilip January 16 2021 Can someone please point me to hobbyist license pak? I'm looking for VAX/VMS 7.1, DECnet Phase IV, and UCX/TCPIP ... have the 7.1 media, need the license paks ... thanks!
