Understanding OpenVMS Operating System: Architecture, Features, and Industry Applications

Key Features of OpenVMS

OpenVMS operating system has some notable key features that have made it popular in several industrial sectors. Some of them are:

Process Isolation

The intense process isolation ensures that errors during a process do not affect others and contribute to system stability.

Clustering

OpenVMS provides clustering support, which allows a wide range of systems to work collectively as a single system, thus providing options for high availability and fault tolerance.

Robust Security

OpenVMS offers robust security infrastructure, which includes authentication mechanisms, access controls, and auditing capabilities.

File System

This feature offers file-level security, versioning, and assistance for large files.

Reliability

System-wide health monitoring, mirroring of the system, error detection, and correction prevent system failures and ensure business continuity, making it highly reliable.

Scalability

It is a highly scalable operating system that supports large-scale deployments and efficiently handles growing workloads without compromising performance and stability.

Networking Capabilities

OpenVMS emulator provides comprehensive networking capabilities, supporting various network protocols and communication standards.

Compatibility and Support for Legacy Systems

OpenVMS is backward compatible with previous versions of its OS while supporting a wide range of hardware platforms, including legacy applications. It ensures seamless migrations and integration with other software, which is highly demanded by various businesses.

Top Reasons to Upgrade OpenVMS OS with Charon Emulation Solution

OpenVMS operating system was a ground-breaking environment but with rapid change in its landscape it has reached its end of life. Many businesses that rely on it for their mission-critical systems are facing a daunting challenge to find a long-term, sustainable solution like OpenVMS migration.

OpenVMS migration can be challenging but it offers various benefits like modernizing legacy systems, reducing costs, and enhancing efficiency. There are different methods for OpenVMS migration like rehosting (for example, running OpenVMS on x86 based architecture) and hybrid migration.

When businesses emulate their legacy hardware with Stromasys, we’re often asked whether an upgraded version of OpenVMS is necessary. Based on the VAX or AlphaServers to be virtualized, minimum versions of the OpenVMS Operating System (OS) are required, but the majority of businesses do not need to upgrade.

Here’s why:

With Charon, no changes are required to your OpenVMS operating system

The most obvious benefit of using OpenVMS software is that the legacy system continues functioning as it always has. In many implementations, the end users were entirely unaware that changes had occurred, and the application performed better. The end user feels no change in the OpenVMS OS except for increased efficient performance, such as a report will now be finished significantly faster due to the system that it would have been on the previous hardware platform.

OpenVMS is entirely compatible with the original DEC system with Charon emulation solutions

A second benefit is that the Charon VAX and Alpha emulator translation is bit-for-bit compatible with original DEC systems, including floating point precision.

Stromasys uses Digital Equipment Corp.- developed tools to ensure Charon is 100% compatible with the original hardware, including MDM (MicroVAX Diagnostic Monitor), UETP (User Environment Test Package, part of VMS), and AXE (DEC’s VAX and Alpha CPU architecture verification tool).

With Charon emulation no re-certification is required

Another benefit to our lift and shift OpenVMS migration solution is that no recertification is required because nothing above the hardware level is modified, including OpenVMS Software.

For many verticals operating under heavy regulations or compliance standards, changes to the OpenVMS OS or application would require the business to undergo a lengthy and exhaustive recertification process to validate the system. Still, the Stromasys Charon solution makes that unnecessary.

Charon Solutions mitigates risk by exchanging the aging hardware for a more modern, reliable alternative while providing a straightforward and low-hassle path to business continuity.

Charon solution offers options for modernizing their IT infrastructure with OpenVMS Cloud

Businesses are now also looking for OpenVMS cloud options as they offer several benefits like security, reliability, cost-efficiency, scalability, global reach, and modernization. It leverages the benefits of cloud computing while preserving OpenVMS’s strengths. It allows the businesses to refurnish their IT infrastructure and modernizes them as it reduces hardware costs.

Also, by opting for the OpenVMS migration on cloud, businesses get the opportunity to modernize their legacy applications by integrating them with other cloud-computing applications and technologies. This helps them enhance their agility and facilitates seamless collaborations across different platforms while enabling digital transformation initiatives.

Improve Operational Efficiencies with Charon

With the virtualization of organization’s Alpha and VAX environments, companies can experience enormous savings from decreased service and support costs, downtime, and SG&A. Further, operating OpenVMS on x86-based servers is a significantly more sustainable alternative. Because it saves electricity and resources as compared to VAX and Alphaservers.

Stromasys Charon Solutions

OpenVMS migration with Stromasys is a friction-less process. We offer a hardware emulation solution that does not alter the programs, databases, or legacy OpenVMS operating system running on the hardware. This means that no modifications or code recompilation are necessary.

Charon solution migrates OpenVMS to a x86-based server so that it functions exactly like an existing server. It indicates that the OpenVMS migration will happen smoothly regardless of which version of the legacy operating system you’re using.

Stromasys offers both cloud-based as well as on-premise options. Here are your options if you choose to migrate to OpenVMS on cloud:

• The Microsoft Azure Cloud
• The AWS Cloud
• The Google Cloud
• The Oracle Cloud

Stromasys offers a seamless transition to your aging legacy, like VAX, Alpha, and SPARC applications on the cloud. This approach enhances availability and reliability as there will be no interference from a multi-purpose OS.

Your OpenVMS operating system will work the way it always has. The only difference is that you’ll be able to get rid of the aging hardware that’s slowing you down, which means reduced maintenance costs. This way, you can eliminate your existing legacy hardware and connect your office infrastructure to the cloud through a private network or modern hardware infrastructure (i.e. running OpenVMS on x86) – which is more secure.

Also, once you install the OpenVMS emulator (Charon), existing processes will be faster. The downtime is reduced as well. Neither a learning curve nor recertification is required.