2 ms·

Maybe security through obscurity? They can legitimately tell their customers "not just anyone can get a copy of VMS" and then they can imply that that means tha

Maybe security through obscurity? They can legitimately tell their customers "not just anyone can get a copy of VMS" and then they can imply that that means that hackers can't hack it or something. I'm sure big government customers go for that sort of thing.

chasil 5y ago
Older versions of VMS have a showstopper login bug that can be used to obtain the full privilege of the kernel. There are many older VMS installations where this cannot be fixed, and more still where it is not worth the trouble of engaging a support contract to obtain the patches. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/06/openvms_vulnerability/ https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/06/openvms_vulnerabili...
jasomill 5y ago
Anyone can get a copy of VMS, just not this closed beta. VSI plans to add the x86 version to the free community license program [1] at a later date. In the mean time, the Alpha version runs very well under emulation, and is available both under the CLP (free, registration required[1]; also includes Itanium, though AFAIK no emulators capable of running it exist), and as a freely downloadable (no registration required), preinstalled student kit bundled with a preconfigured Windows emulator[2]. Note that the "student" license is unrestricted for non-commercial use; you don't have to be an actual student to use it. [1] https://vmssoftware.com/community/community-license/ https://vmssoftware.com/community/community-license/ (note "x86 (planned)") [2] https://training.vmssoftware.com/student-license/ https://training.vmssoftware.com/student-license/