Article 160763 of comp.os.vms:
Jim Becker wrote:
> 
> KHA@VAX1.Mankato.MSUS.EDU wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> > Since the operating system known as UNIX can operate on any type of chip
> > out there with a little changes. Can the VMS operating system be run on
> > the x86 platform?
> > thanx
> 
> Nope. OpenVMS runs on VAXes and Alphas.  <snip>

Actually, there's a major difference between "can" (is it
potentially possible), and "does" (or "sensible" for that
matter).

It was once claimed that you couldn't possibly do it
because VMS needed four processor modes, and the Intel
platform only provided two. Didn't the Alpha sort of
prove that wrong (don't they emulate the four via
PALcode?).

In my opinion, one could do it from either the '386 on
or the '486 on.... Now, whether it makes sense to or not
is a separate issue...

If DEC's going to try so hard to kill VMS (my apologies
to the VMS engineering folks), then I wish they would just
release the operating system to the public domain (or make
it freely or cheaply licensable). I like the latter better,
they should maintain a copyright, and keep funding the
engineers like they currently do (why they fund them, and then
refuse to market VMS is beyond me, though I'm glad they at least
fund them).

Cheers,
Joe Meadows	- joe.meadows@nobs.ca.boeing.com

(one time VMS dude on high, now just a generic Web dude [ascending])