FreeAXP ALPHA emulator and functional CDE desktop

[rjolbrich]

Hello,
I have recently installed OpenVMS 9.2-1 in VirtualBox on Windows 10.
I discovered that the CDE desktop is broken - only DECWindows Motif works.
This problem may not be fixed in the "near" future.

I've done some searches and found that a free ALPHA emulator named
FreeAXP exists for Windows 10. It can run OpenVMS with a functional CDE desktop.
The installation is detailed here viewtopic.php?t=176

If I decide to try this, I have a couple of questions.

Do I need another "community" version license for this ALPHA emulator?

Second, I found an article on raymii.org regarding this emulation here

https://raymii.org/s/blog/OpenVMS_CDE_D ... xpbox.html

It starts with this boldfaced claim:

This post is over two years old. It may no longer be up to date. Opinions may have changed.

Well, does anyone know whether opinions may have changed?

Thanks

[martinv]

It's a known issue that CDE does not work on x86 VMS yet, see this thread.

To run OpenVMS Alpha, you'd need a VSI OpenVMS Alpha community license, which you can request from VSI. CDE does work on OpenVMS Alpha.

[volkerhalle]

rjolbrich,

you could use the VSI Student License:

https://training.vmssoftware.com/student-license/

It includes a ready-to-run FreeAXP emulator together with a bootable OpenVMS system with an appropriate license.

Volker.

[paolo_r]

Volker

I tried accessing and downloading the kit from sftp VSIPUBLIC@vsiftp.vmssoftware.com but I keep getting a time out and unable to proceed.

Am I missing something?

[mister.moderator]

You can use the Alpha Community License you were given after registering with the community. If you did not request such a license you can contact community@vmssoftware.com .

As for VSIPUBLIC, you should look to the link posted by Volker, I connected just now via Windows Powershell and it worked just fine. If you continue to have any issues please reach out to community@vmssoftware.com

[paolo_r]

@mister.moderator

I couldn't get a verified access using straight sftp so I downloaded WinSCP and was able to download and install the Student Edition.

I see that this edition's license expires on 1st February so do I have to download and install a new edition after that date?

Thanks

Paul

[mister.moderator]

At this time, any renewal of a license request should be directed to community@vmssoftware.com so that the Community Team can process your request.