Recent News and Tips
Mike Hornsby of Beechglen
answers questions from the NewsWire
about continuing software support for HP 3000s:
Our goal is to take care of the customer, as if we were them,
knowing what we know. Our motto is 'anyone can call about anything anytime'.
Our support is immediate, like having a ‘phone a friend’ who can answer the
question or solve the problem more than 95 percent of the time on the first call.
An example was a customer who was frustrated at having to dial in every night
to check in on a credit card upload job. We showed her how to use a freeware
e-mail client from Telemon to e-mail her pager if the job failed. The special
experience is that we take care of our customers as if they were family.
2/28/2002
From Robelle's HP Encyclopedia:
HP-UX measures space in 1024-byte blocks in bdf, but 512-byte blocks in df. The df command is a standard UNIX report of free disc space. bdf is a nicer Berkeley form of df supplied with HP-UX; it shows free and used disc space on each file system (it does not include Swap Space and other overhead disc space). Click the link above for the sample bdf
output and more info on disk space.
2/27/2002
Jon Backus has a web page that lists many interesting mailing lists, beyond
HP3000-l, including lists about Speedware, Vplus, IMAGE, Fortran, and more.
Scroll past the Robelle Daily News headlines to get to the mailing lists.
2/26/2002
The 3000 NewsWire comments
on Ecometry's agreement to sell itself:
Ecometry has found an outside buyer for its catalog and e-commerce software business:
Syngistix, a Denver-based software company which used to be an HP 3000 software
vendor named Distribution Resources Corp. (DRC). It’s been a very long time since
there was any significant 3000 development at Syngistix,
which gave the gate to much of its MPE expertise over the last several years.
2/25/2002
In the February issue of the 3000 NewsWire,
Robelle's President Bob Green described some of the
early days of the 3000 computer line:
With HP announcing its sunset for the HP 3000 in 2007, I thought some
of you might be feeling nostalgic for some history.
The original 16-bit HP 3000 (later called “the Classic”) was released
in 1972 and re-engineered into a 32-bit RISC processor in the 1980s. ...
2/22/2002
Gavin Scott of Allegro:
Linux now has several “journaled” file systems similar to MPE’s Transaction Manager, known as XM. And we’re probably just about to the point where the Linux free database people (PostgreSQL, etc.) start talking to the file system people about doing explicit transactions between the database and file system. This is the point where you have the real equivalent of MPE and IMAGE’s database-to-XM integration — the engineering that is responsible for much of the data integrity we so often use to tout MPE’s superiority.
2/21/2002
We are compiling a directory of consultants with Suprtool experience.
Krikor Gullekian of Info-Trans submitted this information:
|
Company Name: |
Info-Trans |
|---|
| Specialty: | HP-3000 & 9000. Powerhouse, Cobol, Suprtool, SQL, Business Object,
Image, Oracle, Amisys and manufacturing applications
|
|---|
| Contact: | Krikor Gullekian |
|---|
| Email: | krigul@yahoo.com |
|---|
| Location: | Toronto |
|---|
| Phone: | 613.967.9773 |
|---|
Suprtool
Experience: | Have used Suprtool since 1994, Cognos and HP-3000 since 1982, Oracle
since 1996 and Business Object since 2000.
|
|---|
Qedit
Experience: | Have used QEDIT since 1986 |
|---|
| References: | Nortel Networks, numerous HMO's, Commander electrical
(Westinghouse division) |
|---|
| Notes: | Over 20 years of IT experience involving application developments,
management, data migration and successful data warehousing projects. |
|---|
If you would like to list your consulting business, complete the form on
our Consultants web page.
2/20/2002
Gavin Scott of Allegro suggests VMWARE to run LINUX in a window
under MS Windows: VMware is one of the coolest things I’ve ever been able to put on a PC, and I think everyone who is thinking about learning something about Linux should try doing it this way. We’ve always wanted to have a laptop HP 3000. How cool is it to have your own private copy of your entire production Linux system — with all software and development tools — running in a window on your laptop that you can take anywhere?
2/19/2002
The February 2002 issue of Robelle's What's Up DOCumentation newletterSis
now available. Some of the highlights from this issue:
* OpenMPE Corporation Has a Board
It is the intent of the OpenMPE group "to carefully and calmly evaluate the
viability of the MPE/iX Operating System moving to an alternative entity
that would allow for its support and enhancements to continue beyond the
scheduled December 31, 2006 end of support date from Hewlett-Packard."
* About HP-UX At Robelle
We have had a lot of questions about HP-UX since HP's announcement of the
"sunset" of MPE. This article provides answers to many questions,
information on HP-UX solutions with Qedit for Windows and Suprtool/UX, plus
links to many useful HP-UX web pages (some even written for MPE users!).
* Suprtool/UX--An Old Friend
Robelle has had Suprtool on HP-UX for many years. Suprtool is already widely
used to help integrate HP 3000 systems with HP-UX systems by sharing data.
We are even doing research right now to improve it to make migrating
applications more convenient (news of that research in the weeks to come).
* STExport For Moving Data
Using STExport, you can export data from IMAGE SQL, Oracle or Allbase
databases that reside on your HP 3000 or 9000 to just about any other
platform, all without having to write a custom program. You can control
field delimiters, quotation marks, numeric and date formats among other
things.
* Newswire: HP-UX Admin for MPE Users
"I think the biggest difference for most MPE administrators is just the
concepts of admin work. For example, there aren't roles in UNIX like there
are in MPE. The administrator is left with the task of figuring out how to
give the operator the permissions they need to do their job without giving
permissions that could end up destroying the system."
* Shawn Gordon: Beginners Guide to LINUX
Learn about "distributions", installation of packages, and web sites where
you can become LINUX-literate.
* Robelle Tech: Perl on the HP 3000
The Robelle Tech column from the most recent issue of the 3000 NewsWire
magazine, contains an introduction to the programming language Perl and
information on Ken Hirsch's Perl interface to Suprtool.
These are just some of the informative articles in this issue. Read the
complete issue to learn more!
Browse the HTML issue.
Download the PDF issue.
Hope you enjoy this issue.
2/18/2002
Patch management doesn’t necessarily require a live link between the e3000 and the Internet, using a program from Beechglen Development. “We provide a patch analysis gateway that does not require the HP3000 to have any type of Internet connection,” said co-founder Mike Hornsby. The free script also identifies any installed HP software products. It can be downloaded from beechglen.com/esppatch.htm
2/15/2002
Frequently asked questions for the HP e3000 TradeUp and Hardware Conversion Kits for customers interested in transitioning
HP 3000 servers to HP-UX servers.
For example:
Can any HP e3000 9xx series system participate in the HP e3000 -> HP-UX TradeUp Program? What determines the rebate or discount level?
The HP e3000 9x8, 9x9KS, 99x, A- and N-Class product lines (and Series 917-987 servers, until 4/30/02 only) are eligible for this program. Discounts (percentage or rebate dollars) are based on several factors including the comparison performance between the returned HP e3000 server and new HP-UX server being purchased, and the servers' current relative value.
There is also an HP ITRC Transition from e3000
bulletin board
available to post additional questions.
2/14/2002
Are you considering moving an app from the HP 3000 to a new platform? We will hate to lose you on MPE,
but we understand why you might take this path and we have some helpful technical tips to ease part of the migration task. Click the link above.
2/13/2002
From the 3000 NewsWire:
Allegro Consultants provides support for the C++ compiler that's going to live on beyond HP's support of the 3000, the GNU C++. You can get more details on the support -- offered in a partnership of Allegro and DIS International's Mark Klein, who ported the C++ compiler to the 3000 years ago -- by browsing to www.gccsupport.com
2/12/2002
Robelle has added support for HP Eloquence databases into the HP-UX
version of Suprtool.
HP Eloquence is an IMAGE-like database that runs on HP-UX,
LINUX and Windows NT/2K. It is owned by HP Germany and supported
by a 3rd party, Markmeier. For more information, click the link above.
We are looking for a
few select alpha testers, who are familiar with Suprtool
on MPE and are looking at HP Eloquence on HP-UX.
We have the same Suprtool commands that you are familiar with on MPE
now working on HP-UX,
and we need people to try the software out, especially in testing
the various data types available in HP Eloquence.
Please send an e-mail if you are interested, with some information
as to whether you already have Eloquence installed, whether you have a database
built, and what your plans are or even if you are just investigating.
Sincerely, Neil Armstrong (neil@robelle.com)
2/11/2002
A new training course from Cerius Technology Group, Inc. of
Bellevue Washington: "HP-UX for MPE Users - System Administrator - Hands On".
This course is designed for teaching the MPE/iX System Manager how to effectively manage a HP-UX system,
covering:
The login process.
Basic commands and the editor.
File system.
Startup and shutdown.
The many ways of managing users.
Network and system configuration.
The kernel.
Disk management.
Sessions and jobs.
Print management.
Security.
Backup, recovery, and high availability.
Install, updates, and patches.
Emulating a role-based environment.
Price: $900 for 3 days. Can be taught at your site.
2/08/2002
When exporting Image datasets to other sources, such as Access or SQL, one of the common transfer file formats used is the "comma separated values" or CSV format. This is generally a flat file with one record per line, quotes around fields and commas between fields.
Suprtool can easily produce this type of file. However, there is field type that cannot be handled this way directly: the Notes fields. These fields span multiple records even though they are logically one field. They usually look like the following:
cust-id seq-num comment
12A 001 want web delivery but
12A 002 limited by bandwidth,
12A 003 so use FTP.
88X 001 Send doc in "PDF" format.
99Z 001 Make sure all changes
99Z 002 are approved by John.
In the CSV transfer file, we want to merge the related records into a single record, and also convert any double quotes to single quotes (you need to do something about internal quotes if you want to use quotes around fields in the CSV file!). For example,
for first three Note records are combined into a single record like this:
"12A","want web delivery but limited by bandwidth, so use FTP."
Although Suprtool cannot produce this transformation directly, it can front-end the database extract portion, and let a straight-forward Perl script do the merging. To learn how, click the link above.
2/07/2002
CSY has written a utility to check what scans your directories and produces an inventory report of what it finds.
This should be useful for those system managers who are migrating, as well as those who are staying on MPE:
The Software Inventory Utility (SIU) is a tool(script) to aid system managers better understand what files exist on their system. SIU can scan all databases, files, groups, directories, and accounts, accumulating disk usage, file code data, tracking the largest file, group, account, etc. For Image databases jumbo sets are counted, partial key index files are handled, DBE files are reported. Allbase database are also counted.
2/06/2002
When you enter a command on the Homeline of the full-screen editing screen, Qedit temporarily switches back to line-mode and prompts for additional commands. If you open another workfile at that point, Qedit assumes you want to edit the file immediately and switches to full-screen mode again. That is the default behavior.
The new Set Visual Editonopen option (Qedit version 5.2) can be used to change this behavior. If Editonopen is enabled (default), Qedit automatically goes back to full-screen mode on an Open command at the "Next command [Visual]" prompt. If Editonopen is disabled, Qedit keeps prompting for commands.
2/05/2002
The 3rd Annual HP e3000 Solutions Symposium offers 3 1/2 days of in-depth,
hands-on training, designed and delivered by the HP e3000 industry’s most
knowledgeable professionals.
This
top-notch, hands-on technical training that will enable your organization
to maintain a superior HP e3000 based technology infrastructure
Register
by March 14, 2002 to receive the Early-Bird Discount!
If the HP e3000 server is one of the staples of your career,
this is the one event you can’t afford to miss. This event,
focused exclusively on HP e3000 technology, has
four tracks with over 60 sessions in migration, application development,
moving applications to the Web, system management, new MPE/iX 7.0 features,
programming, performance management, network management, security, e-commerce
implementations, interoperability and more.
Find the solutions to these challenges and more:
How do I continue to get the best return on investment from my HP e3000 system?
What technology enhancements do I need to make to maintain a strong HP
e3000 environment while, at the same time, beginning to invest resources
in a migration strategy?
What tools are available for an HP e3000 system migration?
How long will it take? What will it cost?
Check out this year’s
Conference
Highlights.
To register or find out more information,
visit interex.org/hpe3000
2/05/2002
By Steve Hammond (shammond@aamc.org) in his "Inside Vesoft" column for 3000 NewsWire:
VEsoft president Vladimir Volokh and his son, vice-president Eugene, are unanimous in their position. “VEsoft will support our customers as long as they support us!” said Vladimir in a recent interview. “Absolutely, we’ll be around,” added Eugene. “We’ve got users and we’re going to support them as long as we have them.”
Click the link above for the full story.
2/04/2002
ScreenJet Limited announced a raft of new features for its ScreenJet terminal emulator. The product remains available for free in a basic release for single user or personal use, and now costs between $400 and $2,000 per year for a fully supported and licensed version. Release 2.10 is being sold and supported by its developers, and users of prior versions can register at ScreenJet.com to have their support transferred from Millware.com, the former distributors and supporters of the software. Getting the new features of 2.10 involves paying for support, however. From the 3000 NewsWire.
2/01/2002
Archived News and Tips...
HP 3000 Book
HP 3000 Evolution:
Edited by
Bob Green of Robelle, from articles written by Robelle,
by The 3000 Newswire, and by other
experts in the HP 3000 field.
This 300-page book contains the latest information on three important
topics:
Homesteading
HP 3000 Tune Up
Migrating a 3000 application.
An essential reference for every desk!
Order your copy on-line for US$25.
