Older VAX Machines Phase Out

 

To provide a better environment for our VAX users, early this year we facilitated a smooth migration of the older VAX machines (VAX9210, VAX8820, VAX8650, VAX6320), which are for academic use, to newer and faster AXP Alpha machines. Users of CityU are now enjoying better performance when accessing services on these machines. To most users, this move is pretty transparent. To others, adjustments may be needed. For this very reason, we have set up a parallel-run environment under which users can prepare themselves for the switching over while at the same time accessing software and/or user applications which are not yet available on the Alpha machines.

As part of this on-going upgrade exercise, the Computing Services Centre (CSC) also replaced all older VAX machines by faster VAXstation 4090. This definitely marked an improvement in speed and performance when accessing VAX services. Nevertheless, we do urge the existing VAX users to switch to the Alpha machines as soon as possible because the final preparation of the transition has been scheduled to complete in September 96. Thereafter, most OpenVMS services will be provided on the AXP. Only limited VAX services will still be available for neccessary use.

During the migration peroid, we have received only minor problems from users on using the Alpha machines. For enquiries, please send your email to AXPQUERY@cityu.edu.hk. To learn more about the DEC Alpha (AXP) system, simply log into the Alpha cluster (AXP, AXP1 and AXP2) and enter "alpha_overview".

Computing Services Centre City University of Hong Kong ccnetcom@cityu.edu.hk