That's right. At the end of the day we will close the public submission process for proposed sessions for the September 2010 Connect OpenVMS Bootcamp.

If you have just realized you for forgot to submit your session, then, please, go to the Connect website and do it NOW!

Help make this event THE OpenVMS Technical Event of 2010.

Thank you to all who have already submitted sessions. We look forward to reviewing all submissions and finalizing them over the next couple weeks.

See you there!

Bill.

Many things are going on for the OpenVMS Community this Summer. HPTF will host the launch of OpenVMS Version 8.4. This newest version of OpenVMS is just the latest of releases since the introduction of VAX-11 VMS in October 1977. A great ride of almost 33 years - and a lot yet to come.

HPTF, the Hewlett-Packard Technology Forum is THE most prestigious event annually for HP. It is an honor that OpenVMS Version 8.4 is being launched in June at this event in Las Vegas. Among the sessions dedicated to OpenVMS at HPTF are the following:

1788 Introduction to SDA by viewing OpenVMS Process Internals

Advanced OpenVMS users who require an understanding of the System Dump Analyzer (SDA) and OpenVMS process at an internals level will want to participate in this hands-on workshop.

In addition to basic SDA commands and process internals, the workshop will use SDA to examine process internals and scheduling. Topics include introduction to the System Dump Analyzer (SDA), process creation, process data structures and relationships, Kernel Threads, locating Process Data Structures, SYSGEN Parameters related to Process Data Structures, mapping to Process Virtual Address Space, and analyzing Process Data Structures using SDA.

Speaker: * Wayne Sauer CEO, PARSEC Group

1789 Using Free Tools to Analyze OpenVMS Performance

This session will help you find free OpenVMS performance analysis tools and show you how to download, install and configure them.Learn how to use T4, TDC, ECP, Monitor and Accounting to view, measure, analyze, track and improve OpenVMS system performance.

Speaker: * Wayne Sauer CEO, PARSEC Group

1790 Understanding the Integrity Console

If you’ve had to deal with the HP Integrity console you know it’s nothing like an Alpha console.This session will review the features of the Integrity server console, show you how to use them and explain how to configure an Integrity console to boot OpenVMS.

Speaker: * Wayne Sauer CEO, PARSEC Group

1846 Using an IP Network as an OpenVMS Cluster Interconnect

In the past, OpenVMS Cluster communications required a bridged (Layer 2) LAN connection, and cluster communications could not be routed through an IP network. This session describes how to use the new capability in OpenVMS Version 8.4 of using an IP network as a native OpenVMS Cluster interconnect.

Learn about the capabilities added to OpenVMS to support using IP as a native cluster interconnect and how to set up an OpenVMS cluster to use IP as its cluster interconnect. Discover promising application areas for this new capability and find out about the performance, system overhead, and availability expectations for IP as a cluster interconnect.

Speaker: * Keith Parris Systems/Software Engineer, HP

1847 Using Shadowsets With More Than 3 Members

In the past, OpenVMS Host-Based Volume Shadowing had a limit of three members in a shadowset. In OpenVMS Version 8.4, shadowsets can contain up to six members. This session describes potential applications for this new capability and factors to consider in its adoption and use.

Learn what changes were made to allow this expanded support, how this new capability can be applied to best advantage, and the effects on availability and performance of having more than three members in a shadowset.

Speaker: * Keith Parris Systems/Software Engineer, HP

1848 Case Studies of Disaster Tolerance and Disaster Recovery with OpenVMS

This session describes recent user experiences with OpenVMS disaster-tolerant and disaster recovery configurations, outlines underlying needs, the approaches chosen, and the results achieved.

Learn about industry trends that are driving OpenVMS DT and DR solutions, approaches that are working, and the techniques and technologies being used.

Speaker: * Keith Parris Systems/Software Engineer, HP

1884 Launch, Strategy and Roadmap: With OpenVMS Your Future IS Secure

Welcome to the official launch of OpenVMS 8.4 on Integrity and Alpha systems. OpenVMS is known for delivering high availability, scalability, reliability, security and industry-leading cluster technology.

Find out how OpenVMS v8.4 raises the bar with Virtualization support, clusters over IP, improved disaster tolerance with six shadow sets, and much more. Future strategy/roadmap plans for OpenVMS will be shared.

Speaker: * Shobha Benakatti Director, OpenVMS, Hewlett Packard

1887 OpenVMS 8.4 on Tukwila Quad Core 9300 – Blazing Performance

This session provides an overview of OpenVMS on new Integrity Servers including supported configurations and release dates, performance and price benchmarks, scalability and overall performance.

Speaker: * Prashanth Kagganti HP

1888 System management on OpenVMS

Get an overview of System Management offerings on OpenVMS and understand the system management roadmap, including OpenView offerings.

Speaker: * Mandar Chitale Global Lead, Office of OpenVMS Customer Programs, HP

1891 OpenVMS as a Guest on HPVM

Learn about workload configuration, sizing HP Integrity server, and how many instances of OpenVMS can run for a given workload. Understand how to install and configure HP-UX, HP Virtual Machines, and the OpenVMS guest, including managing the environment.

Speaker: * Mandar Chitale Global Lead, Office of OpenVMS Customer Programs, HP
* Narayanan N Technical Consultant, Hewlett-Packard


1945 Best Practices for OpenVMS System Management for the 21st Century

OpenVMS is an incredibly robust and rugged computing environment -- able to withstand many types of failures, allowing for continuous database and application access. However, failures can and do occur -- often the result of neglect or mismanagement. Do you have "Peace of Mind” that your VMS systems are adequately maintained, and that you are able to prevent failures and efficiently recover should a failure occur?OpenVMS is often running applications that are critical to the businesses they support. Yet, they are often only small part of their IT departments, often relegated to second tier status and lacking adequate staff and maintenance. Worse yet, they may have been left in a corner and nearly forgotten…until the application fails and disrupts business.

This session discusses proven methodologies and best practice for VMS system management that virtually eliminates downtime while maintaining exceptional performance – with minimal or no VMS knowledgeable staff. We will discusses real-world experiences that have caused outages or disruptions to production environments and more importantly how to avoid these costly events by implementing pro-active, consistent and repeatable processes; Automated monitoring of all critical events; Redundant processes; Exception tracking and monitoring: All part of the infrastructure necessary in the 21st century OpenVMS environment to insure continuous availability.

Speaker: * Brad McCusker VP OpenVMS System Services, Software Concepts International

2945 OpenVMS SIG

Be sure to join this special community that focuses on OpenVMS. Build key relationships with other users as well as gain valuable education in the process. Sponsored by Connect, but open to all HP Technology Forum participants.

Speaker: * Greg Guthman Sr. OpenVMS Systems Manager, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

AM3105 Disaster Tolerance and Disaster Recovery with OpenVMS

Discuss options, problems, and solutions related to using OpenVMS to achieve Disaster Tolerance and/or Disaster Recovery.Session

Speaker: * Keith Parris Systems/Software Engineer, HP

AM3112 OpenVMS Clusters

Discuss problems, issues, options, and solutions related to using OpenVMS Clusters for high availability, scalability, and investment protection

Speaker: * Keith Parris Systems/Software Engineer, HP


If you can you should make it a point to get to HPTF. Some good sessions and important presentations and announcements.

And then get your sights set on September. The 2010 Connect OpenVMS Bootcamp is being held 12-17 September in Nashua, New Hampshire. This is Connect's first time hosting this event. The process is moving ahead well - speaking as the Event Project Manager. It is a challenge for us as we are attempting to make this event THE OpenVMS Technical Event of 2010. We are on track to make this happen and are very thankful to all of those in the OpenVMS Community who are helping to make it so. Keep checking here and elsewhere on the Web where I post to get a feel for the content. You will be sorry if you miss this inaugural event.

Enough for now.

Have a pleasant Memorial Day Holiday (if you are from the USA). I understand the UK has their Spring Bank Holiday this weekend as well - enjoy!

Thanks,

Bill.

The Call For Papers for the 2010 Connect OpenVMS Bootcamp will close 1 June 2010. All proposed sessions need to be submitted by 11:59 PM EDT.

This week long event, 12/17 September 2010, will be the most comprehensive technical education and training event dedicated exclusively to the HP OpenVMS Community with information driven by users for users that will be available in 2010.

Here are the topics we are at looking for sessions:

- Storage HW
- Storage SW
- OpenVMS Futures
- Hardware Roadmap with Blades
- Virtualization/Emulation
- Oracle (Rdb/Codasyl/Classic)
- Hands-on demo/learning sessions
- Disaster avoidance/High Availability/Mission Critical
- Open Source
- Modernization
- Software Development
- Middleware 

Some of the session titles already submitted include:

- Introduction to modern runtime environments and languages
- OpenVMS and Web Services: myth or reality?
- To queue or not to queue? 
- Integration Technologies and Products for OpenVMS
- Lessons Learned from Porting Software to OpenVMS
- Tutorial on implementing Web Services using gSOAP
- OpenVMS File System Performance Topics
- OpenVMS Dynamic Volume Expansion
- Achieving the Highest Possible Availability
- Using Shadowsets with More than 3 Members
- Using IP Networks as an OpenVMS Cluster Interconnect
- Who Survives Disasters and Why, Part 1: People
- Who Survives Disasters and Why, Part 2: Organizations
- Principles of Troubleshooting and Problem Solving 
- Case Studies of Disaster Tolerance and Disaster Recovery
- Using OpenVMS Technologies to Build an Agile Computing Base
- C7000 "Virtual Connect" for OpenVMS
- Using Perl to manage VMS systems
- 60 minutes that could save you from disaster
- Extreme Heritage Solutions for VAX and Alpha

As can be seen there are some great presentations planned. We are looking for MORE! In the past there have been upwards of 100+ different sessions. We know the OpenVMS User Community and the Partners as well as the HP Office of OpenVMS Programs want to make this a very successful event. We encourage you to submit your sessions now!

By the way, speakers get a reduction in the registration fee! A $700.00 discount for speakers, $795 for the week versus $1,495.

You do NOT need to be a Connect Worldwide member to speak at the OpenVMS Bootcamp. Connect would love to have you as a member so you show your support for OpenVMS in their community, but we want anyone interested in presenting a technical session to attend!

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing your session submissions.

Thanks,

Bill.

Today I received the most recent copy of Connect Worldwide's "The Connection Magazine". I was very pleased reading the interesting stories about modernization of applications while keeping stable core systems in place. In these cases they were NonStop systems but they could and should also be OpenVMS systems.

We need more use of publications such as this and other trade publications to spread the word not only to our own user community but also to those in management and the computing industry who are not familiar with OpenVMS. Marketing is a matter of communications to current customers as well as potential customers.

It was also especially heartening to hear from Winston Prather on the recent success the HP NonStop Enterprise Division has had with recruiting new partners. Winston is the Vice President and General Manager of this Division at HP.

Among the recent new partners discussed by Mr. Prather are Opus, a payment software vendor, which has moved from Linux and Tuxedo to NonStop and Pathway. Lusis, an EFT vendor, has moved from Solaris and Linux to NonStop. AJB Software, an integrated payment solutions vendors, has moved their .NET C# applications to NonStop. All of these and more show the increase of vendors recognizing the value in strong, stable, secure environments.

OpenVMS has had recent successes as well but they need to be publicized. OpenVMS needs to expand its communications. Partnering with Connect Worldwide would assist the Office of OpenVMS Programs in spreading the word of their successes and future plans.

OpenVMS is the richest and most stable software development environment that exists. We should encourage the publication of information about new partners as well as success stories about modernization or new application implementations.

Talk about your successes. Spread the news!

Thanks,

Bill.

The Connect OpenVMS SIG is hosting two webinars on Tuesday, 6 April 2010 at 10:00 GMT and 16:00 GMT. The webinars are being presented by Colin Butcher, Founder, XDelta Limited.

April is "Virtualisation Month" at Connect Worldwide and is sponsoring various events and on-line seminars. The OpenVMS SIG is happy to help with this month's events with these sessions.

GoToWebinar information is listed at the end of this message for each session.

See you there!

========================
"Virtualisation in theory and practice."

This session will provide an overview of virtualisation and the underlying principles that apply when designing and implementing virtualised systems and infrastructures. There are a wide range of issues to be considered. The context within which your business operates will help to determine to what extent and in which areas virtualisation may be applicable. Virtualisation techniques can in many cases provide a useful solution to a wide range of problems, especially when combined with blade server technology.

Topics to be covered include:

    Virtualisation in practice: 
               Processing 
               Data networking 
               Storage subsystems
    Performance and scalability 
    Availability and manageability 
    Data centre infrastructure and consolidation

Presented by Colin Butcher, Founder, XDelta Limited.

Colin has an engineering background which, combined with a wide range of interests, provides him with the ability to empathise with clients and discuss projects in their own terms. He has considerable experience with mission-critical and safety-critical environments, providing authoritative technical guidance and project leadership based on a sound understanding of the issues involved.

He has been responsible for the architectural design, implementation and trouble-shooting of several major systems, including satellite control, air traffic monitoring, manufacturing, retail and healthcare infrastructures.

Colin was a finalist in both the 2008 and 2003 BCS IT Professional Awards for "IT Consultant of the Year" for his work on two major projects (healthcare and aerospace).

His professional qualifications include Fellow of the British Computer Society, Chartered IT Professional and Chartered Engineer.

==============================================

10:00 GMT:

1. Click here to start or join the Webinar: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/239426729

2. You will be connected to audio using your computer's microphone and speakers (VoIP). A headset is recommended. Or you may select Use Telephone after joining the Webinar.

Dial: 213-286-1201
Access code: 646-298-196
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting

Webinar ID: 239-426-729

System Requirements:
Windows(R) Vista, XP Pro, XP Home, 2003 Server, 2000, 2000 Server Mac OS(R) X 10.4 (Tiger(R)) or newer

=================

16:00 GMT:

1. Click here to start or join the Webinar: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/446097992

2. You will be connected to audio using your computer's microphone and speakers (VoIP). A headset is recommended. Or you may select Use Telephone after joining the Webinar.

Dial: 773-945-1010
Access code: 312-276-747
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting

Webinar ID: 446-097-992

System Requirements:
Windows(R) Vista, XP Pro, XP Home, 2003 Server, 2000, 2000 Server Mac OS(R) X 10.4 (Tiger(R)) or newer

====================

An earlier version of this posting had incorrect links. Our apologies.