A group of Hewlett-Packard users and independent
consultants is trying to keep the HP e3000's ageing MPE operating
system alive after HP ends its support in 2006.
The group, OpenMPE, has reached an agreement in principle with
HP on a key aspect of the MPE survival plan; permission to create
an emulator that would enable the operating system to be used on
other HP hardware.
However, third parties - such as HP's channel partners and
consulting firms that may develop an emulator - do not know if
there's enough commercial demand to justify the investment.
Potential users who are preparing migration plans, meanwhile, say
they need to know soon whether an emulator is actually on its
way.
The HP e3000 installed base which, analysts estimate, is in the
range of 10,000 to 20,000 users, typically runs mission-critical
applications such as reservations systems. The base is a who's who
of large corporate users which, according to OpenMPE, includes
American Airlines, Chase Manhattan Bank, Exxon Mobil and Ford.
"It's still vapourware," said Jim Haeseker, manager of technical
operations at General Chemical.
Haeseker, who is involved in the OpenMPE effort, said that
although an emulator could be developed at some point, he has not
made allowances for it on his e3000 mission-critical applications,
such as order processing. But, he added, "if an emulator were
available now, that might be a different story."
Similarly, Eric Bender, co-ordinator of computer services at
John Abbott College in Quebec, said he would not consider an
emulator in his migration planning unless he is convinced it will
be built. He does not want to be left with unsupported hardware
past the 2006 deadline. He wants his migration plan to be ready by
next June.
Third-party suppliers remain noncommittal. "No one knows how
many customers will be willing to pay for it," said Gavin Scott,
vice president of San Jose-based Allegro Consultants, which is
considering building an emulator.
He estimated that it would cost between $1m and $2m to develop
one, with licensing fees likely to run $5,000 to $10,000. The
emulator's main competition will be previously owned e3000s.
If third-party suppliers balk at building an emulator, OpenMPE
may fund it, said Jonathan Backus, an HP e3000 consultant and
chairman of the user group.
David Wilde, HP's e3000 business manager, said HP has no plans
at present to contribute funds to the development of an emulator.
But he said the company is in discussions with emulator developers
"to understand what resources would be helpful as they consider
their business case".
OpenMPE is also urging HP to approve a limited, open-source
model for MPE that would help users obtain bug fixes and operating
system enhancements but allow only a select group of OpenMPE
members to make changes to the source code.
HP is reluctant to take an open-source approach, preferring
instead to allow selected business partners to make enhancements to
the code.
Regardless of the outcome of that debate, Wilde said HP is eager
to hear from e3000 users and incorporate their feedback in its
planning.
Patrick Thibodeau writes for Computerworld