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OpenVMS

OpenVMS
OpenVMS logo Swoosh 30 lg.jpg
DECwindows-openvms-v7.3-1.png
OpenVMS V7.3-1 running the CDE-based DECwindows GUI
Developer Digital Equipment Corporation, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, VSI
Written in BLISS, VAX Macro, C, Ada, PL/I, Fortran, UIL, SDL, Pascal, MDL, C++, DCL, Message, Document
OS family DEC OS family
Working state Current
Source model Closed source
Initial release October 25, 1977; 39 years ago (1977-10-25)
Latest release OpenVMS 8.4-2L1 (Hudson Release) / September 23, 2016; 5 months ago (2016-09-23)
Marketing target High-end computer server
Available in English
Update method Concurrent upgrades,
rolling upgrades
Package manager PCSI and VMSINSTAL
Platforms VAX, Alpha, Itanium
Kernel type Monolithic kernel with loadable modules
Default user interface DCL CLI and DECwindows GUI
License Proprietary
Official website www.vmssoftware.com

OpenVMS is a computer operating system for use in general-purpose computing. It is the successor to the VMS Operating System (VAX-11/VMS, VAX/VMS), that was produced by Digital Equipment Corporation, and first released in 1977 for its series of VAX-11 minicomputers. In the 1990s, it was used for the successor series of DEC Alpha systems. OpenVMS also runs on the HP Itanium-based families of computers. As of 2015, a port to the X86-64 architecture is underway.

The name VMS is derived from virtual memory system, according to one of its principal architectural features. OpenVMS is a proprietary operating system, but source code listings are available for purchase.

OpenVMS is a multi-user, multiprocessing virtual memory-based operating system (OS) designed for use in time sharing, batch processing, and transaction processing. When process priorities are suitably adjusted, it may approach real-time operating system characteristics. The system offers high availability through clustering and the ability to distribute the system over multiple physical machines. This allows the system to be tolerant against disasters that may disable individual data-processing facilities.

OpenVMS contains a graphical user interface (GUI), a feature that was not available on the original VAX-11/VMS system. Prior to the introduction of DEC VAXstation systems in the 1980s, the operating system was exclusively used and managed from CRT terminals, such as the VT100, which provide serial data communications and screen-oriented display features. Versions of VMS running on DEC Alpha workstations in the 1990s supported OpenGL and Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) graphics adapters.


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