News

Rikei Corporation (headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Satoru Isaka; hereinafter “Rikei”) announced that it has begun selling OpenVMS products of U.S. company VMS Software.

Major features of the product

OpenVMS has been one of the operating systems (OS) with high stability, safety and availability, for more than 40 years.

Conventionally OpenVMS was an operating system dedicated to specific computers. Starting with the x86 version of OpenVMS V9.2, scheduled to be released in 2022, OpenVMS will become operable on the Intelx86-64 architecture (*1) and will be an operating system that is more open.

*1 Architecture: Structure of CPU. The x86-64 architecture is one of several.

Product features (x86 version of OpenVMS V9.2)

• Existing users can choose the x86-64 architecture
  The product enables OpenVMS users of existing Alpha servers and Itanium servers to choose a more general model of the x86-64 architecture for use as a successor to their server.
• Offering the x86 native version and virtual version
  The x86 version of OpenVMS V9.2 can move the existing OpenVMS environment to the hardware or virtual environment (e.g. VMWare, Oracle Virtual Box, KVM) of the latest x86-64 architecture and to the cloud.

Background of the market

OpenVMS was launched in 1978 as an operating system exclusively for VAX, mini-computer of Digital Equipment Corporation, and since then, the platform (*2) has been changed to 64-bit Alpha and to Itanium.

Although OpenVMS is widely used in mission-critical environments such as semiconductor manufacturing devices, since x86 version of OpenVMS V9.2 for x86 is scheduled to be released in 2022 and will run on the Intelx86-64 architecture. In consideration of this, Rikei concluded a distributor agreement with TERACLOUD S. A., the Luxembourg-based parent company of VMS Software, and started sales, and maintenance and operation of OpenVMS products with the aim of offering a wide range of models to customers who has been using the model for a long time.

*2 Platform: A foundation to operate a system or software

Future development

For existing OpenVMS users, Rikei recommends switching to the x86 version of OpenVMS V9.2, which is scheduled to be released in 2022. Moreover, Rikei also provides consultations on modifying existing programs during a platform migration.

Rikei will function as the point of contact for domestic maintenance support, which is also available via e-mail.

About VMS Software, Inc.

About Rikei Corporation

Since its establishment in 1957 as a solution vendor in the IT and electronics industries, Rikei Corporation has provided a variety of solutions ranging from systems to networks, VR/AR contents, electronic materials and electronic devices.

Rikei proposes solutions that utilize cutting-edge technologies and advanced products from Japan and overseas, and contributes to business development such as improving efficiency of operations and profits of customers.

*Product and company names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.