RSX-11

[Scott Quinn]

> It's still commercial software, and it's still possible to buy 
> licenses.
>
> I assume you're looking at mentec.com, that hasn't been the place to
> look for several years.
>
> Zane

mentec-inc used to be the place for the commercial stuff, but it seems 
to be no longer around.

My question, however, was regarding the non-commercial PDP-11 stuff. At 
this point, I'm not interested in the commercial stuff- it just isn't 
worth it. (before you grab the torches and pitchforks I don't find 
Windows "worth it" enough to walk across campus and pick up the 
all-but-free disks either). I was looking into emulators (never touched 
the VAX's little brother or O/S SW yet), and came across some disk 
images with the following licensing:

"Whereas, MENTEC owns the rights to the following PDP-11 Operating 
Systems and associated layered products (RT-11 V5.3 or prior, RSTS/E 
V9.6 or prior, RSX-11M V4.3 or prior, RSX-11M PLUS V3.0 or prior) 
(SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY) and is prepared to grant a non-exclusive license 
to use such
SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY for personal, non-commercial purposes;"

and

"SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY shall mean the binary versions of the PDP-11 
Operating Systems (RT-11 V5.3 or prior, RSTS/E V9.6 or prior, RSX-11M 
V4.3 or prior, RSX-11M PLUS V3.0 or prior), and associated utilities 
and layered products that run on PDP-11 computers.
"

but somewhat cryptically also

"EMULATOR shall mean software owned by Digital Equipment Corporation 
that emulates the operation of a PDP-11 processor and allows PDP-11 
programs and operating systems to run on non-PDP-11 systems.

2  LICENSE GRANT

MENTEC grants to CUSTOMER a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free 
license under MENTEC's INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS to use and copy the 
SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY solely for personal, non-commercial uses in 
conjunction with the EMULATOR."

So, in short, is this only valid for emulators in which DEC or it's 
successors in interest (HP?) own the copyright, or is it only valid for 
systems where DEC or (...) hold RTU licenses for a PDP-11 emulator on? 
If the prior, what is the connection to SIMH? If it is valid for 
currently obtainable emulators and (as it seems to at face value) 
include RSX-11, why no RSX-11 images? I suppose RSTS/E is the easy way 
out, (provided licensing is good), but RSX-11 has the advantages of 
some commonality with VMS (DCL).