Communicator 3000 MPE/iX Release 6.0 (Platform Software Release C.60.00) (30216-90269)

38 Chapter 2

System Information and Preparation

New MPE/iX Release Obsolescence Strategy

by Jon Cohen

Commercial Systems Division

The "MPE/iX Release Obsolescence Strategy" is a collection of

guidelines that determines how long a particular MPE/iX Release is

supported.

In recent years, our Obsolescence Strategy has grown to be very

complex, ambiguous, and confusing. Even HP people had difﬁculty

interpreting these guidelines to determine when a particular release

would no longer be supported.

In response, we have adopted a new, simpler Obsolescence Strategy:

• In general, HP will support the two most recent mainline releases.

• In order to facilitate customers moving to new releases, we will

support the oldest release for at least six months after the new

release ships. In other words, Release "N-2" will still be supported

for at least six months after Release "N" ships.

• The release of an Express Release or a Powerpatch on any particular

release does not extend its support life.

Given the rate with which we ship releases, this new strategy implies

that any particular release will be supported for at least three years,

and in most cases, most releases will be supported for a signiﬁcantly

longer period of time.

This new strategy is effective now. This implies that Release 5.0, which

ﬁrst shipped February 17, 1995, will become obsolete as early as six

months after Release 6.0 ships.