HP opens the door to 9000-to-3000 conversions

In select circumstances, will turn HP-UX systems into MPE boxes

Five years after it prosecuted hardware brokers for illegally changing used HP 9000 systems to HP 3000s, HP has agreed to do the same thing so it can create fresh servers that can boot up with MPE/iX instead of HP-UX.

The vendor set down a rigorous list of caveats around the process, which HP sees as means to serve customers who eventually intend to leave the 3000 platform. But the decision was a reversal of an earlier HP strategy that would have left the 3000 community with a fixed number of latest-model MPE systems.

Availability of latest-model hardware is becoming more of an issue among the installed base which uses packaged application software. Independent application providers are starting to forecast that their migrations of customers will not be complete by the end of 2006, when HP’s support for the platform ends. Customers — especially those who are using high-powered applications such as Amisys/3000 and Ecometry — may need upgrades for their HP 3000s before they are able to migrate.

Ross McDonald, Director of MPE/iX Engineering at HP, sent a brief message that outlines the conversion process to the OpenMPE mailing list on the last day of June. HP will use authorized channels, which are still undetermined, as well as its own engineers to turn HP 9000 N-Class and A-Class systems into HP 3000s for its customers.

HP’s message also included the possibility of converting K-Class HP 9000s to Series 900 HP 3000s. But customers and brokers report no shortage of those models of 3000s.

HP considers the conversion of used HP 9000s to HP e3000s an element in its HP 3000 end-of-life roadmap. But the new stream of servers is not exclusively for customers with migration plans.

“We reopened this item in April at the request of the OpenMPE Board of Directors and began the investigation in May,” McDonald’s message stated. “To provide a framework for our investigation, we defined the objective as ‘helping to meet the platform hardware needs of HP customers whose businesses depend on increasing the performance and/or capacity of their existing HP e3000s in a marketplace with limited availability of HP e3000 systems.’ ”

HP has decided that “under very select circumstances, HP, or an HP-authorized channel, will perform the conversion of a used HP 9000 into an HP e3000. We will only consider such conversions on a case-by-case basis when HP determines that a customer or partner has a business critical need, and there is a clear shortage of used HP e3000 systems within resale channels to meet that need.”

HP doesn’t want to take HP 9000s out of its warehouses whose parts will be needed to serve HP 9000 or HP 3000 customers on HP support agreements. Legislation such as Sarbanes-Oxley is keeping all kinds of legacy servers, including older HP 9000 systems, in service longer, according to HP.

“The types of conversions will be limited by the availability of parts after HP ensures an adequate supply of parts to meet current and future HP 9000 and HP e3000 customer support obligations. Conversions may be limited to A- and N-Class systems, with a limited potential for 9x9 conversions.”

HP reiterated its desired deadline for 3000 customer migrations as part of the conversion message.

“We continue to encourage all customers to plan their transitions off the HP e3000 by the end of 2006,” McDonald said in his letter. “Customers who find themselves in a situation where they cannot buy a used HP e3000 to meet their growing business needs should contact HP. We will work with you to try to help you resolve your business need.”