IT giant HP and VMS Software (VSI) have agreed to develop future versions of the OpenVMS (Open Virtual Memory System) operating system and its layered product components.

VSI has licensed the source code of the OpenVMS operating system from HP with the intent to further develop the OpenVMS product roadmap.

Further expansion would include adding new hardware platform support and features which HP said would begin with a version of OpenVMS on HP Integrity i4 servers based on Intel Itanium Processor 9500 Series.

VSI’s extended roadmap is also expected to include support for OpenVMS running on x86 platforms.

HP said it will offer support services for OpenVMS on HP Integrity i4 servers when this version is released.

VSI's new versions of the software will go through a qualification and validation testing process which is said to be an integral part of the HP OpenVMS tradition.

HP will be a reseller of these new versions owned by VSI.

HP said customers will now have the flexibility to choose which OpenVMS platform is right for their business.

Those who would like to deploy OpenVMS on current and future HP technologies now have additional options, and those who choose to stay on their existing OpenVMS platform will be protected by the extended HP support services roadmap.