> > So, I guess Hercules may be is in the same
> >category as a "bong" (water pipe). In most
> >states in the U.S., it is not necessarily a
> >violation to be in possession of it, just
> >what you put in it and/or how it is used!
> > I had a good friend from high school that
> >abused the "bong". Never got caught by the
> >law for doing it in his own home, but is
> >now deceased at the ripe old age of 41.
>
> You imply that Hercules was written
> only to run zOS release 9?
> That is not the case.


You missed the point on this one. I was trying to paint the picture
that some people might be using Hercules to clandestinely run z/OS under
Hercules with the belief that it is unlikely that they will be caught
doing so. Not sure how you came to your conclusion that I believe
Hercules was written only to run z/OS release 9.

> > Are those that choose to use z/OS under
> >Hercules in a similar predicament? (Minus
> >being at risk of dying an early death!)
>
> After you have been given several
> possible ways that people may be able to
> get IBM's permission to run zOS under
> Hercules you imply that everyone running
> Hercules is not proper. That is not the
> case.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but in my opinion, the suggested ways of
legally running z/OS under Hercules do not seem obtainable (for me or
most IBM customers). I am not an IBM employee, etc. The only viable
avenue is to approach IBM and ask for permission, but how likely would
it be for permission to be granted? I admit, this has not been
attempted yet. So, thank you for that suggestion. My implication and
best guess was that for the majority of those who are actually running
z/OS under Hercules, I doubt they have proper authority. I never said
"everyone running Hercules is not proper." But I do suspect that most,
if not all those running z/OS under Hercules are not proper (if we
disregard IBM employees). Just my opinion.

> Shut zOS down, bring up Linux in the same
> LPAR, run Hercules under that, and zOS under
> Hercules. I believe that it should be legal
> but am neither IBM nor a mouth-piece.


Why would running Hercules under Linux be useful? Isn't the point to
emulate IBM hardware by running Hercules on a PC? Running it on actual
IBM hardware doesn't make sense to me. I am not questioning that
Hercules will run this way, but why would someone want to do this?

> Call IBM or their business partner.
> Not soughting IBM's permission may not be
> the best way to get permission to run trial
> releases or disaster recovery tests or any
> other methods being dreamed of.
>
> Soughting from me may not get you far.
> All I can do is give hints of what to ask
> for. I'm not IBM.


Point acknowledged.

> > An email inquiry to an individual
> >purportedly running z/OS under Hercules
> >regarding how he went about legally
> >running z/OS under Hercules, went
> >unanswered.
>
> IBM is secretive and oftens demands
> that its customers be secretive.


Point acknowledged.

> IBM ( and anyone else ) can trace any
> posted message. IBM can verify that
> proper permission has been obtained.


I doubt they would waste their time, unless it was brought to their
attention that some suggested or described activity would affect
revenues or profits.

> If you suspect illegal activity, you are
> welcome to pretend to be IBM police and
> contact IBM's legal department. If you
> guess wrong or cannot prove your
> allegation, there is a chance that it
> may be actionable? I'm not a mouth-piece
> and don't know.


Don't worry. I have no intention of being "IBM Police".

So, here's a new question...

Is there anyone out there that is (or knows of someone) who is legally
running z/OS under Hercules with IBM's written permission (IBM employee
users, excluded)? If any IBM employees are monitoring this board, they
are free to answer the question about acutual customer usage. I'm not
interested in IBM internal usage.

Best Regards, Scott