OpenVMS 8.4 is now slated for "2010".

8.4HW "enablement Patch" will be 2-3 quarters after 8.4 release. Supports new IA64 processors and new HP storageworks device support. No 8.5 specified, but there is a list of new features for future releases. No timing predicted for the next version after 8.4. The main description of future releases:

• Future releases
• New Integrity systems
• Continued virtualization, performance, security, scalability and management enhancements

Service Support Roadmap excludes VAX. However, VAX 7.3 clustering with Alpha 8.4 is warranted (but not VAX - IA64 is not).

The roadmap timeline has years stopping at 2010.

8.4 is under 2010.

8.4HW is after 2010.
v.next is "in planning", no dates set.

But they do state "new releases every 18-24 months". The last VMS release (8.3) was in 2006, which means the gap is 4 years between releases, despite the claim of 18-24 months.

TCPIP Services 5.7:

IPSEC2010 TCP/IP v5.7 for OpenVMS v8.4 (Integrity and Alpha)

• IP Cluster Interconnect
• Packet Processing Engine
• NFS enhancements
• FTP enhancements: Browser compatibility, Anonymous Light, SSL
• LPD port configurability
• Cluster-friendly SMTP2010 Common Internet File System (CIFS) V1.2 (Integrity and Alpha)

Support for Kerberos, Integration of the latest SAMBA stabilization changes. No mention anymore of upgrades of POP/IMAP/XDM to use ACME for intrusion detection.

There is mention of the current EAK IPsec for 5.6 already out.

But IPSec is "Futire Release", not part of 5.7

Mozilla browser retired in Feb 2010
Seamonkey mentioned
Firefox to be on IA64 only. Old version v2.0-18

(not sure if this refers to the proprietary version of Firefox, or if it relates to the real Firefox version which is now at 3.5).

No date commitments or hints of when all these new features listed will come.

8.4 could very well be the last version. It is the last named version. And no mention whether 8.4 will be early, mid, late 2010.

Looks like sunset is arriving