HP-Interex
| Company type | User organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Information technology |
| Founded | 1960s (as DECUS) |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Fate | Merged with Encompass and ITUG to form Connect User Group Community |
Area served | Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) |
| Products | User support and networking for HP computing systems including HP-UX, OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX, NonStop Kernel, Linux on HP hardware |
Interex EMEA served as the Hewlett-Packard (HP) user organization covering the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, representing individuals utilizing HP computing systems.
In May 2008, the consolidation of Interex EMEA with Encompass and ITUG led to the creation of the Connect User Group Community, which emerged as HP’s most extensive user network, comprising more than 50,000 members.
Overview
The organization operated through National User Groups (NUGs) and product-focused Special Interest Groups (SIGs), delivering seminars, training sessions, and facilitating knowledge exchange. It also organized international travel opportunities to IT conferences. Its primary objective was to assist users in optimizing their technology investments in HP platforms such as HP-UX, OpenVMS, Tru64 UNIX, NonStop Kernel, and Linux running on HP hardware and networking environments.
Although independent from Hewlett-Packard, HP-Interex maintained a cooperative relationship with HP to enhance technical support services and contribute user insights regarding forthcoming operating system developments and concerns.
The membership base predominantly consisted of IT managers, system administrators, application development leaders, and consultants who encouraged collaboration between users, HP, and its partners to align IT initiatives with business goals.
Members enjoyed several advantages including:
- Participation in group-led events
- Reduced fees for training programs
- Direct communication avenues with Hewlett-Packard leadership
- Involvement in the OpenVMS Hobbyist licensing initiative allowing free personal use
- Opportunities for networking among peers
- Access to information via websites, support resources, and discussion forums
Groups
Affiliated entities encompassed DECUS, the Compaq Users Organisation (CUO), Encompass, and ITUG. Among the early distinguished members of DECUS were the late Terry Shannon and John R. Wisniewski.
History
The group was initially known as DECUS during the Digital Equipment Corporation period spanning from the 1960s through the 1990s. After Compaq acquired Digital in 1998, the organization rebranded as Compaq Users Organisation (CUO). Following Hewlett-Packard’s acquisition of Compaq in 2002, CUO transitioned into HP-Interex; however, certain DECUS chapters continued operations in Germany. In the United States, representation was undertaken by Encompass and ITUG until their merger in 2008 formed Connect.