Call me crazy, but isn't Linux and all distributions suppose to be free? What would be the difference between an eval vs. a liscensed copy? -- To unsubscribe send e-mail to suse-linux-e-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the FAQ at http://www.suse.com/support/faq

Ok so then the 'eval' version is just a light copy of the official distribution. However am I still correct in saying... 1) I can take my 6 disk version and install it on 10,000 machines if desired (of course, SuSE wouldn't provide installation support on all those machines, but that's understood). 2) I could put the 6 disks in an FTP directory and allow people to download the full version or make copies of the CDs and give it to friends and family (again SuSE wouldn't provide the value added features - namely tech support - but that's still understood). Conversely, he can go to his friend and say "Hey could you burn me those 6 disks cuz I wanna install it" without having to fear a $100,000 piracy fine as with MS-Crap. Yes there is a benefit to buying (and why I have purchased a number of distributions) that you get in the way of value-added features - namely support and a manual (and also the cool stickers and tux penguin pin). However if you're willing to live without that, there is no 'liscense' on the actual distribution.

-----Original Message----- From: Geordon VanTassle [mailto:admin@thecoventree.com] Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2000 5:04 PM To: Christopher Susi Cc: SuSE Linux Mailing list Subject: RE: [SLE] Suse eval version?

Ok, you're crazy, and here's why:

Linux itself is only the kernel and source code (plus whatever else you get when you un TAR the kernel source file).

The Distributions themselves (Corel, RedHat, SuSE, TurboLinux, etc, etc, etc) are not only the kernels, but also a whole bunch of additional programs and applications as well as printed manuals, step-by-step setup instructions, etc...>

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Ian Goodyer wrote:

It is an interesting thread. I have a friend who wants a copy of my six suse pro v7 CDs so that he can install it. He doesn't really care too much about the installation support or the printed manuals. Can I legally copy it for him? I was assuming that I could as I always thought that the price you paid for the distributions was for manuals+media+support+distribution costs+donation to the FSF and that the software per se was free. Am I correct?

Ummm... possibly. The reason for this is that they do include some 'commercial' software, like the VMWare eval, Corel Wordperfect, etc. This is where the waters get a bit muddier. I'm not sure if this is the case for 7.0, but I think there were plans to put all of the 'commercial' software on their own CD, i.e. a commercial CD, that if you were copying the set, you would supposedly have to miss out that CD. I'm not sure if this is actually the case, since my only installation of SuSE 7.0 was on an old headless server, and hence all the required software was on the first CD. It would be nice if someone from SuSE would clarify this once and for all though. Bye, Chris -- __ _ -o)/ / (_)__ __ ____ __ Chris Reeves /\\ /__/ / _ \/ // /\ \/ / ICQ# 22219005 _\_v __/_/_//_/\_,_/ /_/\_\ -- To unsubscribe send e-mail to suse-linux-e-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the FAQ at http://www.suse.com/support/faq

Christopher Susi wrote:

Call me crazy, but isn't Linux and all distributions suppose to be free? What would be the difference between an eval vs. a liscensed copy?

Linux is not as free as "free beer" and so are it's distributions. The evaluation copys are usually *one* CD instead of 6, well there are no sources and no support. It's like a sample for breakfast cereals: If you like it, you should buy more. But there is one difference: you cannot eat the same sample of breakfast cereals twice... Juergen -- =========================================== __ _ Juergen Braukmann juergen.braukmann@gmx.de| -o)/ / (_)__ __ ____ __ Tel: 0201-743648 dk4jb@db0qs.#nrw.deu.eu | /\\ /__/ / _ \/ // /\ \/ / ===========================================_\_v __/_/_//_/\_,_/ /_/\_\ -- To unsubscribe send e-mail to suse-linux-e-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the FAQ at http://www.suse.com/support/faq