-----Original Message----- From: Phil Thane [mailto:phil@techsoftuk.co.uk]
Just pray we don't get an SCO Linux, a Novell Linux etc, etc, then we'd be back where Unix was......
Regards,
Phil Thane - Support Manager, TechSoft UK Ltd.
We already have Redhat, Suse, Debian, ad naus distros. These differ greatly in the way apps are packaged, e.g. file locations or initial configurations. They run on different file systems, Ext2, Ext3, etc. and their security settings differ. Packages rolled up for Redhat may or may not work on Suse or vice versa. So to some extent we already have a fragmented Linux world. I also remember Corel snapping up a Linux distro - and what eventually happened to CorelLinux ?? Novell are not in the habit of handing away their software free. How they will square business motives against the GPL remains to be seen. Quoted from Novell's website: "Novell expands its open source commitment " which prima facie suggests that it must continue to provide access to at least Source under the GPL. The upside may be that Managers will be prepared to take a product with Novell's name on it more seriously that a Redhat or Suse brand - by buying into support contracts from a big name, IT managers may feel happier about using Linux at all. I have heard reports about Linux / Samba running two or three times faster than the equivalent Windows 2003 file server. Similar reports about security, failure rates. If the supplier is 'reputable' or 'rated' by the IT industry I can see a large number of Windows servers getting the boot. Sorry, Suse, I didn't mean you were disreputable - just that IT managers can safely marginalise you, as they do to all Linux redistributors. Support is the real issue - or rather the apparent ability to provide support as opposed to the real situation. -- ******************************************************************************** All mail sent and received may be examined to prevent transmission of unacceptable material. Wellington College does not accept responsibility for email contents. Problems to postmaster@wellington-college.berks.sch.uk. Website: http://www.wellington-college.berks.sch.uk ********************************************************************************