Red Hat overhauls flagship Linux

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Re: I'm confused

The answer is "No, you can't take their CD and copy it to every server."

However, under the GPL Redhat must make available to you the source code. You can take the source code off the CD, recompile it, removing all of the RedHat logos, references, etc from the source code, and use that on every other computer you have.

You would not be able to download the bug fixes and upgrades onto those other computers directly from Redhat, as you only purchased that service for one computer. Service is not covered under the GPL. But you can take the sources you downloaded onto your supported computer and once again compile them and load them on your other computers to bring them all in line with each other.

So technically, you could buy one license from Redhat and still have every computer in your company running the same software - just minus some Redhat copyrighted material.

But why would you? Someone mentioned the price is higher than MS, but that's not really true because of MS's per user fee (CALs).

For $2,988.00 Redhat gives you everything: SQL, web, mail, firewall, vpn, ftp, dhcp, dns, and about 20 services MS doesn't offer. You may make as many user accounts as you like. You also get 24/7, 1 hour response, technical support.

With Microsoft's Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition you get firewall, VPN, MSSQL and Exchange. You get no technical support. These four services cost $1,499 for one user. However, for every additional user account you make on the server, you must pay Microsoft $99. My company has +/- 500 users, so we would pay an additional $49,500.00 for Microsoft that we wouldn't have to pay for Redhat.

If you have 15 users or less, and you don't care about setting up a web site for your company, then MS is less expensive (as long as you don't call them for technical support). If you wish to run a web site, you'll have to buy several other services from MS, which will quickly put your over Redhat's pricing. And you'll still have to pay Microsoft $99 per user account.

Does that clear up some of your confusion?

-Gypsy

Posted by: TechnoGypsy   Posted on: 10/22/03 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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