Austin Godber said:
> So, I have recently checked out the pricing for various Linux
> distributions ... desktop versions and Enterprise versions.  I am left
> with the big question of ... what does the $1000 buy you between the
> free Debian Stable and say SuSe Linux Enterprise Server or RH Enterprise
>  Linux AS?
> 	I know distros have some of their own use level applications and  make
> some patches to the kernel.  But even as far as the kernel patches go,
> they seem to be including community material and not necessarily changes
>  they have made themselves.  And for that matter, if they did make
> changes wouldn't they have to be released under the GPL?  Is the patched
>  kernel source available for these "Enterprise" systems?

I am in process of buying a server right now.  Being a huge Debian fan. 
Let me try to explain.....  Currently what that $1,000 buys me that is
TANGIBLE (not ideological)...

1. Operating System Installed on Hardware direct from vendor.  I can get
Dell or HP servers with Red Hat/SuSE delivered to my door.  I can not do
that with Debian.  So if I have to pay someone $40/hr to setup the machine
once it gets here that might take 3 hours so maybe $120.

2. Third Party Software Vendor Support.  For example I need to have a back
up solution.  We have Commvault (iirc) and it has a Linux client. 
However, they don't have a Debian client.  If I wanted desktops I might
need win4lin or Ximian Exchange Connector both of which were NOT available
for Debian (though now the Exchange Connector changed license it will be
packaged).  I can't put a tangible dollar amount on this.  However in the
case of backup.  If i can't use the existing system.  I have to buy a tape
drive and tapes instead of using existing structure.  This might come to
$400 or $500 for my instance.

3. Direct Vendor support.  With SuSE and Red Hat there are companies that
I can buy support from directly.  Also, because HP/Dell ship systems I can
get hardware support when running these operating systems.  Debian has
great COMMUNITY support (likely better than most commercial support), but
it doesn't have a company that stands behind it.  Hardware vendors wont
support their hardware when Debian is running on it.  This one I can not
tie any dollar value to, but it makes "selling" the concept of Debian MUCH
more difficult.

So if I take the things that are real costs Im at about $630 that
SuSE/RedHat save me.  Then there are the support intangibles.

At this point I haven't decided which course I am going to take.  I
believe that SuSE on HP comes out to about $300 instead of $1,000.  So I
am considering it. :(  I hate to admit that, but I have to have certain
needs met.

-Derek


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