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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