It's really quite simple...
Free version... gets updates like everyone else... NO support.
Updates acquired just like in Mandrake 8, via update util.
Version for about $100 that gets install support for say 30 days via
email?
Version for say $250 - 500 (pricing of NetMax for example) that gets
install support via email and perhaps 3 tech support incidents during
the first year of use? Maybe even a priority ftp access to get updates?
There should always be a free version though... it is a linux distro
even if it is a custom one. I have many clients that would try it and
love it at the free price but would not venture to pay for it if they
were required. By the time you have a new version out they could be
convinced to pay for the software to help support your efforts.
Jason Williams
> > Not sure exactly but this may be one of those things to
> > charge a subscription
> > for. If you want the download version go right ahead but if
> > you want the
> > security updates you still need to buy into the subcription service.
>
> Simiar to what Red Hat is doing, although your wording
> implies that updates are *ONLY* available to those who
> pay, which I don't like.
>
> > This is were mandrake comes in. They are basicly charging for
> > access to thier
> > servers and timely updates to any security issues. If the
> > download users
> > don't choose ot pay for this service then maybe the updates
> > can be put in a
> > public download area after say 2 or 3 weeks. Or maybe don't
> > make the updates
> > available at all to non subscribers. The real user's out ther
> > could always
> > get the source and compile there own.
>
> Egads, this sounds horrible. Especially for security
> updates, but also for bug fixes and such.
>
> Imagine a really bad exploit is found in something. An
> updated package is released the next day to subscribers,
> they all apply it and are fine. The following day (and
> for the next 2-3 weeks while non-subscribers wait for an
> update), it spreads like wildfire across the Internet,
> making use of all the non-updated (non-subscribing)
> MandrakeFirewall systems. This just gave
> MandrakeFirewall a *HORRIBLE* reputation as being
> insecure, because they chose not to provide updates for
> people that didn't pay them money. Sounds like a good
> way to kill a productline/reputation/company, if you
> ask me.
>
> > I have to admit I like the 2 or 3 week plan the best. Maybe
> > even a month.
> > That way business and security consious useres get imediate
> > access to the
> > updates and the casual users still are able to get the same
> > upadates later
> > on. Seeing as casual useres are not as prone to attack this
> > might be a good
> > comprimise. And just think about this red hat charges
> > everyone for thier
> > updates.
>
> Well, this isn't quite accurate. I haven't paid a dime
> to Red Hat since I bought RH52 a couple years ago, and I
> am able to mirror their 7.1 update tree without
> difficulty. They're charging for an automated update
> service, not the updates themselves. They can't charge
> for the software, it's (mostly) all GPL'd, remember? =)
>
> > One last option might also be to have an update cd released
> > every 3 or 4
> > months maybe sooner for big security issues. Kind of like
> > mandrake freq. Make
> > the cd imediatly available to those that subscribe to the
> > service but the
> > rest of the publick has to wait maybe for a quarterly release.
>
> This almost sounds good. I'd like to see those that
> subscribe get a CD delivered snail-mail to them on a
> regular basis, and those who don't have to either grab
> the ISO or not have access to a new CD it at all, leaving
> them in the normal position of having to apply individual
> updates by hand.
>
>
> Don Head
> SAIR LCA, CIW-P, Network+, A+
>
> Systems Administrator [ [EMAIL PROTECTED] ]
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>
>
