One reason you can NOT compare IBM to any ISV is that IBM knows what hardware you have; how many box's you have and what size they are. They know because they sold them to you and you don't have any alternative then to buy from them (one reason for the ongoing suit). So, they don't have to worry about you running it on some extra systems.
The ISV doesn't know any of this. How often do you invite your ISV into your data center to analyze what size machines you have and what they are each running. Not that the average ISV sales person could tell the difference between a processor and an air conditioner. My own point of view is that an expired license should NOT cause the product to stop working. Messages, yes; to let you know that the license has expired and you are running the product without legal authority to do so. But it should not stop working and risk hurting any production activity. I do remember when LMP (CA License Management Program) was first introduced back in the early 90's. At the time, Charles indicated that if the license was expired the software would stop functioning. Boy, just the threat brought out all kinds of legal wolves. CA-LMP never did actually go into "fail mode", and never did actually stop any mainframe software for an expired license (at least to my knoweldge, I could be wrong). But if the license is expired or the wrong CPU is detected a WTO or message to the user is issued. Something should be done to simplify the keys however. Myself, I think that CA should have something simple (web-based) were all the client has to do is input their site-id and a flat-file is created with all LMP keys licensed in a single file that can easily be downloaded (cut&paste, ftp, whatever) and activated on the CPU. Of course, LMP is strong enough that no re-assemblies are required (or IPL of course). Just re-run the CAS9 proc with the new keys file and everything is taken care of. And of course there should also be a simple DR model where you enter your site-id and an alternate CPU ID(s) and temporary LMP keys would be generated for all licensed products for the new CPU(s). And of course, this web-site would need 24-hour availability with telephone support in case the DR site does not have internet connectivity. Just my opinion; Russell -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Ted MacNEIL Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2007 4:44 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: License keys for ISV products(What alternatives are there?) >Maybe "all the time" for you. Clearly not all the time for everybody. 15 products that we are paying for, rather than our service provider. 15 different licensing scheme. 15 PITA's for key management. It sounds like we're not going to agree. Keys may be great for the vendor; they suck for the customer! - Too busy driving to stop for gas! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
