> ...makes it not palatable to the casual user
While I can see some merit in some of your comments, this type of application is not for the casual user. Network and system admins are people who are responsible for keeping computers, systems and network up and efficient. We are programmers, tech writers, trainers, engineers, end-users, power-users, administrators and managers. We are never casual users. After using HP OpenView, NINO, Big Sister, OpenNMS, Cisco Works, MRTG and its like and countless other open-source and closed source offerings, I can tell you that Zenoss is one of the simplest tools to use with one of the best returns. The Map alone is worth it - being able to watch the traffic status between multiple locations and knowing things are haywire within 2 minutes is a godsend (in fact, I have it projected on a wall in my NOC room). I agree that the documentation is not complete and the GUI is not polished, but I think you are evaluating and viewing this software as though it were a Microsoft product. It's not, nor do I think the devs are trying to make it that way. MS has polished their products to a point that they will only work on the Microsoft OS - which you have to pay through the nose to get and maintain - on some beefy hardware. I run Zenoss on two 800 MHz AMD machines with 256 MB RAM on each (NOTE: I'm concerned about the load of SNMP traffic pouring through and overloading these 10/100 cards :D ) but that's my choice. I could run it on a single system of Windows, or Mac/BSD, or Solaris, or any OS that can handle Python. That's the freedom of choice for me. When I train network admins, I hear similar complaints about open-source software. Many of these admins are interested in the "free" software but decry having to do some work - and learn some things -to use it. I say to them as I'll write now, Get out of your box and think differently. If you are going to use an open-source product, there are some things you are going to have to accept: Everything is not going to be done for you Documentation and support is a community effort If you don't positively contribute, you shouldn't complain If you have to pay for the product it's for people's time, not licensing. Linux is your friend, not your enemy If you want to get the most out of this product and open-source software in general, you will have to change perspectives. Start with Zenoss. :D -------------------- m2f -------------------- Read this topic online here: http://community.zenoss.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=18084#18084 -------------------- m2f -------------------- _______________________________________________ zenoss-users mailing list [email protected] http://lists.zenoss.org/mailman/listinfo/zenoss-users
