[ale] SMP support for CentOS 4.0 i386

[Christopher Fowler]

On Thu, 2005-03-24 at 15:22, Jeff Hubbs wrote:
> One reason I started working primarily with Linux was that I was tired
> of arbitrary license cost hikes based on things that don't cost the
> vendor more money to supply, i.e., number-of-CPU limits, client access
> limits, charging by number of CPUs times clock speed
> (coughORACLEcough)...

When you have a small market then you have have to charge more. 
everybody probably has a license of Windows and not one of Oracle.  When
your unit numbers go up your COGS go down. 

RH is providing a service by packaging up software in a package that
makes it easy to install.  If they want to charge for that then they
have a right to.  I'm only against them charging more per CPU or CPU
type.  The only reason I'm against it is because the kernel is OSS and
not theirs.  If they were SCO then so be it.  They can charge what they
want.

Producing software costs reals dollars.  I don't think many people on
this list really understand the costs that are involved.  The great
thing about software is is the repeat sales can lower the COGS on the
product unlike hardware.  A company can spend 5 million producing a
software product. If you sell 5 million copies then the COGS on each
copy can be reduce to around $2.00 or less depending on percentage of
overhead.  

Oracle invested millions and millions in their product and continues to
invest millions each year.  I'm sure they don't sale millions ad
millions of license each year like MS does for Windows.  They have to
make the money up somewhere otherwise they'll have to product that is
sub-standard.

> 
> Jeff
> 
> On Thu, 2005-03-24 at 15:11 -0500, Yu, Jerry wrote:
> > if so, <= 2-way restriction for 'RHEL ES' is probably just marketing/sales gimmicks to force you to buy pricier AS version for >=3-way servers.
> > 
> > # -----Original Message-----
> > # From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org]
> > # Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 2:31 PM
> > # To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
> > # Subject: Re: [ale] SMP support for CentOS 4.0 i386
> > # 
> > # 
> > # CentOS is compiled from RHEL source. That source is still 
> > # GPL. I can't 
> > # see how RH can enforce something like that on the license. It 
> > # could be 
> > # possible that Redhat has changed the kernel code in such a 
> > # way, to only 
> > # use at most twoCPUs, but if that were the case nothing would 
> > # prevent you 
> > # from changing it back. I know the guys over at 
> > http://www.openfiler.org
> > use CentOS as there base distribution for the OpenFiler project, you may 
> > want to ask those guys this question, they would probably know.
> > 
> > Denny
> > 
> > Yu, Jerry wrote:
> > 
> > > anybody know how many CPU can CentOS 4.0 support?    Its redhat 
> > > counterpart "RHEL 4.0 ES" supports only 2. I'd assume it is 
> > > restriction of RHEL license  instead of 'feature lock' in the kernel, 
> > > right?
> > >
> > > This email and any attached files herein contain information that is 
> > > intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is 
> > > addressed and may contain information that is legally privileged, 
> > > confidential or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable 
> > > laws. If the reader of this message is not the recipient, any 
> > > disclosure, dissemination, distribution, copying or other use or 
> > > retention of this communication or its substance is prohibited.
> > >
> > >------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >Ale mailing list
> > >Ale at ale.org
> > >http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> > >
> > 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale