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Re: [LUG] re: You owe SCO Unix 500 quid!



Here's my reponses to SCO claims.

Simon Robert wrote:

just to add a bit to the SCO unix stuff, the $800 is per machine and SCO have said the following about Linux,

<<Prior to IBM's involvement, Linux was the software equivalent of a bicycle. Unix was the software equivalent of a luxury car.

It is not possible for Linux to rapidly reach Unix performance standards for complete enterprise functionality without the misappropriation of Unix code, methods or concepts to achieve such performance, and coordination by a larger developer, such as IBM.

Redesigning Linux for use by demanding business customers is not technologically feasible or even possible at the enterprise level without (a) a high degree of design coordination,

A high degree of coordination exists between the developers of open source software. This coordination extends far beyond that possible with closed source software. The Internet now provides the communication channel required for this coordination to exist.


(b) access to expensive and sophisticated design and testing equipment;

Only if you can afford it. Alternatively the debugging equipment can be built into the software, eg. by reporting the state of certain variables at a given point in the programs execution. The Linux kernel source code shows that the latter is commonly used. There are options in the kernel's configuration that allow the debugging info to be printted. Testing is done mainly by use of the developers PC and the end users of Linux. Manufacturers of high performance equipment would need to ensure that any operating system has a corresponding high performance, it is in IBM's best interests that Linux should be tested for stability and performance for benefit of their customers.


(c) access to Unix code and development methods;

If SCO claim that for the development of Unix they require "access to expensive and sophisticated design and testing equipment" then the development method of Linux must be significantly different to that of Unix. See above.


(d) Unix architectural experience; and

I'm afraid I don't know about the Unix architecture to comment apart from saying that I write open source software and modify the Linux kernel without the architectural experience of Unix.


(e) a very significant financial investment.>>

IBM's financial investment would be in providing a stable and high performance solution to their customers. To acheive this, IBM must invest in both its hardware platform and its software platform.




so there you go, get your licence money ready...

Before SCO can demand payment, their invoices must clearly identify what is being sold or licensed. SCO have failed to provide this information.


I'll be telling them politely to SCO away!



simon-robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://mysite.freeserve.com/simon_robert


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