Re: [Computerbank] Linux distribution standardisation

[Julien Goodwin <jgoodwin@chriskaine.com.au>]

Having done an RHCE in a deal with redhat I feel uniqly qualified to comment
on your post.

----- Original Message -----
> For computerbank:
> * Promotional material such as caps, shirts etc
-- Can't comment on that, but like most companies I'm sure they'd give us a
bit of merchandise

> * CDs
> * Manuals
-- They'd probably give a copy or two of the latest release (hopefully
continually, and to each state)

> * RHCE training for an agreed number of Computerbank volunteers at zero
cost.
-- Possible but to complete the RHCE you do need to know your way around a
redhat system

> * RHCE training for an agreed number of wftd participants at zero cost.
Would
> allow is to enhance our wftd projects with a unique offering.
-- I don't think it would be possible due to prior knowlege required. What
might work is training a volunteer or two to be certified trainers and then
those people training the WFTD people.

> For community groups we provide systems to:
> * free access to RH update network
-- Possibly through a CB proxy

> * access to some level of RH support
-- No, give CB access to RH support and the community group contact CB
first.

> * access to free RHCE training for an agreed number of sys admins based on
number of installed systems.
-- See my comment about WFTD

> Cash would be good but that is probably not what I would focus on.
-- I doubt it, would be nice thou

> > Reasoning:
> > * RedHat's current focus is commercial. Using RedHat at the moment links
> > you tightly into using RedHat specific packages and support about
upgrades
> > and changes is a paid service.
-- Bull, true their focus is commercial. As for the packages it's the same
with debian, except more commercial stuff is relesed for RH.

> The fact that RH is commercial is a red herring and we should not
> discriminate against them because of this. RH supports linux and under the
> GPL they are free to try and make a living from supporting Linux. If they
> improve Linux and provide a useful service along the way - cool.
-- That's what they do, they also buy up companies (like cygwin) that do
useful stuff but can't operate on their own.

> Using RH and being tightly linked to using RH specific packages is no
worse
> than using Debian and being tightly linked into using debian specific
> packages. Given that RH has a larger install base and that most software
is
> packages as rpms, using RH could be an advantage for our clients. It would
be
> rare to have the reverse situation where a software download is available
as
> a debian package but not as rpm. Yes I am aware that there are tools to
> convert rpms to debs.
-- Exactly, however this seems like your talking about SELLING systems.

> The RH update network is free to individuals. I don't see any problem
getting
> free access to this network for the community organisations we work with.
The
> RH update network is similar to the Debian apt-get upgrade (?) thingy.
-- Pretty much
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