Re: [cobalt-users] Newbie Questions (put away those paddles!)

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Zeffie wrote:

> NOPE!
> My advice would be to go buy into a system that has support, as well as the
> balls to do what you want!  cobalt support takes poor care of it's customers
> no matter how many they buy.

The majority of Cobalt users never come to this list, because they don't
need it.  They know what Cobalt servers are and aren't capable of
because they do their homework.

No one would buy 400 servers without exhaustively testing one, would
they?

Personally, if I were going to implement 400 servers I'd probably want
some specialty servers in the bunch, and I'd probably set up a
department to either build them, or work closely with a var building
them for me.

For example, the first few years of Cobalt's existence I talked to them
a lot, at every show where I found them.

But I didn't buy the product because of deficiencies that made it
unsuitable for me.

As soon as those deficiencies were corrected, I got one.  Now I've got
more than one.  Why?  Because they do the job I need done.  That's what
"appliance" means.  Imho.

> Thanks to coblt the world if full of servers
> that can be hacked by your choice of methods.   They seem to be able to make
> alot of the same thing but fall short in security fixes and support.

So why don't we check the 'Net for bugs, exploits, etc., and see if we
can verify that, by brand name.  I think we'd find that Cobalt is no
better or worse than any other Linux implementation.  Of course that's
just my opinion; ymmv.

> but as
> they have said for months.  We are working on a fix for that.  Ya Right.  I
> wish I could start a class action suit aginst them.

You can.  It doesn't even take money.  All it takes is a good lawyer who
believes in the cause as you do, and who does a bit of initial research
to know he has a good probability of winning.

> On this list you will find lot's of people willing to sell you equipment and
> or services that they will never have to support.  They blame cobalt.

Oh?  And who specifically on this list is selling equipment and/or
services that they don't support?

> It's
> an appliance like a toaster.  I think your 400,000 users expect a computer
> system to handle their mail and not a toaster that has little to NO support.

And I've already pointed out in my previous reply that Cobalt RaQs are
probably not the way to go for email for 400,000 users.  Surely, Zeffie,
you could better serve Mr. Sherrard by offering him some constructive
advice, rather than just destructive advice.

> bind, apache, qpopper, they are all screwed and cobalt has done nothing to
> fix their boxes.  I heard recently that the problems are now listed on
> bugtraq so don't just take my word for it.. go look?  I could tell you
> stories till i'm blue in the face.

So let's look up Cobalt, in relationship to other vendors, and see if
your suppositions are true.

> >(sure, make sales pitches to me in private email)
> "Jeff the spammer" did you see this part?

Though I don't see myself as a spammer, I know you do see me that way,
so I presume you mean me.

So, to answer your question, yes.  I did see "this part".  And I wrote
him back on list and advised him that he probably would want a much more
robust system than a RaQ (or even a few RaQs) to handle email for
400,000 users.

Since what I sell is Cobalt support, and not any other hardware, I
really didn't see a big opportunity for me here; did you?

> > "Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible."
> Sometimes it's better to just do the right thing from the start.

Depends what your definition is of the right thing.

For example, your definition of the right thing in answering Mr.
Sherrard's post certainly wasn't to help him find a solution, was it
<wry grin>?

Jeff
-- 
Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
nobaloney.net
P. O. Box 52672
Riverside, CA  92517
voice: (909) 787-8589  *  fax: (909) 782-0205