RE: [cobalt-users] Sun Solaris??? Bad Business Decision

["WebSite Creations" <main@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>>>Apart from the one or two people who have already expressed this, just
>>>how many people on this list have actually *used* Solaris? [Rhetorical
>>>question so don't go replying to it].

Rhetorical Question?  IMHO, that's like punching someone in the arm and
saying 'You can't punch me back!'.

Look.... One of the key reasons I chose the RaQ product line was because of
the Linux OS.  I had many opportunities to purchase a SUN Solaris box. I
passed on each opportunity.  I'm sure SUN is a fine OS.  It simply did not
appeal to me, and still does not appeal to me.  Who wants to spend time
compiling when Linux offers so many advantages in this area.  Time is
money -- at least, in the world that I live in.

If Cobalt (SUN) goes to Solaris, I will not have the need for their servers
any longer.  Plain and simple.  I want to use Linux.  I have spent years
learning the Linux OS.  I don't care where the box comes from as long as it
has Linux.  I'm not tied down to Cobalt RaQs.  So, I know quite plainly that
Linux is my OS of choice.

That is where my opinion sits and I'm sure my sentiment is echoed by many
other RaQ users who are astonished at the ill timed, short sited comments by
SUN about not having time to work with 2 OS'.

Bill M.


>>>> If Sun puts Solaris on the RaQs, they can kiss my... er,  I mean, I
>>>will
>>>> not purchase any more RaQs.
>>>
>>><snip massively top-posted message which wasn't even relevant>
>>>
>>>I've been following this thread [1] since the start. I have to ask a
>>>question:
>>>
>>>Apart from the one or two >>>people who have already expressed this, just
>>>how many people on this list have actually *used* Solaris? [Rhetorical
>>>question so don't go replying to it].
>>>
>>>I have used Solaris on both Sun and Intel hardware. Apart from the usual
>>>gripes I have with any operating system (hidden gotchas in things like
>>>open file limits, process limits and the like - which we don't often see
>>>mentioned on this list) I couldn't really complain. In fact under
>>>certain conditions I prefer Solaris on SPARC, but I'll keep quiet about
>>>that :)
>>>
>>>The syntax for the shell is different, sure, but then it's a pure System
>>>V based Unix rather than a hodge-podge of BSD/SysV semantics [2].
>>>
>>>Those of us on the list who are capable of doing 'behind-the-scenes'
>>>stuff with the CobaltOS CLI will notice some differences, but the
>>>arguments about software availability become null and void when you
>>>realise that just about all GNU software and other open-source scheme
>>>software will compile under Solaris. I have personally setup Apache,
>>>MySQL, PHP, replacements for Sendmail (Exim & Qmail), webmail packages,
>>>Apache modules (mod_ssl, mod_perl and the like) under both Intel and
>>>SPARC Solaris without any problems at all. Well, I did have to compile
>>>them ;-) and there's the big difference - there is simply not the
>>>precompiled package base for Solaris.
>>>(Maybe if Sun used its' marketing weight a little there would be, but I
>>>doubt it.)
>>>
>>>Sun would be stoopid if it decided to cease supporting the entire
>>>current Cobalt product line *unless* it dropped things sequentially. Who
>>>expects to get full support for (say) a RaQ2 in five years time? That's
>>>where lists like this come in useful - we will continue to help out and
>>>support hardware and software which is long-since obsolete since we have
>>>a vested interest in doing so. We after all own and use some of it.
>>>
>>>IMHO those with no experience of Solaris should maybe go try it out
>>>before slagging it off. You would after all not call a similar car to
>>>the one you own bad just because you haven't driven it...
>>>
>>>If Cobalt/Sun decide to make the RaQ5 run Solaris, I doubt it will
>>>affect many of us very much with the exception of 'add-on' software
>>>packages. Some of the packages will probably get generated by members of
>>>this list - which might mean they get tested better in the first place,
>>>and wouldn't be a bonus!
>>>
>>>And bear in mind that in order to convert the entire product line to
>>>Solaris, Sun would have to make Cobalt's entire development and support
>>>team redundant; or at the very least send them on Solaris retraining
>>>courses. I wouldn't think that's financially (or politically!)
>>>acceptable, not even for a company as large as Sun.
>>>
>>>[1] OK, the original thread mutated into this one
>>>[2] If you don't know what this means, look up the history of Unix on
>>>the web. It all came out of competition, unsurprisingly.
>>>
>>>Shall we wait until a real announcement before getting hot under the
>>>collar? I know I will.
>>>
>>>Graeme
>>>
>>>--
>>>Graeme Fowler
>>>System Administrator
>>>WebFusion Internet Solutions
>>>
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