Re: [cobalt-users] RaQ3 Kernel update 4.0.1 & Bus Speed

[Chris Adams <cmadams@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Once upon a time, Mike Fritsch <mfritsch@xxxxxxxxxxxx> said:
> Why doesn't cobalt create a utility to upgrade our raq3s to raq4s?

That only solves part of the problem.  You can install the RaQ2 software
on the RaQ1s, and I understand that you can install the RaQ4 software on
the RaQ3.  However, it requires wiping the RaQ clean and installing the
new OS.  That isn't much of an upgrade path for servers in use.  All of
our other servers support being upgraded with new features.  There may
be an additional charge (for example, we pay software support fees to
get new versions of Digital Unix/Compaq Tru64 Unix), but I don't have to
format the drive.

I know that the RaQ1->RaQ2 change was significant (things moved around
in the site directories), while the RaQ2 and RaQ3 (and I guess the RaQ4)
use a directory structure that is pretty much the same.  Still, there
are changes from each version to the next that make it difficult to
upgrade.

If they wanted to go the software update route, there wouldn't be a
RaQ4.  There might be a RaQ3+ or something that has more CPU and hard
drive, but they would have provided the new software features as an
update to the RaQ3 software, or maybe sold the software update.  Six
months ago, we might would have bought something that upgraded our RaQ3s
to the RaQ4 software (without destroying the sites already on the RaQ).
I wouldn't now - I have no faith that I won't get stuck next year if
Cobalt changes to a different CPU.

If Sun can save a buck by using low-end SPARC CPUs in the next RaQ
instead of AMD (or MIPS), I wouldn't be suprised to see the RaQ4 (and I
guess the RaQ XTR) declared "End Of Life" before long.  Since they don't
sell much in the way of additional software or services for RaQs, they
don't get any money from supporting new features on the boxes they sell.

It seems to me that Cobalt doesn't really have much interest in bringing
new features to existing customers.  They'd rather bring new customers
to existing features, possibly at the cost of old customers.  Losing old
customers doesn't cost them any money (actually, if for example all the
RaQ1 users give up and move on, they can cut their support costs and
stop doing even security updates for the RaQ1).
-- 
Chris Adams <cmadams@xxxxxxxxxx>
Systems and Network Administrator - HiWAAY Internet Services
I don't speak for anybody but myself - that's enough trouble.