[Info-vax] OT: Sun/Oracle - Effect on Hardware Support

[Arne Vajhøj]

David J Dachtera wrote:
> "Richard B. Gilbert" wrote:
>> David J Dachtera wrote:
>>> I know this seems off-topic. However, I know many here also deal with
>>> Sun and/or StorageTek hardware. Sun bought StorageTek a while back and
>>> has been servicing my tape library at work.
>>>
>>> Just wondering if anyone has heard anything through channels about how
>>> the acquisition of Sun by Oracle effects the hardware support side of
>>> the business.
>> When and if the sale becomes final, Oracle inherits all the assets and
>> liabilities of Sun.  That means that you still have an enforceable
>> contract for your hardware support.  Oracle must honor it until the
>> expiration date.  If the contract gives you an option to renew, you can
>> exercise that option in accordance with the terms of the contract.  It's
>> quite likely that you will still be dealing with the same people by
>> phone and on-site; their badges may now read "Oracle" instead of "Sun"
>> but still the same faces!
> 
> I'm more concerned with support for "non-CPU" hardware. To my knowledge,
> STK never did sell "computers", only peripherals. I'm pondering the
> likelihood of Oracle spinning storage and related hardware and support
> off into its own company or possibly selling that part of the business
> to someone else.
> 
> IBM does still have a (more or less) effective hardware support
> organization. They'd be a good candidate to acquire that part of the
> former Sun organization if Oracle were to offer it for sale.

They could.

But I would assume there are synergies between selling systems and
storage.

Arne