[Info-vax] OT: Elephants Can't Dance

[Main, Kerry]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: info-vax-bounces at rbnsn.com [mailto:info-vax-bounces at rbnsn.com] On
> Behalf Of John Smith (not the one @ HP)
> Sent: March 19, 2009 2:08 PM
> To: info-vax at rbnsn.com
> Subject: Re: [Info-vax] OT: Elephants Can't Dance
> 
> 
> "Neil Rieck" <n.rieck at sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:1f81536c-a5cb-4e39-8512-
> 41e882d591db at d19g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
> 
> According to this link:
> http://www3.sympatico.ca/n.rieck/docs/open-source-biology.html (look
> for the yellow text), the amount of money made on Linux is well into
> the multiple billions. I guess it goes without saying that pushing
> OpenVMS into the open source community probably won't put money into
> HP's accounts (at least not initially). It would allow HP to sell more
> hardware -AND- it might enable them to sell other stuff like layered
> software and compilers etc. Then, like IBM is doing, they could sell
> OpenVMS support (after all, isn't that one reasons why they bought
> EDS? So they could get their feet in the door of all businesses).
> 
> 
> 
> That's the kind of thinking & insight that you'd expect from a 2nd year
> student. HP hasn't made it to that level yet.
> 
> 

Well, it certainly is no where as clear as this.

Yes, Open Source has a place. 

Yes, it was gaining popularity a year + ago.

However, there is now a rapidly growing trend in some companies whereby
Senior mgrs do not want their senior IT resources playing in the OS freeware 
weeds. They would rather their senior IT staff did much more added value 
tasks like working with their BU's to help them become more competitive.

Remember that OS licensing and support costs is a drop in the bucket in 
terms of the typical IT budget. Staffing is typically 60-70% of the IT 
budget. 

So, if you were a senior mgr, why would you want senior IT staff playing 
in the Open Source OS weeds sorting out security patches, trying to 
determine which ones are applicable and / or might impact your custom code 
or add-on clustering features.

Also, senior mgrs want one throat to choke so when their clustering or
systems or whatever have issues, they have one number to call.


Regards

Kerry Main
Senior Consultant
HP Services Canada
Voice: 613-254-8911
Fax: 613-591-4477
kerryDOTmainAThpDOTcom
(remove the DOT's and AT)

OpenVMS - the secure, multi-site OS that just works.