[Info-vax] A new suggestion to handle the temporary production licences problem

[Dave Froble]

On 6/1/2021 12:36 AM, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
> In article <s93oe5$m7m$1 at dont-email.me>, Dave Froble
> <davef at tsoft-inc.com> writes:
>
>>>> My idea is the same as it's been for years.  Do away with license PAKs,
>>>> allow anyone to run VMS, require support for any commercial use of VMS.
>>>> This would avoid all the issues about drop dead dates.
>>>
>>> How would you actually check whether commercial users had support?  Big
>>> commercial users?  Sure.  Commercial users with one VMS system left?
>>> Probably not.
>>
>> When VSI would provide media, they would specify the requirements for
>> support.  How does Red Hat do it?  Number of systems is irrelevant.  If
>> they use VSI software, then support would be required for commercial use.
>
> So, in contrast to the old days, it would be illegal to borrow media for
> installation?  A change of paradigm.  Also, how would you enforce it.

Ya know, I didn't write that.  I just suggested it as one way to inform 
customers.  Never wrote that media could not be shared.

>>>  And what about other people offering support, openly or
>>> not, in return for money?
>>
>> Who else has the VMS source code to modify and patch?
>
> That is not all there is to support.

That is new VMS versions and patches and such.

>>>  Could VSI prevent that?  Yes, someone who
>>> needs important patches will pay for support.  But if you are relying on
>>> that, then you will have unpatched VMS support in the wild at least
>>> among non-commercial users (or, rather, all who don't want to pay for
>>> support, whether commercial or not).
>>
>> It would be good for VSI to make all patches available to anyone.  Not
>> just support customers.  If you're going to make the OS free to use,
>> then why would you not do the same with patches?  This ain't HP.
>
> They why pay?  If someone without support (a hobbyist, say) finds a
> problem, then someone with support will request a patch, and all will
> get it.
>
>>>  But old systems which haven't been
>>> touched for years or decades probably won't be patched anyway.
>>>
>>
>> Nor would they be running VSI software,would they?
>
> Not now.  But just like there are still VAX systems around, there might
> be VSI systems which are frozen after a few years.  Why continue to pay
> for support?
>

Because it would be part of the agreement with VSI, commercial use 
requires support.  Or, don't you stick to your word?

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
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