[NTLUG:Discuss] Would you pay $3,000.00 for Linux (HP thinks so)

[Steve Baker]

cbbrowne at hex.net wrote:

> > Aren't they releasing their modifications as source code though?  If so,
> > then you can get this good stuff for $0.00.  If not, shouldn't someone
> > point RMS at them and watch the fur fly?
> >
> > It certainly *sounds* like they are selling modifications to the kernel,
> > and a bunch of the networking tools - which are presumably GPL/LGPL.
> 
> It sounds like they are selling a combination of:
> 
> a) Kernel mods, to which the GPL would apply, and
> b) Security tools, to which GPL would _not_ apply.
> 
> Note that they don't have to give the source code out to anyone that doesn't
> buy the $3K CD; RMS won't make "fur fly" over them only giving sources to the
> people that they give the binaries to...

True - although we might hope that one of those people would post the sources
somewhere for the rest of us to play with them...but then maybe everyone in
that market is too security conscious to do that.
 
> Changes involving kernel patches mandate taking the system down to install the
> change; this is something that _definitely_ doesn't happen every day for
> everyone, even if the patch is so immediately available.

Yep - although (obviously) it depends how serious the threat is....better to
take it down to install a patch than to have someone else take it down for
you.   :-)

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