Linux Directions

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Linux Directions
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This is the proposed support structure for
current Fermi Linux releases.   FERMI LINUX
7.1.x  (based on RedHat 7.1) Support will end on
Dec 31, 2003    FERMI LINUX 7.3.x  (based on
RedHat 7.3) Support will continue at least until
Dec 31, 2004 This support will be security
updates only. These security updates will be
obtained from the linux community. We will mainly
be using the Fedora Legacy community, as well as
other places when needed.  We will be
contributing security patches to the community
where appropriate. These security updates will
be distributed via our usual security update
mechanisms.  These mechanisms are autoyum and/or
direct ftp download from our linux distrubution
servers (ie. linux and linux1.fnal.gov)   
FERMI LINUX 9.0.x  (based on RedHat 9.0) Support
will continue at least until April 30, 2004. 
Official RedHat support ends on that date.    
FERMI LINUX LTS (LongTermSupport) 3.0   (based on
RedHat Enterprise 3.0) We expect to have a beta
release by December 1st. Fermi Linux LTS is the
recommended migration path for all earlier
versions. November 06, 2003
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http//www.whiteboxlinux.org/ What is the goal
for White Box Linux? To provide an unencumbered
RPM based Linux distribution that retains enough
compatibility with Red Hat Linux to allow easy
upgrades and to retain compatibility with their
Errata srpms. Being based off of RHEL3 means that
a machine should be able to avoid the upgrade
treadmill until Oct 2008 since RHEL promises
Errata availability for five years from date of
initial release and RHEL3 shipped in Oct
2003. Or more briefly, to fill the gap between
Fedora and RHEL. --
Michele \
_,,,--,,_ /,.-'' ._ \-,_
Michele Michelotto ,4- ) )_ ..(
'-' INFN di Padova
'---''(_/._)-'(_\_) Tel39
049 827 7188 Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum
videtur
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• On Thu, 20 Nov 2003, Michele Michelotto wrote
• gt http//www.whiteboxlinux.org/
• gt
• gt What is the goal for White Box Linux?
• Michele, mail noted. Although this news may have
  gone quiet since HEPiX in Vancouver, rest assured
  that discussions among us and with Redhat
  continue. And this whitebox initiative is noted
  and will play a part in the negotiations.
• At this juncture we do not want a public debate
  but rest assured that we are still seeking a
  HEP-wide deal from which all can benefit.
• Can't give a date for more news but hopefully in
  a few weeks.
• Alan
• --
• Alan Silverman
• IT/PS Group
  Leader
• ------ CERN - European Organisation for Nuclear
  Research ------
• E-mail Alan.Silverman_at_cern.ch
  

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gtFrom Mayly Sanchez mailtomsanchez_at_physics.harv
ard.edu gtSent Saturday, November 15, 2003 747
PM gtTo Minos Software Discussion List gtSubject
RedHat education discounts gt gt gtHi, gtI don't
think that RedHat had spelled this out before
(from CNET) gt gthttp//news.com.com/2100-7344_3-51
07941.html gt gt"Raleigh, N.C.-based Red Hat, the
top seller of the open-source gtoperating system,
will sell students its Red Hat Academic Desktop
gtproduct for 25 and sell schools its Red Hat
Academic Server product gtfor 50, including
online software updates but no telephone
support." gt gtFurthermore they will provide what
seems to be unlimited site licenses gtfor 2500
and the school itself can set up a satellite
branch of the gtRed Hat Network. gt gtMarket
pressure anyone? SUSE was ready to take their
market. Mayly gt gt
gtMayly Sanchez
msanchez_at_physics.harvard.edu gt

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Subject Redhat progress Gentlemen, here is some
news on these negotiations. I have recently
spoken with colleagues at SLAC who are working on
getting support for the SLAC and BaBar
communities. Their aims are very similar to us
Redhat Enterprise seems to offer the longevity
of support that we seek we want a deal we can
afford and which covers not only the lab but the
"community". And we want it soon because we need
to start preparing to move beyond Redhat
7.3. The situation there is that a
representative of the Doe (to which major US
labs "belong") is negotiating informally on
behalf of DoE labs with Redhat. At this
sensitive stage we do not want the numbers talked
about openly in mail but we are targetting at
paying approximately the academic price per node
with a significant price break after some number
of nodes in a "cluster" (say around 1000) when
the fee drops to something nominal. A cluster
would be loosely defined and could include all
the systems in a Centre at least, maybe in a
site. And based on an honour system, no audits
or node licences. There may be an extra charge if
a site wishes to call in. CERN and SLAC would
accept such a charge if reasonable. In this
mail, I will put no prices or cost estimate but
we (SLAC and CERN) believe that we can afford
it. Further, we agreed to try to persuade Redhat
to permit other sites to participate in one of
two ways - take the software from SLAC or CERN
and pay nothing but no rights to call Redhat
or to get software direct from them (all calls
for help to be directed at SLAC or CERN) - pay
the per-node fee to Redhat and get the same
access to Redhat as us. We have not had
agreement from Redhat if this would be acceptable
to them but it would help us if you could
indicate that you agree with our principles and
if, depending on the eventual price, you might
wish to "buy-in" or if you will rely on SLAC or
CERN for all software and support.
Alan Silverman
IT/PS Group Leader