HP To Sell Custom High-Security GNU/Linux Distro

bc90021 writes: "CNET has this story about Hewlett Packard's new secure version of Linux. Using 2.4.2, it can supposedly detect attacks as they happen. (At $3,000, I think it should counter-attack, too.) It will be available on HP servers (duh), or on servers that pass the RedHat 7.1 server qualification tests."

Comments

The Price Tag

[AnotherSteve]

To most /. readers three kilo-bucks is a little much to pay for something you can download. To understand why this makes sense for business sales you have to think like a manager. A lot of managers don't care so much about what something costs as the reputation of the vendor.

Consider these two options:

A) The bearded, long-haired, overly-caffeinated freak from down the hall says "Hey, I can download this stuff for free off the internet. It'll make us really secure, honest." (Disclaimer: I am a bearded, long-haired, overly-caffeinated freak.)

B) A well-respected vendor has a $3000 product that will make the computers really secure. If it doesn't work, we can call them up and bitch at them. Furthermore, we have someone outside the company to blame if it breaks.

Now, you're the manager. You choose. This is a savvy move by HP - in addition to whatever actual value-added there is in their product, they are also cashing in a little on their name and reputation. They're selling percieved value as much as actual value.