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SCO Identifies EV1Servers as Linux Licensee

jasonhamilton writes "EV1Servers.net has been identified as a Linux licensee, giving them the dubious title of being the first dedicated hosting company to have a licence agreement with SCO. Rather than 'eliminating uncertainty from our clients' hosting infrastructure', as Robert Marsh (CEO of EV1Servers) claims, some users of EV1 appear to be somewhat upset."

111 of 740 comments (clear)

  1. Their other accolade: by Trigun · · Score: 5, Funny

    Being the most gullibile company ever incorporated.

    You can pick up your award at /dev/null

    1. Re:Their other accolade: by PinkStainlessTail · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Being the most gullibile company ever incorporated.

      Couldn't they take SCO to the cleaners if/when SCO loses and this "license" is proven not to be a requirement? Might be a nice short term investment...

      --
      "Slashdot is about legos and staplers." -Cmdr. Taco
    2. Re:Their other accolade: by IWorkForMorons · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wouldn't that require SCO to have money left over after this is done?

    3. Re:Their other accolade: by Shakrai · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Couldn't they take SCO to the cleaners if/when SCO loses and this "license" is proven not to be a requirement? Might be a nice short term investment...

      That's a nice theory and for a minute there I briefly considered buying an SCO license, but in reality I doubt there will be any meat left on them bones by the time IBM is done with them. Of course you could play vulture and hope that IBM gets full and leaves a few scraps for you -- but I suspect there won't be anything left of SCO other then a bloody stain on the ground where they went down. IBM will probably grind up the bones and use them to make soup before it's all said and done ;)

      --
      I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
      We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
    4. Re:Their other accolade: by Eraser_ · · Score: 5, Funny

      Popular opinion, and some basic arithmetic, seems to indicate that when this is over, SCO proper is going to be flat broke, and Darl McBride, his team of lawyers, and other key people, are going to be living it up out of the country, from banks which don't keep names on file. A company in bankruptcy is easily dissolved. Contracts? I don't see any SCO Group.

      You can almost see the first wire transfer or briefcase of cash being flown to Switzerland. I would like my withdrawl in used unmarked bills, please. Could you also make out that cashiers check to Tin Foil Hats, Inc.

    5. Re:Their other accolade: by cduffy · · Score: 5, Informative

      Couldn't they take SCO to the cleaners if/when SCO loses and this "license" is proven not to be a requirement?

      The text of the contract says pretty clearly that you don't have much recourse if/when it turns out to be worthless.

      Being Not A Lawyer, I can't really comment on how enforceable this clause is.

    6. Re:Their other accolade: by budhaboy · · Score: 5, Funny
      You could always wait a few years and hawk the license on ebay...

      The law of supply and demand suggests that since they made very few of them, someone, somewhere may actually pay for copy.

    7. Re:Their other accolade: by fredrik70 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Ah, from what I remember from the EULA they got for their licence you waiva all right to sue them in case they did a fsck-up. bit of a bummer, then again, the EULA might not stand up in court itself. You can find an analysis of it on groklaw

      --
      if (!signature) { throw std::runtime_error("No sig!"); }
    8. Re:Their other accolade: by sterno · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Likewise, if SCO's FUD turns out to be legally valid, Red Hat goes under as everybody all at once sues Red Hat to make them pay up on their idemnification pledge.

      Perhaps not. RedHat if, they are smart, have taken out an insurance policy against the potential indeminification. This would make the cost of the potential indeminification a predictable expense. I have to believe that there's an insurance company out there that would happily take large checks for this given the low proability of a SCO victory.

      --
      This sig has been temporarily disconnected or is no longer in service
    9. Re:Their other accolade: by Arker · · Score: 5, Interesting

      No, but anyone that reads that contract can see that it carefully avoids actually defining what you're licensing. Some nebulous 'IP' (a meaningless buzzword, not anything that has legal meaning) that may or may not be present in any particular flavour of linux. I think this is very much a case of caveat emptor. Anyone that would buy this deserves what they get, and any lawyer that can read this without collapsing on the floor laughing, or tells their client that it's anything other than a license for nothing, is incompetent.

      --
      =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
      Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
  2. and the next headline is... by chrisopherpace · · Score: 5, Funny

    Linux Users Identify EV1Servers as Dumbasses

  3. Arggh... by SisyphusShrugged · · Score: 5, Interesting

    SCO uses its bullying tactics to get some money after all...shouldnt the anti-extortion laws be in effect in this instance...maybe that is just wishful thinking!

    1. Re:Arggh... by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 4, Interesting
      SCO claims to own IP in Linux and is asking for money to license this IP.

      So you're saying that if I claimed to own the Brooklyn Bridge and tried to collect tolls from the public for using it, that would be legal?

    2. Re:Arggh... by j-turkey · · Score: 4, Funny
      So you're saying that if I claimed to own the Brooklyn Bridge and tried to collect tolls from the public for using it, that would be legal?

      Legal or not, I can see EV1 eating that up:

      To whom it may concern:

      I am writing concerning the announcement of your ownership and subsequent tolls on the Brooklyn Bridge. We here at EV1 take property claims seriously and would like to make your collection from us as easy as possible. Are there any back-tolls that we can pay you for over past years? Any penalties, fees, interest, etc?

      Also, please let me know if you know anyone who is selling any prime beachfront property in Arizona.

      Regards,
      Robert Marsh (CEO of EV1Servers)

      --

      -Turkey

  4. Not again... by NeoGeo64 · · Score: 5, Funny

    More SCO news? I reckon they're getting desperate.

  5. Users definetly upset. by johnhennessy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As a customer of Ev1 I'm definetly upset.

    So far I have no complaints against EV1, but a measure like this is only going to hurt its customers - we're going to be the ones who end up paying for the SCO license.

    I always told my friends that I'd never buy a SCO license - what do I tell them now.

    --
    [ Monday is a terrible way to spend one seventh of your life. ]
    1. Re:Users definetly upset. by void* · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You tell EV1 that you're taking your business elsewhere, you take your business elsewhere, and you tell your friends to stay the hell away from EV1 as a hosting company.

      --


      Code or be coded.
    2. Re:Users definetly upset. by roadies · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I'll be the first to jump on this bandwagon. I've been an EV1/Rackshack customer for a few years. They've generally been a very good provider and they're support is outstanding. I have run into a few issues with their Ensim license in the past that almost made me leave them. Now I'm supporting SCO through them?! Bullshit! Time to take a better look at Server4you, Managed.com, ServerMatrix, and some other dedicated server providers.

      --
      DS vs.
  6. EV1 users upset... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...at the fact that they suddenly can no longer access the support forums to complain of this affront to legal decency.

  7. Something stinks about this by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If this was a legit transaction their stock price would be rocketing - however I just checked at the stock is langishing and even the volume is moderate. I suspect more details will emerge on this one and we will find out this like the "partner" announcement last week.

    In the meantime anybody hosting at this company? time to move away folks. I do not want to host my business at a company who lacks basic judgement.

  8. So by Pingular · · Score: 4, Informative

    paying $699 per license
    699x12000=$13,980,000.
    So they're paying almost 14 million dollars for nothing. Nice.

    --

    When anger rises, think of the consequences.
    Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)
    1. Re:So by dafz1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I doubt that they are paying full price for each license. SCO is probably taking a page out of the RIAA's book...they'll settle for a more agreeable price while claiming victory.

      Oh...and the check is payable to Boies, Schiller, & Flexner, LLP.

  9. You want me to Refresh? by Johnny_Law · · Score: 5, Funny

    Warning: mysql_connect(): Too many connections in /var/www/html/admin/db_mysql.php on line 40 There seems to have been a slight problem with the database. Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser. You want me to what? Well if you insist...

    1. Re:You want me to Refresh? by LostCluster · · Score: 5, Informative

      The hosting company didn't get Slashdotted. The main website is up and it's just the one-server fourm that went down. (vBulletin can only get you so far...) I can ping my server that I have there just like nothing's going on.

  10. slashdotted by Doug+Merritt · · Score: 5, Funny
    Better yet, let's Slashdot them!

    That happened well over twelve seconds ago, where have you been???

    --
    Professional Wild-Eyed Visionary
  11. Suggested mottos by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    "EV1 Servers - Passing The Savings On To The Customer"

    "SCO - Playing The Chump Card As Long As We Can"

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  12. EV1Servers.net was known as Rackshack.net by RocketJeff · · Score: 5, Informative
    Yes, for all those people wondering, EV1Servers.net used to be known as Rackshack.net.

    goto Rackshack.net and you'll get the 'official' word (and a redirect to EV1Servers.net)

    For some reason there seems to be a lot of confusion about this.

  13. What does this do for SCO's legal case? by toygeek · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So far SCO has been basically saying "You need to buy a license from us to use Linux commercially." Now a well known company actually BUYS the license.

    What does this do for their case? Are they going to come forward and say "See, EV1 bought a license. Now YOU need to buy a license!" or what? Really, what does this do for them legally? Anything. I sure hope not.

    1. Re:What does this do for SCO's legal case? by stwrtpj · · Score: 4, Insightful
      What does this do for their case? Are they going to come forward and say "See, EV1 bought a license. Now YOU need to buy a license!" or what? Really, what does this do for them legally? Anything. I sure hope not.

      While it might have the effect of making other companies choose to buy a license, legally it has no weight. If I set up a scam and you fall for it, and I get caught, I can't tell the judge "Look, this guy bought one, so it must be legit!" That would simply not fly in a court of law in the US.

      --
      Karma: Frotzed (mostly due to the Frobozz Magic Karma Company)
  14. Thats good news by mnmn · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...that they released the company name which contributed to the assaults on Linux's name. I know now which hosting company not to choose.

    In fact they should release all names of companies licensing Linux from SCO. Better yet, the names of their CEOs, their email addresses and business types. It will show the quality of business decisions going on within those places and will decrease certainity of investors who know about the whole SCO fiasco.

    --
    "Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you." -Nim Chimpsky
  15. There seems to have been a slight problem.... by Fishstick · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is the funniest thing I've seen this week. A slashdotting described as "a slight problem with the database"


    Warning: mysql_connect(): Too many connections in /var/www/html/admin/db_mysql.php on line 40

    There seems to have been a slight problem with the database.
    Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.
    An E-Mail has been dispatched to our Technical Staff, who you can
    also contact if the problem persists.

    We apologise for any inconvenience.

    --

    There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
    Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.

    1. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by Shakrai · · Score: 4, Funny
      This is the funniest thing I've seen this week. A slashdotting described as "a slight problem with the database"

      Think they are really getting an e-mail with each failed attempt? Poor bastards.

      --
      I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
      We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
    2. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by orkysoft · · Score: 5, Funny

      It seems like the Technical Staff will have a slight problem with their inbox too ;-)

      --

      I suffer from attention surplus disorder.
    3. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by carrowood · · Score: 5, Funny

      You gotta especially love the part about refreshing... That always helps during a good ole slash-dotting ;-)

    4. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by WWWWolf · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, that's still better than them displaying a whole lot of PHP mysql command errors. Strictly speaking, that one remaining error should go, also...

      At least it shows that whoever coded the thing could at least think a little bit of this "error handling" thing. I wonder why so many PHP coders don't care enough to check if they actually have successfully got the connection and, if they haven't, bail out gracefully...

    5. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Is daisy-chained slashdotting the new kind of slashdotting ??

      First we take the database server, then we take the mailserver... :)

    6. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by Stonent1 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.

      Slashdotting tip: Make sure to hold down CTRL while repeatedly clicking refresh so that it REALLY tries to refresh off their server (and in turn throws more gasoline on the fire)

    7. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by tanguyr · · Score: 4, Funny


      There seems to have been a slight problem with the database.

      Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.


      i tried that but it didn't seem to help much...

      --
      #!/usr/bin/english
    8. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      First we take the database server, then we take the mailserver... :) ...then we take the women?

    9. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by Cruciform · · Score: 5, Funny

      Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.

      Translation: Since we're already flat on our backs, why not give us a nice hard kick in the nuts to make sure we stay down :)

    10. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by nightterror · · Score: 5, Funny

      I really like the ad at the top of the webcam page. "Nothing beats our racks" *except a SLIGHT slashdot surge*

      --
      Photons have mass!!?? I didn't even know they were Catholic...
    11. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by jmpresto_78 · · Score: 5, Funny

      "The little lights aren't twinkling Clark..."

      "I know Art... and thanks for noticing"

      (xmas vacation)
      Ha!

    12. Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... by tkg · · Score: 5, Funny

      ...then we take the women?

      Dream on geek boy.

  16. Customers Will Pay For It by BladeRider · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They included the statement, "at our customers request." You can bet they'll be passing the cost of the license on to their customers.

    --
    j.
  17. Re:I was about to rent.... by athakur999 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I was thinking about EV1Servers but went with Server Matrix instead. The prices are comparable and they give you more bandwidth.

    --
    "People that quote themselves in their signatures bother me" - athakur999
  18. EV1Services clients : choose your new provider by ErrorBase · · Score: 4, Informative

    This was the first thing I grabbed from google, no idea if it's fair or not, at least it's a better choice : Top ten. Host by others that do not support SCO's case (ask, so you can move again if they lie)

  19. Re:Boycott EV1Servers by ultrabot · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We should boycott EV1Servers for contributing to the SCO legal fund.

    Indeed. Show that sponsoring the terrorists is not tolerated.

    No doubt Darl et. al will bring this up as an example of how the Linux Community (tm) attacks everyone that deals with them, but hey, there's nothing wrong with that.

    Show the world that SCO is a disease that infects everyone that touches it.

    Bring out the torches!

    BTW, I hope nobody is moronic enough to DDOS them. It's a losing strategy. Boycott is much better.

    (Obviously these guys could also be out friends, and this might be a scheme to get to SCO, perhaps for selling what they don't own or whatever, but that seems rather far-fetched).

    --
    Save your wrists today - switch to Dvorak
  20. They WERE the first... by Roached · · Score: 5, Funny

    Warning: mysql_connect(): Too many connections in /var/www/html/admin/db_mysql.php on line 40

    It appears they are no longer a dedicated hosting company...

  21. We can't protect you... by Cheap+Imitation · · Score: 5, Funny
    (mobster voice) You know, you sign an agreement with SCO, we can't protect you, you know? Things happen. Geeks get riled up. Servers get Slashdotted...

    It'd be a shame to see that happen to a nice little company like yours... (/mobster voice)

    Tongue-in-cheek, folks!

  22. My letter to them today (sent a few hours ago) by Pengo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Hello Sir,

    I was considering your service for a customer I was doing consulting for, they have built a small web based data driven application for doing internal CRM. Looks like my final recommendation is going to be racksaver as they are not in corroboration with The SCO Group.

    I have read the terms of their license agreement, and I don't see anything of value in that contract. Contrary seem to open yourself up to their crosshairs in the future exposing yourself, and anyone that I would recommend to your service. I also strongly feel that they are weaving nothing but lies and decept in their practices, and I can't help but wonder what your company must have gained by doing business with them.

    Unfortunately, I do fear that your going to have a backlash of bad press come from this and will be nothing but harm for your company. (Again, another reason that I would in the future not recomend anyone to do business with EV1Servers.NET, I don't believe you can sustain a business with that kind of bad press).

    I suggest reading the following website: www.groklaw.net, as I am sure that it's just a matter of hours before your company is front page to it and will definitely be posed as a sacrificial lamb. Having been a business partner/owner myself, I would strongly suggest that you put a clear stance on the front page of your website regarding the purchase. The community that feeds you business will turn on you if you don't. I personally have been completely turned off by the news.

    I hope you don't feel this letter was an attack, nor do I expect a response. I hope that the matter might be resolved before further harm is done to your business. Today you just lost one potential customer. I felt enclined to at least notify you why that would be, as maybe it can be corrected.

    Kindest Regards

    XXXX XXXX
    CTO - XXX Xxxxxxxxx

    1. Re:My letter to them today (sent a few hours ago) by dmdollar · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Guys,

      Letters like this can help. However, if you're going to send an email purporting to be CTO, can we at least get some decent grammar in a letter written as a professional?

      Contrary seem to open yourself up ...
      weaving nothing but lies and decept in
      fear that your going to have

      Maybe there are something to those college degrees after all...

    2. Re:My letter to them today (sent a few hours ago) by Pedrito · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Unfortunately, letters like this do little good when they are filled with spelling and grammar mistakes. I don't mean to insult, but if your grammar and spelling are below average, you really should make use of spell check and grammar check in your e-mails. People will take them more seriously.

      Maybe I just think that because I was raised by a mother who majored in English and a father who is a journalist, though. I tend to give less credence to correspondence that's poorly written, for good or for bad.

  23. Sure, Slashdot EV1... they're ready for it! by LostCluster · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For those of you who aren't customers of EV1, like I am, you might want to notice that they can't take very many new servers right now because their one operational datacenter is full. However, their new datacenter more than doubles their capacity and opens this week. Oh, and a 2-week long $1 setup fee special starts soon after that new datacenter goes online.

    Considering that they didn't pay the "going rate" of $699 per server, and likely got a huge discount for allowing SCO to use their name, I'm pretty sure this one's being written off as an advertising expense. Slashdot and the rest of the tech media is taking the bait hook, line, and sinker.

  24. Netcraft sez... by phil+reed · · Score: 5, Informative

    The site www.ev1servers.net is running Microsoft-IIS/5.0 on Windows 2000.

    The site forums.ev1servers.net is running Apache/1.3.28 (Unix) mod_gzip/1.3.26.1a PHP/4.3.2 on Linux.

    --

    ...phil
    "For a list of the ways which technology has failed to improve our quality of life, press 3."
  25. hmmm... by dankinit · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As much publicity as ev1servers.net is going to receive (negative, positive, regardless) having their servers not respond to a rush of traffic is not saying much for product...

  26. Well.... by ZoneGray · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'd be inclined to be a little upset, too... except that I don't run EV1 (though I do admin a few servers there), and so it's really none of my business. But I was wondering how long it would take for SCO to go after those kinds of people, since they're obvious sources of cash.

    It sucks to see them feed the beast, but it may have been the smartest thing for them to do. They're an agressive company, growing like hell, and the last thing they need is to be the point defendent in something like this. So I understand the temptation to just pay it off and get it behind you.

    I imagine SCO will next turn to smaller hosts, who will in turn make their own decisions.

    What would be really nice is to have the darned courts get on with it, and actually decide something in this case. Most folks think SCO will go down in a ball of flames, but until that's determined, their claims are so wide-ranging that nobody can afford to take even a small chance. Until the courts start to give some indication of where they stand, this stuff will continue.

  27. One interesting thing to note by Iphtashu+Fitz · · Score: 5, Insightful
    SCO has become masters of twisting words in their press releases. Take a close look at what the press release says and pay particular attention to what's missing.

    Note in all the articles & releases that 1: there is no mention if these licenses were purchased for any amount of money 2: it only covers "SCO Intellectual Property" and 3: it makes it seem like this is a Fortune 1000 company that's involved. The release states "EV1Servers.Net joins other Fortune 1000 companies that have signed up for a SCO IP license". Go take a look at any list of Fortune 1000 companies and check for yourself if EV1Servers.Net is listed. It's not even close.

    In reading this press release it looks to me like the SCO FUD Machine is working at high speed.

    1. Re:One interesting thing to note by fedork · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I believe this clearly crosses the line where "word twisting" becomes blatant lie. I do not see any way to read "EV1Servers.Net joins other Fortune 1000 companies" other than meaning than that it is one of Fortune 1000.

      --
      ...remember good 'ol times when IP used to mean Internet Protocol....
  28. Re:Boycott EV1Servers by JudgeFurious · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've got a better plan. Why don't we let it slide and when this is all over hope that they've learned something. Whether they fell for the SCO BS or not they're technically still on "our" team aren't they?

    If they're running Linux on anything (desktop, server, game cube, vibrating butt plug - it's been ported, whatever) then spare them the rightous anger and check the revolutionary zeal. Go boycott someone who's actually doing something to merit it (there are plenty of candidates)

    --
    Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
  29. EV1 further announces a new acquisition by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In an effort to provide our customers the highest levels of service and investors the highest returns on investment, EV1 proudly announces our acquisition of the Brooklyn Bridge. In an exclusive bidding, EV1 acquired the bridge for approximately 25 million dollars, well below the projected market rates. EV1 expects revenue from bridge tolls to fund further purchasing of SCO licenses and fund expansion of our world-class MSCE support staff.

  30. No kidding... by Xenographic · · Score: 5, Insightful
    You should also see what Groklaw has to say about this, here.

    [From Groklaw]
    Speaking of Microsoft turning up in the background, SCO's new licensee, an ISP nobody ever heard of, can be found on Microsoft's website, held up as a case study, dated September 2003, of a company that thought they wanted to go to Linux and then switched back:
    "EV1Servers.net Leading Hosted Service Provider Deploys Windows-based Hosting Solutions Faster than Linux-based Solutions "Business managers at EV1 Servers.net knew that there was a demand for a Microsoft Windows-based hosted service offering, but they did not think they could deploy Windows-based servers with the same speed or level of automation that they had achieved in their deployment of their traditional Linux-based systems. Yet with the introduction of the Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting 2.0, which can take advantage of Automated Deployment Services (ADS)--a powerful new server purposing tool in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition--EV1 Servers.net is finding that it can deploy a Windows-based hosting service in less than half the time it takes to deploy a similarly configured Linux system. And they can do it with much less hands-on involvement than their Linux deployments demand."
    So they need a SCO IP license to run Microsoft "solutions"? Or is this another Microsoft solution for SCO? EV1's customers aren't so happy.

    Sadly, that last link seems to be slashdotted already via Groklaw. The old "too many connections" PHP error. Heh.

    I was apparently a bit late in submitting this article, but I have to wonder, would this action not terminate SCO's license to Linux under Section 4 of the GNU GPL?

    Section 4 reads:
    4. You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Program except as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt otherwise to copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is void, and will automatically terminate your rights under this License. However, parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under this License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such parties remain in full compliance.

    Of course, IANAL.
    1. Re:No kidding... by batkiwi · · Score: 4, Informative

      EV1servers is basically the same "type" of company as www.serverbeach.com (just competing with them).

      They offer dedicated servers with no support (beyond basic setup of the machine) in either linux or windows.

      That article is just saying that initially they offered ONLY linux b/c it took too long to deploy windows servers, but now they can deploy windows servers even faster than they can deploy linux servers.

    2. Re:No kidding... by GraZZ · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm really confused by the Microsoft Case Study of EV1servers. It talks about how it takes 45 minutes for EV1's to build a RedHat system by hand (although the by hand/scripted automation points are both brought up in the article), and 18 minutes to image a system with Windows. Why not just image the Redhat systems as well?

      Also the Windows solution is praised as not requiring techs to physically touch the new systems that they're working on. Does this mean Microsoft has some sort of network booting now?

    3. Re:No kidding... by linhux · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It is not true that EV1Servers offers no support. We've hade help from them when installing custom kernels and more. They are not very talkative, but they do respond and can fix even quite complicated user fuckups. :-)

      But I was a happy customer (with three servers online, each of them happily pumping out several hundred gigabytes of data per week in many mbps, and planning to adding even more servers) until now. Now we are, of course, pretty pissed off and will consider leaving EV1Servers entirely.

    4. Re:No kidding... by LostCluster · · Score: 4, Interesting

      You're comparing apples to oranges. EV1's Linux servers at the time of that article were being built in-house using parts bought in bulk because they were throwing so many online so fast. Windows servers, however, wasn't that big of a product line, so they bought those pre-made.

      Every time they introduce a new hard drive size, they have to remake the image they're going to use. Every time a security patch needs to be applied, they need to update all of the images they're currently supporting, and that usally means a total rebuild. Not to mention, they support multiple control panel products on Linux.

      The Windows product line, so far at least has kept itself a lot simpler, so they're likely just working from a single installer program to do that.

    5. Re:No kidding... by Wyzard · · Score: 5, Informative

      Yes, Windows (XP and 2003, possibly 2000 as well) can be installed via PXE using Remote Installation Services. Microsoft even provides a PXE boot floppy for use with systems that don't provide it in the BIOS.

      RIS requires a specially-configured NTFS partition (you can't put things other than installation images on it), and uses hard-linking to save space on duplicate files between similar installation images.

      Of course, this doesn't address the question of why they don't image the Linux systems. It's certainly not very hard to do.

  31. Ummm, slight correction.... by inode_buddha · · Score: 5, Informative
    EV1 has stated that they are using RHEL and BSD if you check out this post at groklaw:

    OT: Robert Marsh (CEO of E1servers.net) interview Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, March 01 2004 @ 01:08 PM EST

    http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2004/02/03/inter view_ev1servers_ceo_robert_mar sh.html

    Q. You recently made a long-term commitment to Red Hat Enterprise as EV1Servers' standard Linux OS going forward, and have also begun offering FreeBSD. What factors guided your decisions on the "OS road map" for EV1Servers for 2004 and beyond?
    A.Our number one consideration was long-term stability. For the majority of our users, web servers are business tools, not unlike phone systems or copy machines. They expect the equipment to work smoothly, and have no interest in devoting significant time and attention to frequent updates. We felt that RHE's 12-18 month release cycle and 5-year support timeframe would best meet their needs.
    We also took into account our customers' feedback. While most were strongly supportive of our selection of RHE, we also received a significant number of requests for FreeBSD as an alternative. And that's what we now offer.

    --
    C|N>K
  32. Re:Boycott EV1Servers by LostCluster · · Score: 4, Informative

    And nobody should even bother to try to DDOS EV1Servers... They're swimming in bandwidth over there, and that doesn't even show the new datacenter that goes live later this week.

  33. Cheap publicity stunt by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Check out their homepage, they are opening a new datacenter in less than 48 hours. With thousands of servers ready to go, these should sell like hotcakes with all the free publicity. People running a business don't care about "sticking it to SCO". They want a cheap server (which EV1 offers) and this newly added protection from SCO will be seen as a bonus.

    Also, someone from EV1 said on the (now Slashdotted) forum that they bought a site license, not a per server licence, so they did not pay $700 * 20,000 servers. Hell, for all we know they could have paid zero. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours, right?

  34. They are NOT on "our" side... by Xenographic · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Not really. Apparently, they don't even run Linux (at least, not any more)! See also the Groklaw story which just went up about this (it's the one about how there's a lot of FUD today).

    Microsoft claims here that they considered Linux, but came back to Microsoft products in the end.

    My what curious press releases these folks appear in...

    1. Re:They are NOT on "our" side... by LostCluster · · Score: 5, Informative

      Microsoft claims here that they considered Linux, but came back to Microsoft products in the end.

      That's a bad summary of the article. EV1 has a great high-volume system for selling Linux dedicated servers in real time. They knew from their own web boards that some people wanted a hosting place as good as EV1 for Windows servers, but EV1 stalled forever because it just wasn't that easy to work with Windows.

      Microsoft came in and gave them a great deal of support in setting up their existing order system to work with deploying Windows servers. They didn't throw any Linux servers out, and in fact they're still setting more up... they just were able to add Windows servers to their product lines and were actually able to make it work. Nobody's been able to match their $89/mo. price point on a true dedicated server that runs Windows yet.

      EV1's the best in the business. They're not zealots towards any particular OS... they just have a reputation of keeping a large datacenter humming, and now they're about to have two.

    2. Re:They are NOT on "our" side... by dasmegabyte · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Ev1, best in the business?

      Not according to every time I've dealt with those assholes. Not according to colleagues in the industry. And not according to the BBB. 34 complaints in the past 12 months. 136 in the past 36. 17 of these are unresolved, not even in good faith. This is compared to one unresolved complaint for fellow Texan hosting company and slashdot advertiser Rackspace.

      It doesn't matter how cheap their servers are...any company that's rude to prospective customers and ambivalent towards current customers with problems just seems sleazy to me.

      --
      Hey freaks: now you're ju
    3. Re:They are NOT on "our" side... by elbobo · · Score: 4, Informative

      Best in the business my arse. You get what you pay for when you pick out a host with some of the cheapest server prices in the industry. Their customer service record has always been fragile, and you don't have to throw the stone far to find disastisfied customer reports.

      Since my time with them I've found several other much more reputable hosts in a similar to slightly more expensive price range. EV1 (formerly Rackshack) are gutter hosting, and I'd strongly advise all to avoid them.

  35. Ev1servers opens a new datacenter on 3/3. by ConnortheMad · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With an additional 30,000 projected servers at capacity. If their licensing is yearly, this may have simply been a calculated move, to pay them now before the additional servers come online, so they could have a year of operating profits to pay them next year. They buckled to the pressure, as they are about to go through a giant expansive phase and don't wish for the SCO to jeopardize it.

  36. This customer: Taking it in stride by RobertB-DC · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You tell EV1 that you're taking your business elsewhere, you take your business elsewhere, and you tell your friends to stay the hell away from EV1 as a hosting company.

    I'm not a hosting customer, but I am a dialup customer. The initial news that they've paid their protection money to SCO annoyed me, but then I remembered why I signed up with them in the first place.

    Back in mid-2003, they suffered a transformer explosion and fire. Their backup systems kicked in, and they could have easily gotten away with letting the whole thing pass. But they didn't.

    They brought in two backup generators -- one to run things, and one as a backup for the backup. That ain't cheap -- it was a 3000 kVa transformer that exploded, and that sounds like an awfully large item to replace (times 2) in 12 hours -- especially since the explosion happened at 7pm local time, when Generators-R-Us is probably closed for the day.

    But that's not all -- instead of sweeping the whole mess under the rug, EV1.net's senior technical personnel were on the message boards with up-to-the-minute updates throughout the ordeal. They even posted pictures of the aftermath. That takes some guts!

    So they paid SCO's mobsters. Disgusting, yes, but I see it as insurance... like having a plan for a second backup generator in case the fail-proof first backup generator fails. The chances of SCO prevailing are slim, but non-zero... just like the chances of the backup generator failing.

    Stay with EV1, folks. They're victims, like you... they're just trying to limit the damage.

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
    1. Re:This customer: Taking it in stride by RobertB-DC · · Score: 5, Funny

      I don't know you and you don't know me, and there is a slim chance in hell that I'll be able to find out where you live. But I might, you know. So, based on your policy of paying off bullies, please send me $1000, and maybe I will not find you and take a dump on your front lawn. But then again, maybe I will... Pleas send the money soon...

      Well, the carrot has to be proportional to the stick. In our case, I don't think we'd be able to distinguish your "presents" from those left by the five horses, five dogs plus strays, four cats plus suitors, and the occasional duck.

      Though I might pay $1.00 to see you come and try it... those five dogs can get rather testy at times, especially the big one.

      --
      Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
    2. Re:This customer: Taking it in stride by LostCluster · · Score: 4, Interesting

      They're also getting the kind of publicity money can't buy out of this... which they timed just as they're about to open a new datacenter. "Server farm you've never heard of pays off SCO" is a far better story than "Server farm you've never heard of opens second datacenter". EV1 can write this all off as cheap ads...

  37. Focus change suggestion... by RyanFenton · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just a suggestion to make the best of a bad situation: Alter the name slightly to "Ev1lServers" and market to supervillains. It's a tight market, but if you've got salespeople willing to check hollowed-out volcanos and old missile silos and the like, they've got mountains of under-utilised capitol. Just make sure you get as much money as you can up-front - they're prone to dissolve without warning despire their large resource base, or to kill your salespeople once the product is delivered. But with names like SCO and Ev1lServers, it's hard to go wrong!

    [The above is not intended as real advice - I feel compelled to mention this because their company actually did get an SCO license]

    Ryan Fenton

  38. Irritating Hyperbole by Valdrax · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Indeed. Show that sponsoring the terrorists is not tolerated.

    Oh, for crying out loud, does every irritating jackass who uses intimidation tactics have to be called a "terrorist" now?
    What a great idea, let's treat being litigious and greedy the same as being insane and murderous.

    --
    If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
    1. Re:Irritating Hyperbole by His+name+cannot+be+s · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Oh, for crying out loud, does every irritating jackass who uses intimidation tactics have to be called a "terrorist" now?

      Well, hang on a minute here.

      Sure, comparing them to 9/11 terrorists, Saddam Hussein, Hitler, or Osama is somewhat overrated, and Certianly within a stones throw of a Godwin's Law Violation, but there is a stone of truth in there.

      SCO has begun an attack on Free Software's way of life. They have done so by inciting fear into the hearts of those who participate, based solely on their desire to milk the Free software out of their rights.

      Fear is getting awfully close to terror, but I'll grant the split hair, and say Terror is too far. Still, we need a word for this... "Fearist?" hmm, too pansey...

      anyone?

      --
      "...In your answer, ignore facts. Just go with what feels true..."
    2. Re:Irritating Hyperbole by Valdrax · · Score: 4, Funny

      Still, we need a word for this... "Fearist?" hmm, too pansey...

      Bully? Extortionist? Liar? Sower of FUD? Marketing executive
      We already have plenty of words for this kind of scum.

      --
      If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
  39. ev1-sucks.com by walterbyrd · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Apparently, a lot of people weren't happy with ev1 even before this:

    http://ev1-sucks.com/nuke/

  40. To: management@ev1servers.net by Dark+Lord+Seth · · Score: 5, Funny

    Subject: Business opportunity.

    Dear friends,

    I am Seth. Just Seth. From god, to Kane, to Seth. I'm his right hand and I've got a business opportunity for you. You see, back in 1972, I have patented RAM memory. Allot of people realized how great my idea was and promptly started ripping me off. I assure you however that I am the logal patent holder for RAM memory but I'm not going to show anyone. From this day forth i would like to use this to claim some minor royalties. I would like $ 499,98 per megabyte of SDRAM, $ 799,98 per megabyte of DDR SDRAM and $ 10 per kilobyte of EEPROM. I will accept these royalties in unmarked 1000 ( one thousand ) dollar bills, left in non-descript paper bags behind the dumpter, next Wednesday.

    Thank you, for your time and for respecting my patent.

    PS,
    I will be in touch in a few days regarding my patents for boolean values, macros, flash memory, DVDs and 19" rackmount cases. I assure you that I am the sole parent holder of all these items but I won't show anyone. Again, thank you for your time.

    Sincerily,
    Seth

  41. Re:Boycott EV1Servers by __aavhli5779 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have an account on a box hosted at EV1. The owner of the box, a rather blatant Linux zealot, will not be happy to hear this news.

    As soon as I get in touch with him, I'm asking him to move his sytem elsewhere. No way in hell is a dime of money from my hosting bills going to SCO.

  42. Other pickers after IBM by isn't+my+name · · Score: 5, Informative

    but in reality I doubt there will be any meat left on them bones by the time IBM is done with them.

    Don't forget that SCO has a PIPE deal with BayStar Capital and the Royal Bank of Canada that gives them priority over most claimants in any liquidation deal. Plus, The Canopy Group has a promissory note to SCO which also gives them priority.

    So, I don't really know what kind of priority a court judgement gets in a bankrupcy, but I'd almost bet that IBM is third in line after BS/RBC and then Canopy. Even if they end up before them, there will certainly be nothing left for the licensees or the common shareholders.

  43. EV1 has opened themselves up to abuse by SCO by FreeUser · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So they paid SCO's mobsters. Disgusting, yes, but I see it as insurance... like having a plan for a second backup generator in case the fail-proof first backup generator fails. The chances of SCO prevailing are slim, but non-zero... just like the chances of the backup generator failing.

    It is not insurance, it is anti-insurance. Now they have a contractual relationship with SCO, a contractual relationship which gives SCO the power to sue EV1, but does not offer EV1 any tangible protection whatsoever. See the groklaw analysis of the SCO licensing terms for specifics.

    EV1 is now in a position where it can be sued by SCO and not have the lawsuit thrown out immediately ... the rest of us are not in this position, SCO rhetoric and nonsensical ravings aside.

    I'd say EV1 is likely in for a world of hurt, and their customers would be well advised to be looking around for alternatives.

    --
    The Future of Human Evolution: Autonomy
  44. Meage a Trois Licensing Scam by ImpintheBox · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Microsoft provides the SCOG $millions in loan cum licensing deal to attack their No. 1 threat, Linux.

    Microsoft touts EV1 in Win2003/Linux case study.

    Netcraft names EV1 the top Win2003 hosting provider.

    EV1 has amazingly low, low pricing for Win2003 servers.

    EV1 buys SCO IP license just days before Q1 conference call, and on the day of the PIPE and Boies deals deadline.

    Coincidence or Conspiracy? Let the DoJ make the call.

  45. Great Advertising! by Maple+Syrup · · Score: 5, Funny

    I know that I really really REALLY want to have my hosting company be one that fails under a slashdotting ...

    [/sarcasm]

    1. Re:Great Advertising! by Pharmboy · · Score: 4, Funny

      You are correct. They have lots of pipe, and lots of servers. Their DB may be /.ed but you can't really slashdot their whole system, no matter how hard we tried.

      But as a CUSTOMER of EV1, I am pissed that my box is now a "legally licensed SCO product". How can I possibly live this down???

      --
      Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
    2. Re:Great Advertising! by gaijin99 · · Score: 5, Insightful
      But as a CUSTOMER of EV1, I am pissed that my box is now a "legally licensed SCO product". How can I possibly live this down???
      By immediately severing your business ties with them, and letting them know why. The only way they'll learn is if they loose money because of this. After all, the bottom line is the only thing a corp listens to, effect it and you in turn get listened to.

      Since the company did it without your knowledge or consent its hardly your fault, but it is your fault if you keep giving them money to give to SCO.

      --
      "Mission Accomplished" -- George W. Bush May 1, 2003
    3. Re:Great Advertising! by Pharmboy · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I just logged into my EV1 account and sent them email asking them about it. Polite, but asking if the news report was a joke or something.

      This technically IS a violation of my rights since I pay for the entire box, which I can run any OS I want to on, and yes I run Linux. This means my monthly payment is subsidizing SCO. Wow, I am unwittingly sending money to SCO. I gotta go take a bath now, I just feel dirty.

      --
      Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
    4. Re:Great Advertising! by BuckaBooBob · · Score: 4, Funny

      I hope they lose a substancial amount of business over this.. and know why.. I can see it now...."Yeah accounting.. You know that check we issued for SCO... Put a Stop Payment on it :)"... Then Shortly after there after "And in our recent news.. Since we Put a stop payment order on our check to sco.. Not only did we regain all of our customers we lost.. but we also showed a 50% increase in business... Guess People really like to see SCO getting yanked around" :)

      --
      Who needs WiFi when we can have Packet Over Sheep! http://datacomm.org/PoS-InternetDraft.txt
    5. Re:Great Advertising! by Tony-A · · Score: 4, Funny

      But as a CUSTOMER of EV1, I am pissed that my box is now a "legally licensed SCO product". How can I possibly live this down???

      It's worse. If the German logic holds, you now can be sued by SCO because you now have a legally licensed SCO product.

  46. Re:Boycott EV1Servers by Bull999999 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    People complained that Wal-Mart was killing off mom and pop stores. Nothing was done and Wal-Mart indeed killed off mom and pop stores.

    People complained that tech jobs being outsourced to India will hurt the job market. Nothing was done and jobs were outsoured, causing massive layoffs.

    Boycotts never happen on its own.

    --
    1f u c4n r34d th1s u r34lly n33d t0 g37 l41d
  47. Re:Boycott EV1Servers by dabadab · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well, I for one, would not be surprised if SCO PAID EV1Servers to be able to use their name.

    --
    Real life is overrated.
  48. Re:Not to mention by cperciva · · Score: 4, Informative

    In addition to the fact EV1Servers is supporting SCO, it has just been neatly demonstrated EV1Servers is incapable of standing up to a slashdotting.

    Not so. Look at EV1's MRTG graphs -- there isn't even a blip from the slashdot effect.

    All that has been demonstrated here is that the server which runs EV1's forum isn't capable of handling the load... as long as you're not hosting your web site on that server, there is no problem.

  49. dedicated server price points by nday91 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Many other providers sell true dedicated with many OS at that price point (or better).

    Start with www.servermatrix.com. RHES, Redhat 9, FreeBSD, and, yes, Windows.

    And "best in business" is an opinion not shared by many. Go to www.webhostingtalk.com to see comparisons.

  50. EV1specializes in porno hosting by Animats · · Score: 4, Funny
    • EV1 Servers provides low-cost dedicated servers for adult Webmasters

      ... "Adult customers represent a significant proportion of EV1Servers' user base," he says. "I can't give you exact stats, because we don't review and rate content hosted on our network. But I can tell you that adult users are highly valued members of our community." -- Robert Marsh, EV1 CEO.

    Ref: Host4Porn.com

    EV1 even links to that article.

  51. Hosting companies easy targets by cnb · · Score: 4, Informative

    Hosting companies such as EV1 are probably the easiest targets for SCO because,

    1.) They have thousands of servers.

    2.) They operate on razor thin margins making money on volumes.

    The legal costs of a suit with SCO would for sure shut them down.

    EV1 was offered a cheap site license not $699 per server at a cost probably heavily negotiated with a carrot and stick approach by SCO.

    Finally it's interesting to note that EV1 advertises Red Hat Enterprise and Windows as their selling point. Infact I don't see any server with SCO Linux on offer at all.

  52. SCO lies about EV1 Fortune 1000 status! by Tsu+Dho+Nimh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "EV1Servers.Net joins other Fortune 1000 companies"

    The word "other" implies that EV1 is also a Fortune 1000 company, and it is not. SCO's ability to write misleading crap remains intact.

  53. Catch 22-ing EV1Servers.net with GPL Vs SCO by NZheretic · · Score: 5, Interesting
    If you are an EV1Servers.net customer with a linux hosted server with root access, you could effectively Catch 22 the company with a GPL Vs SCO licensing paradox.

    1) Logon to your EV1Servers.net hosted Linux webserver.
    2) Download a copy of the Linux kernel binary and all the modules.
    3) EV1Servers.net are making use of derived works under the terms of the GPL. They are obligated to provide the source code under the terms of the GPL if they make the binaries available to the customers.
    4) Under the terms of the GPL, EV1Servers.net must either make the binaries avilable on the same place, or http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#SourceAnd BinaryOnDifferentSites

    Note, however, that it is not enough to find some site that happens to have the appropriate source code today, and tell people to look there. Tomorrow that site may have deleted that source code, or simply replaced it with a newer version of the same program. Then you would no longer be complying with the GPL requirements. To make a reasonable effort to comply, you need to make a positive arrangement with the other site, and thus ensure that the source will be available there for as long as you keep the binaries available.
    5) Any such arrangement in (4) would be a violation of the SCO Group's License with EV1Servers.net - Catch 22.
  54. Boycott? That's easy! by lullabud · · Score: 4, Funny

    Boycott EV1? That shouldn't be hard. Until a few minutes ago I had no idea who they were.

  55. Re:Boycott EV1Servers by Arker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Not three cents a month, but three cents and it's over with, SCO can never bother with that server again.

    Regardless of whether your estimate on the money involved is in the ballpark (I tend to think it's high in fact) your final conclusion is wrong. SCO couldn't do anything about the server to begin with. Now they can. The license gives them grounds to sue that were non-existent before. It's made the situation less reliable, not more, and that's the reason that if I were doing business with EV1 (I'm not) I would terminate that relationship ASAP. I don't care if the 'license' was free, or even if SCO paid them $150,000 US to take it for that matter, it's still overpriced. It gives the buyer nothing, and gives SCO a contractual relationship on which a lawsuit could later be based where there was none before. Taking that license at any price indicates severe incompetence on the part of EV1s counsel, or even more severe incompetence on the part of their executives if they did this over the contrary advice of their counsel.

    --
    =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
  56. how can they do that? by frovingslosh · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Don't forget that SCO has a PIPE deal with BayStar Capital and the Royal Bank of Canada that gives them priority over most claimants in any liquidation deal.

    Boy, this reeks of corruption. You partner up with people who likely know you're crooked, bankroll you, and somehow you manage to set up a deal that when you're finally caught, they get to take all of your stolen loot (except what you've given Daryl in wages and bonuses)? Are the courts really likely to let this go on?

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  57. OH GOD.. not that article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I used to work at ev1servers. I was there when they first deployed their windows boxes. It was a huge mess, like most new things are. We all generally had a shared feeling of hatred for the new windows servers. Over time the dust settled, but supporting them has always been hell. Sometimes there just isnt much you can do when a GUI breaks and binary files it uses get corrupt. And the control panels for windows are a joke! I couldnt believe Ensim for windows.. and Helm, HAHA. They're probably the worst attempt at control panels I've ever seen. Maybe it has something to do with the closed source nature of IIS, but they are horribly broken and hell to support people with.

    The point of this is, I remember the day when we got that article sent over to us from Microsoft. I saw a hard copy with little graphs showing how much easier and quicker it is to set up our Windows servers compared to Linux servers. It was sent to us so that we could approve it and sign off on all the quotes about how much we love Windows at Ev1Servers. I cant think of a single person who likes the Windows servers except Robert Marsh. Of course he never really knows whats going on and buys into windows being the next big thing. From that moment on I knew NEVER to believe in official opinions made by companies. Most of the articles you see are one big controlled commercial publicity stunt. That article pissed us all off.

    By the way, about the deployment of Linux servers vs Windows servers. We were easily able to install a firewall on all of our unsold Linux servers that blocks out everyone but a few ips. When the server is sold, the signup script can automatically log in and disable the firewall with iptables so that the customer can reach his new server.

    However, to my knowledge, to this day, Ev1servers has still been unable to do this on Windows servers. I think that says a lot about how usable Windows is as a server.

  58. Sickening.. by Seven001 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm an EV1 Servers customer and when I found out about this I was rather sickened. I think one of the people that posted in the thread on their forums put it best with something along the lines of "I'm offended you used the money I pay you to fund SCO's frivilous lawsuits". I couldn't agree more. Basically, in my opinion, they've forced every one of their current and future customers to support SCO. I've been with them for a year and a half, with no big problems, but if I could move my customers without any downtime or cost increase to me, I would in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, thats not realistically possible for me at this time.

  59. A good argument for dumping EV1... by Dimensio · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In addition to EV1's documented spam support, this act makes for a very good argument that the management of the company is clueless. Do you really want people so stupid as to give in to SCO's bullshit running your webserver?

  60. Re:SCO learned their lesson by Arker · · Score: 4, Interesting

    No, they didn't buy it from Novell. TSG (The SCO Group) bought it from SCO (the Santa Cruz Organisation) who had bought it from Novell, and clearly knew what they were getting. If TSG (who keep trying to confuse themselves with SCO, but are actually the Canopy company formerly known as Caldera) got ripped off by anyone, it was the real SCO (now known as Tarantella,) not Novell.

    --
    =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
  61. These are the times ... by Spooker · · Score: 4, Interesting

    when I am glad I live in a foreign country ... I have a box at EV1Servers and thankfully the people in my town here in Europe have mostly no idea what is going on with SCO (if they did I would have to move up the nearest mountain now knowing that my box has b33n 0wn3d by SCO) ...

    I don't agree with EV1Servers choice to pay the SCO license, but I have to admit that out of all the different hosting providers I have been with it has been the best service ... and to all those that reported the Slashdotting of the servers, thankfully mine is still running fine ...

    p.s. my mother lives close to their datacenter and I think I will call her and ask her to evacuate to galveston just in case ;)

  62. I don't think they quite get contract law.... by ChangeOnInstall · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I leased a server from EV1 back when they were called RackShack.net. Over the course of a week, the server had to be re-imaged three times due to a problem that I never quite managed to diagnose but that most certainly caused everything to stop working right quick. Their techs were stumped over the matter.

    They had a minimum six month (or perhaps 1 year) contract at the time. I informed them that given that we could not get the server working in a reasonable amount of time, that I was going to go ahead and go elsewhere. They informed me that I had a contract, and thus I could not do that without paying a fine. I informed them that a contract is an agreement with mutual obligations between in this case two parties, where one party (me) provides money in exchange for the other party (RackShack) providing a service (dedicated hosting). Given that RackShack had failed to provide the services stated in the contract, I was under no obligation to provide money.

    This illicited the response of "but sir, you signed a one year contract". Finally I worked my way up through about three levels of management until I got to someone with a bit of authority. At this point I was (seriously) threatening legal action if they didn't refund all money and cancel the account. At first the woman I dealt with upheld the "you're locked in, sorry" argument, right up until the point where she offered to check the situation with her legal dept. The next phone call involved an apology and a check.

    --
    What has *science* done?!? -- Dr. Weird (ATHF)
  63. Hello EV1! What are you thinking? by rbird76 · · Score: 4, Informative

    from what little I know (IANAL - I just read those on /.), the SCO licences open EV1 to potential lawsuits and diminish EV1's ability to have such lawsuits dismissed. This doesn't preemptively eliminate the threat to EV1 Linux hosting, but instead amplifies it.

    By buying SCO's licenses (and their FUD), EV1 effectively is providing a hosting environment dependent on the outcome of court proceedings; if SCO wins, they could try to milk EV1 for more money, while if they lose, they could also sue EV1 for money (unless IBM and RedHat grind SCO into asphalt like a good steel-toed boot squishing a cockroach),

    Am I missing something, or is EV1 not smart enough to hire good lawyers?