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Red Hat releases Netscape Directory Server to OSS

Posted by Hemos on from the free-free-set-them-free dept.

parry writes "Red Hat has released the Netscape Directory server acquired from Netscape Security Solutions under a "GPL + Exception" license. The Fedora Directory Server is made up of a number of different pieces of software, each with their own licensing. "

7 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Slashdot releases a dupe by JamesD_UK · · Score: 4, Informative

    Please reread both articles. The first announces that Red Hat will be opening Netscape Directory, the second actually points directly to the openned code which wasn't available at first. So if it is a dupe, it's a very useful one!

  2. Re:Slashdot releases a dupe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    So what? You'll tell your boss "Sorry, I f-ed up because /. duped" ?

    In that case I don't see a reason to work at all anymore :)

  3. Re:A little help by ScribeOfTheNile · · Score: 3, Funny

    It was originaly closed-source, so, er, it's replacing itself.

  4. Re:A little help by diegocgteleline.es · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Microsoft's Active Directory and propietary directory servers for $BIG UNIXES. Red Hat plays in the "Big server" market so this is a mejor milestone for them - and for linux in the enterprise. Lots of netscape directory's customers will want to switch to redhat too.

  5. Re:Calling licensing brainiacs by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Exception is explained here

    It states:

    GPL Exception License Text
    From Fedora Directory Server

    This is the text of the Licensed used in the Core of the Directory Server code. For more of an explaination, please see the annotated license text for a more in-depth description.

    This Program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; version 2 of the License.

    This Program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this Program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA.

    LC:here it comes

    In addition, as a special exception, Red Hat, Inc. gives You the additional right to link the code of this Program with code not covered under the GNU General Public License ("Non-GPL Code") and to distribute linked combinations including the two, subject to the limitations in this paragraph. Non-GPL Code permitted under this exception must only link to the code of this Program through those well defined interfaces identified in the file named EXCEPTION found in the source code files (the "Approved Interfaces"). The files of Non-GPL Code may instantiate templates or use macros or inline functions from the Approved Interfaces without causing the resulting work to be covered by the GNU General Public License. Only Red Hat, Inc. may make changes or additions to the list of Approved Interfaces. You must obey the GNU General Public License in all respects for all of the Program code and other code used in conjunction with the Program except the Non-GPL Code covered by this exception. If you modify this file, you may extend this exception to your version of the file, but you are not obligated to do so. If you do not wish to provide this exception without modification, you must delete this exception statement from your version and license this file solely under the GPL without exception.

    I will let others decide on its evilness factor.

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
  6. What we need is: by nighty5 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    An easy to use Directory Service that:
    * childsplay to install
    * hides the LDAP schema from admins that don't need to know
    * a GUI / web console to add, delete, alter LDAP attributes
    * easy integration into the O/S with a few file changes: PAM modules
    * is easier to get going than OpenLDAP

    I hope that the new Fedora project will do something like this, I saw the admin toolkit but no source is available yet, only binary packages - since I run gentoo i'll wait... Might be interesting!

  7. Re:Oh well.... by diegocgteleline.es · · Score: 3, Interesting

    they are stuck and are forced to have their code infected by this heavily viral licence.

    Well, redhat is allowing you to use freely and for free a product that costs several millons of dollars. You should THANK them that they give you this possibility, if you don't like it don't use it or just shut up. If you are doing money from the product redhat opensourced but you don't want to give them back anything...well, I wouldn't really like to be your friend ;)