HP Announces Support for Debian Linux

Bain writes "PC World reports that HP is to offer support for Debian Linux on its ProLiant and HP BladeSystem servers. Support will be provided by HP telephone operators rather than the discussion-group method that current Debian users rely on. The move to support Debian continues HP's relationship with the community-based OS, which stretches back to 1995."

Comments

Another Layer of goo

[tacocat]

So when I call HP for support, I can watch for their posting on the Debian mailing list to find out the answer? This should be fun!

Other Debian distro's?

[crunch_ca]

Does that include support for other Debian distributions (like Ubuntu)? What about testing and unstable? The article is pretty light on what's actually covered.

Still, good for HP.

Re:Other Debian distro's?

[neonprimetime]

From cnet

HP's offer will apply to the current "Sarge" version 3 of Debian and to version 4, "Etch," due in December. (Debian versions are named after characters in the movie "Toy Story.")

Obligatory "the IT Crowd" quote:

[russ1337]

*Ring Ring*
Hello, I.T.
Have you tried turning it off and on again?

Re:hooray!

[Red Flayer]

it will help give Linux a more serious look for the PHB out there..

Now why am I imagining some ominous music and a fade to black?

I feel very, very bad for the poor folks answering the help line in 3-4 years when there are hundreds of small companies without someone who knows what they are doing. You think helpline support for Windows is bad? Wait until you've got to help someone who's only ever used Windows with their Debian install. And no, you can't tell them to RTFM.

/shudder

bdale garbee?

[xoundmind]

I'd be interested to know how much this gentleman had to do with it:
http://www.gag.com/~bdale/
He's a former Debian Project Leader and now Linux/OSS CTO at HP.

This is vital

[Almahtar]

Support is vital for any OS to be taken seriously where downtime is unacceptable. I know way too many IT guys who would love to run some form of *nix for their servers, but their CEO's wouldn't let them. The reason? If there's a problem they can't fix, they resort to googling, mailing lists, forums, etc: they're pretty boned.

If there's a Windows problem they can't fix they can fly someone in from Redmond to get the job done in a few hours. Unfortunately Red Hat can't compete with that (yet). If minutes of downtime = millions in losses, Official support that always gets the job done is a requirement that can't be ignored.

Troubleshooting Linux is easier than Windows.

[khasim]

I feel very, very bad for the poor folks answering the help line in 3-4 years when there are hundreds of small companies without someone who knows what they are doing. You think helpline support for Windows is bad? Wait until you've got to help someone who's only ever used Windows with their Debian install. And no, you can't tell them to RTFM.

In my experience, working through the boot process of a Linux box is incredibly simple compared to Windows.

Remember, this won't be troubleshooting Apache/SSL or anything. This will be determining why the OS doesn't like the hardware and whether it is an OS problem or hardware problem.

Re:Troubleshooting Linux is easier than Windows.

[19thNervousBreakdown]

Ahh, Windows. Stick a log file in a configuration directory, then take that configuration directory and stick it in a system file directory. Brillant!

Re:define "support"

[KokorHekkus]

HP can barely handle the point and click associated with RHEL and Windows. I'm at a loss as to who in that company is going to support Debian. I know it's surely not their L1 or L2 phone techs.

Only time will tell I guess but they do have the know-how in the company... since Debian is used as an internal development platform for Linux and they also host one full primary mirror site.

HP also has a handful of employees that are Debian developers.

Source:http://opensource.hp.com/opensource_project s.html

Re:hooray!

[chris_mahan]

> "Ok, now open the control panel."
> "What control panel?"
> "Click Start, then click control panel."
> "Start? What Start?"

Exasperated tech support guy takes a deep breath to stop from screaming.
"Ok, use the mouse, point to the lower left of the screen..."
"What mouse?"
"Arrrgghhh!!!!"

Level two support:
"Do you have ssh?"
"Of course"
"Ok, what the ip address and the root password?"
"Nice try."
"Well, I can't help you if you don't give me the root password."
"You said it."
"I said what?"
"You can't help me."

Level three uber-tech-support from hell:
"Ah, yes, I can see what the problem is."
"You can?"
"Of course. Lemme fix it"
"But how can you get in? You don't even have an account on the server?"
"Correction, it's you that doesn't have an account... anymore. BWAHAHAHA."

Sorry. I'll go back to coding crappy corporate proprietary code...

Re:hooray!

[timeOday]

This is good to hear, but as always implementation is everything.

I disagree, in this case it's the declaration of support that matters. Am I ever going to actually call HP for debian support? No, I'll search the web like usual. But when spec'ing out the system, it could help to say my OS of choice is "supported" by HP. And this is a very good indication that all the hardware will work, even on other distros.

.debs?!

[ldspartan]

Does this mean I'll be able to get debian packages of the tools for my DL380 Gen4 without having to do magic with alien and their crap ass RPMs?

--
Phil