Posted by
CmdrTaco
on from the aint-that-interesting dept.
levanti writes
"Looks like Dell will outsource support
of their Linux servers to LinuxCare. Article can be found here. "
23 comments
speaking of LinuxCare
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Is the LinuxCare support free or do they just want to keep as much info from potential customers are possible.
That's my sarcastic way of noting that it is impossible to find pricing info on their website.
What's up with the linuxcare website?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Why does Linuxcare.com have a goofy poll on the front page? Do they want to flush credibility down the toilet?
Kinda Not Really
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Read the actual story at news.com
"customers who buy a Dell PowerEdge server with Linux will get a coupon entitling them to one incident's worth of one-day response from LinuxCare"
Sounds a lot more like marketing hype then a strategic business alliance. One incident does not LINUX support make;)
This sounds ok I guess.
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Well this could be good for people who don't know the basics of Linux. But I hope Dell has good tech support cause newbies can be a bitch. Good Luck Dell:) Natas check out my band on www.mp3.com www.mp3.com/pedophagia Do us a favor and email mp3.com and request them to add Linux as Operating system to create the mp3's:) Most of our music now is all created in Linux using various different programs.
Yeah. Right. And no outsource for M$ CrashWare?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Your argument doesn't hold. Companies do the same thing for supporting M$ products. It's just a smart business move. Why "build" a support department when you can "buy" one?
I agree
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Now since I agree. let me tell you about my band that sell cell phones and web site....
Is Slashdot going to become a feeding frenzy for spammers now?
Why Not a Linux Business Desktop?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Basically, the current build strategy for desktops involves loading windows, in the process gaining various diagnostic codes which can be read by another program to determine if all went well. In the long past, you would buy a machine from Dell and either load DOS or SCO according to which OS you ordered, and the hard drive would come blank. To do a factory installed O/S requires that if for any reason the install does NOT go smoothly, (relative to other machines that day...) you have to catch it before the machine goes out the door. The amount of programming which has gone into doing that for windows amounts essentially to doing a distro. Ask someone to create a distro, and they'll balk. But they already have one for windows, and that enables efficient production. Simply put, Linux is not yet EFFICIENT for Dell to factory install.
No Linux mentioned on Dell's web site ( almost )
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Call me paranoid, but it almost seems like Micro$oft pressured Dell into offering Linux. This would let Micro$oft use the Linux defense in court.
Dell may be offering Linux, but you can't just go to www.dell.com and click your way down to a page where you can customize a PC, and choose "Red Hat Linux 5.2" from a selection list.
Dell Precision(TM) WorkStations 410 and 610 are supposed to be offered with Linux as an option.
"Operating System" is found as an option, but the choices are:
Windows NT Workstation 4.0,CD
Windows 95, No CD
Windows 95 w/CD
Windows 98, w/CD
Why is Linux not offered as a choice? Why do you have to ask for it first?
I could be wrong, but it seems to me that Dell is getting away with appeasing both Micro$oft and the Linux crowd.
What do you think?
The Hell with Dell
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
Who gives jack squat about Dell's offering a cupon for support for Linux servers which have to be specially ordered anyway?
Dell does not offer Linux preinstalled or installed with some kind of multi-boot option with Windows for comsumers. Dell sells millions of boxes to consumers, but Linux is not an option. The reason - fear of losing Microsoft's discounts. This was amply demonstrated in the article yesterday about BeOS's offer to OEMs to preinstall their system at no cost. In other words, being intimidated by racketeers and thugs, and probably not wanting to go to the trouble to service Linux themselves untill a much larger percentage of consumers demand Linux preinstalled. They are covering all their bases by offering the cupons - nothing to lose (or risk) by doing that.
We don't need Dell - or LinuxCare. If people are skilled in servicing or administering Linux they best start their own companies and market their skills. LinuxCare is a prostitute for companies that are licking Microsoft's behind. A prostitute to a prostitute.
Too bad the Linux community is burdened by a large number of mediocre sysadmins who are mostly interested in their own careers servicing large corporations and their systems. The next step will be something like an MSCE for these mediocre people - it is already happening with various certification programs sponsered by competing commercial interests.
Let's get Linux on the desktop more and out of the hands of these motherfuckers. Otherwise, Linux will just become another commercial unix or worse.
Linux is for people to use, not just for corporations with no souls and no hearts. Sure, Linux is a great system for corporate networks but that should never be its main focus. Linux was designed by a home user, for home users, because he couldn't afford a commercial unix for his PC, remember?
Screw the OEM's
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 0
I say screw the OEM's like Dell, Gateway and company, if they want to kiss M$ ass thats fine, next time its time to buy a new computer don't call them and beg for Linux or ask for a refund, either build your own system, which is what I do, or goto one of the companies that does preinstall Linux. I went to www.linux.org and found many that do, as the old saying goes "Put your money where your mouth is."
Advanced System Labs Sells pre-installed Linux systems.
AmNet Computers LLC Sells pre-installed computers with Slackware or Red Hat.
Apache Digital Corporation Sells custom Intel, Alpha, and Sparc computer systems pre-installed with Linux.
ApeX Systems Integration Corp. Sells pre-installed i86 Linux systems.
ASA Computers Sells Pentium, Pentium II, and Pentium Pro servers pre-installed with Red Hat or Slackware. Also sells a Linux X-Windows Pentium workstation.
Aspen Systems Inc. Sells Linux Alpha-based workstations.
Atipa Computers Sells custom systems installed with Linux.
AZIZA Resources Sells pre-installed Linux computers.
Castle Computers Sells Pentium II workstations installed with Red Hat Linux.
Central Computers Sells internet servers pre-installed with Caldera Linux
Cobalt Networks, Inc. Sells the Qube, a pre-installed Linux server. Formerly Cobalt Microsserver, Inc.
Computer Gallery Sells custom configured computers with the RedHat distribution.
The Computer Underground, Inc. Sells pre-installed Linux desktop computers and servers.
Competitive Computer Systems Sells pre-installed Linux computers.
Comware International Specializes in configuration, installation, and support of Linux internet server systems.
Cosmos Engineering Co. Sells "Linux On A Disk", hard disks preloaded with Linux. Creative Consultants Sells Intel and Alpha systems preconfigured with Red Hat.
DCG Computers, Inc. Sells pre-installed Intel and Alpha Linux machines.
Hard Data Ltd. Sells custom configured high-performance DEC Alpha servers and Intel based PCs.
Integraph Computer Systems Sells Pentium-II, Pentium-II Xeon, and AMD K6-2 workstations pre-installed with Linux.
Inter-IntraNet Commuications
Sells pre-installed Linux computers.
Introspective Technologies USA Sells x86 and RISC based systems with Linux pre-installed.
Kachina Technologies, Inc. Sells pre-installed systems with Caldera or Debian.
~Lindsay Computer Systems Sells power workstations and file servers installed with Caldera Linux.
Linux Hardware Solutions, Inc. Sells Alpha workstations/servers, Pentium II workstations/servers, and Digital laptops installed with your choice of Red Hat or Caldera Open Linux Base.
Linux PPC Sells custom configured PowerPC systems with Linux.
Linux World Sells pre-installed Pentiums with Red Hat Linux.
Lodgepole Technology, Inc. Sells DEC ALpha clones pre-installed with Red Hat Linux.
Microunix Systems Sells pre-installed Power PC systems.
Microway, Inc. Sells pre-installed Linux systems.
NekoTech, Inc. Sells DEC AlphaStations with Linux pre-installed.
Netactive Systems, Ltd. Sells Intel and Alpha Linux Servers and Workstations.
~Net Express Sells pre-installed systems with Slackware, Red Hat, or Caldera Linux distributions. Also sell multi-processor systems.
Pacific Internet Sells WEBCUBE, an internet server running Linux.
Penguin Computing Sells high-end Red Hat Linux systems -- Dual Pentium II and Pentium II workstations and servers.
Promo X Systems Sells high-end network systems pre-installed with Linux.
ParaSoft Sales (PSSC) Sells i386 and Alpha architectures with Linux.
SupremeGS Sells the Edison, a computer pre-installed with Linux.
SW Technology Sells pre-installed Intel and Alpha systems.
Telenet Systems Solutions Sells pre-installed Linux systems.
VA Research Sells pre-installed Linux systems.
Workstation 2000 Specializes in selling Pentium II systems pre-loaded with Linux to corporate customers.
No necessarily a sign of diehard commitment
by
Herschel+Cohen
·
· Score: 1
The Micron box I am writing this on, has third party Windows support, hence, that company has been prepared to make the move to... Linux!!??
Sorry, too much can be read into too little. However, Dell's past history is a more direct indicator of their intentions.
Time to ramp up the support team.
by
Codifex+Maximus
·
· Score: 1
Looks like Silicon Valley is again the place to be right now if you are a support person and are well versed in UNIX/LINUX.
Time to buy stock? The race is on.
-- Codifex Maximus ~
In search of... a shorter sig.
No necessarily a sign of diehard commitment
by
gavinhall
·
· Score: 1
Posted by Mephie:
Funny thing is, we have linux expertise in-house, and being based in Austin, there's a lot of people locally that we could pull in to create a dept. --Mephie
You guys need to get your name out. I've been hearing about LinuxCare for months now, whereas I didn't know about you guys until recent posts to Slashdot. Or have I been blind, deaf, and dumb. The dumb part is especially likely, although not really relevant.
I am sure LinuxCare is happy about this. I am glad to hear Linux support agencies getting a boost. I am in college now, so maybe when I get out. . .
What's important is getting Linux out there.
by
FireReaper
·
· Score: 1
Support may be shuffled off to a third party, which in this case is LinuxCare. However, they may not have puzzled out how to support Linux.:)
But it is cheaper to hire people are know than to retrain people in your employment again. Plus, given that people are trained for windoze, doesn't seem worthwhile to retrain them to Linux, considering how expensive those Win-train sessions are.
But the important note is that Linux IS getting shipped out there. That it get's exposure. So they buy support from a third party. They are still offering a token gesture.. even if it does show just how scared companies are of MS that they are hedging their bets and not really committing as much money into the projects.
Seriously though, it is cheaper and easier to have a third party do the support. Especially when Linux isn't their expertise.
But then again, who knows.. maybe they are just screwing around and making claims to get their stock prices up and make some money without violating any of their contracts or stepping on toes. Guess we'll just see, won't we?
- Wing - Reap the fires of the soul. - Harvest the passion of life.
-- - Wing
- Reap the fires of the soul.
- Harvest the passion of life.
Linuxcare was even mentioned by Willow Bay on CNN!! You guys really got to get the word out about your company. IMHO, Linux support is possibly the opportunity with the most growth in the entire tech market. I mean how many other service do you have every major company practically begging for.
No necessarily a sign of diehard commitment
by
dillon_rinker
·
· Score: 1
Funny thing, that Gateway outsourcing. They don't outsource support for their corporate clients. Only for the peon clients who don't really matter, except in a collective sense.
Why Not a Linux Business Desktop?
by
kmactane
·
· Score: 1
And business desktops!! for Linux? [etc.] I am a Dell skeptic, so let's see if the actions match the words.
Why not Linux business desktops, especially from Dell's point of view? The hardware's no different from the Windoze systems their assembly lines are already set up to churn out (except that they don't really need as much horsepower, since they won't be running MS bloatware). The software to pre-load is significantly cheaper than the stuff they'd license from MS -- they can probably put command-line Linux, any of various GUIs and Corel Office Suite or StarOffice onto the machine for the price of MS Windows or MS Office alone. (If not less.)
Outsourcing the tech support means they really don't have to do much at all to make this work. Most of their overhead for adding the Linux line of Dells is in marketing, inventorying the new SKUs, creating new packaging, and so forth.
Heck, they can even make a little extra by marketing the neato-keen cachet of a Linux business system. If I were a Dell exec, I'd be all over this idea. There's really very little to lose, and a helluva lot to gain.
No necessarily a sign of diehard commitment
by
quax
·
· Score: 1
Outsourcing means that they can discontinue support anytime. It would have been more convincing if they committed an internal division for that support. But at this time they do not seem to think that there is a need for them to acquire Linux expertise in-house.
No necessarily a sign of diehard commitment
by
jcj
·
· Score: 1
If you've been around the industry awhile, you'd know that most outsource support. i.e. for PC's, Dell and Compaq have used Xerox and Banctec...
Slashdot Mirror
Is the LinuxCare support free or do they just want to keep as much info from potential customers are possible.
That's my sarcastic way of noting that it is impossible to find pricing info on their website.
Why does Linuxcare.com have a goofy poll on the
front page? Do they want to flush credibility
down the toilet?
Read the actual story at news.com
;)
"customers who buy a Dell PowerEdge server with Linux will get a coupon entitling them to one incident's worth of one-day response from LinuxCare"
Sounds a lot more like marketing hype then a strategic business alliance. One incident does not LINUX support make
Well this could be good for people who don't know the basics of Linux. But I hope Dell has good tech support cause newbies can be a bitch. Good Luck Dell :) :) Most of our music now is all created in Linux using various different programs.
Natas
check out my band on www.mp3.com
www.mp3.com/pedophagia
Do us a favor and email mp3.com and request them to add Linux as Operating system to create the mp3's
Your argument doesn't hold. Companies do the same thing for supporting M$ products. It's just a smart business move. Why "build" a support department when you can "buy" one?
Now since I agree. let me tell you about my band that sell cell phones and web site....
Is Slashdot going to become a feeding frenzy for spammers now?
Basically, the current build strategy for desktops involves loading windows, in the process gaining various diagnostic codes which can be read by another program to determine if all went well. In the long past, you would buy a machine from Dell and either load DOS or SCO according to which OS you ordered, and the hard drive would come blank. To do a factory installed O/S requires that if for any reason the install does NOT go smoothly, (relative to other machines that day...) you have to catch it before the machine goes out the door. The amount of programming which has gone into doing that for windows amounts essentially to doing a distro. Ask someone to create a distro, and they'll balk. But they already have one for windows, and that enables efficient production. Simply put, Linux is not yet EFFICIENT for Dell to factory install.
Call me paranoid, but it almost seems like Micro$oft pressured Dell into offering Linux. This would let Micro$oft use the Linux defense in court.
Dell may be offering Linux, but you can't just go to www.dell.com and click your way down to a page where you can customize a PC, and choose "Red Hat Linux 5.2" from a selection list.
Dell Precision(TM) WorkStations 410 and 610 are supposed to be offered with Linux as an option.
Fair enough.
Now, I challenge you to go to the Dell web site and order a Dell Precision(TM) WorkStation 410 or 610 with Linux on it.
You can't!!!
"Operating System" is found as an option, but the choices are:
Why is Linux not offered as a choice? Why do you have to ask for it first?
I could be wrong, but it seems to me that Dell is getting away with appeasing both Micro$oft and the Linux crowd.
What do you think?
Who gives jack squat about Dell's offering a cupon for support for Linux servers which have to be specially ordered anyway?
Dell does not offer Linux preinstalled or installed with some kind of multi-boot option with Windows for comsumers. Dell sells millions of boxes to consumers, but Linux is not an option.
The reason - fear of losing Microsoft's discounts. This was amply demonstrated in the article yesterday about BeOS's offer to OEMs to preinstall their system at no cost. In other words, being intimidated by racketeers and thugs, and probably not wanting to go to the trouble to service Linux themselves untill a much larger percentage of consumers demand Linux preinstalled. They are covering all their bases by offering the cupons - nothing to lose (or risk) by doing that.
We don't need Dell - or LinuxCare. If people are skilled in servicing or administering Linux they best start their own companies and market their skills. LinuxCare is a prostitute for companies that are licking Microsoft's behind. A prostitute to a prostitute.
Too bad the Linux community is burdened by a large number of mediocre sysadmins who are mostly interested in their own careers servicing large corporations and their systems. The next step will be something like an MSCE for these mediocre people - it is already happening with various certification programs sponsered by competing commercial interests.
Let's get Linux on the desktop more and out of the hands of these motherfuckers. Otherwise, Linux will just become another commercial unix or worse.
Linux is for people to use, not just for corporations with no souls and no hearts. Sure, Linux is a great system for corporate networks but that should never be its main focus. Linux was designed by a home user, for home users, because he couldn't afford a commercial unix for his PC, remember?
I say screw the OEM's like Dell, Gateway and company, if they want to kiss M$ ass thats fine, next time its time to buy a new computer don't call them and beg for Linux or ask for a refund, either build your own system, which is what I do, or goto one of the companies that does preinstall Linux. I went to www.linux.org and found many that do, as the old saying goes "Put your money where your mouth is."
Advanced System Labs
Sells pre-installed Linux systems.
AmNet Computers LLC
Sells pre-installed computers with Slackware or Red Hat.
Apache Digital Corporation
Sells custom Intel, Alpha, and Sparc computer systems pre-installed with
Linux.
ApeX Systems Integration Corp.
Sells pre-installed i86 Linux systems.
ASA Computers
Sells Pentium, Pentium II, and Pentium Pro servers pre-installed with Red
Hat or Slackware. Also sells a Linux X-Windows Pentium workstation.
Aspen Systems Inc.
Sells Linux Alpha-based workstations.
Atipa Computers
Sells custom systems installed with Linux.
AZIZA Resources
Sells pre-installed Linux computers.
Castle Computers
Sells Pentium II workstations installed with Red Hat Linux.
Central Computers
Sells internet servers pre-installed with Caldera Linux
Cobalt Networks, Inc.
Sells the Qube, a pre-installed Linux server. Formerly Cobalt Microsserver,
Inc.
Computer Gallery
Sells custom configured computers with the RedHat distribution.
The Computer Underground, Inc.
Sells pre-installed Linux desktop computers and servers.
Competitive Computer Systems
Sells pre-installed Linux computers.
Comware International
Specializes in configuration, installation, and support of Linux internet
server systems.
Cosmos Engineering Co.
Sells "Linux On A Disk", hard disks preloaded with Linux.
Creative Consultants
Sells Intel and Alpha systems preconfigured with Red Hat.
DCG Computers, Inc.
Sells pre-installed Intel and Alpha Linux machines.
Hard Data Ltd.
Sells custom configured high-performance DEC Alpha servers and Intel based
PCs.
Integraph Computer Systems
Sells Pentium-II, Pentium-II Xeon, and AMD K6-2 workstations pre-installed
with Linux.
Inter-IntraNet Commuications
Sells pre-installed Linux computers.
Introspective Technologies USA
Sells x86 and RISC based systems with Linux pre-installed.
Kachina Technologies, Inc.
Sells pre-installed systems with Caldera or Debian.
~Lindsay Computer Systems
Sells power workstations and file servers installed with Caldera Linux.
Linux Hardware Solutions, Inc.
Sells Alpha workstations/servers, Pentium II workstations/servers, and
Digital laptops installed with your choice of Red Hat or Caldera Open Linux
Base.
Linux PPC
Sells custom configured PowerPC systems with Linux.
Linux World
Sells pre-installed Pentiums with Red Hat Linux.
Lodgepole Technology, Inc.
Sells DEC ALpha clones pre-installed with Red Hat Linux.
Microunix Systems
Sells pre-installed Power PC systems.
Microway, Inc.
Sells pre-installed Linux systems.
NekoTech, Inc.
Sells DEC AlphaStations with Linux pre-installed.
Netactive Systems, Ltd.
Sells Intel and Alpha Linux Servers and Workstations.
~Net Express
Sells pre-installed systems with Slackware, Red Hat, or Caldera Linux
distributions. Also sell multi-processor systems.
Pacific Internet
Sells WEBCUBE, an internet server running Linux.
Penguin Computing
Sells high-end Red Hat Linux systems -- Dual Pentium II and Pentium II
workstations and servers.
Promo X Systems
Sells high-end network systems pre-installed with Linux.
ParaSoft Sales (PSSC)
Sells i386 and Alpha architectures with Linux.
SupremeGS
Sells the Edison, a computer pre-installed with Linux.
SW Technology
Sells pre-installed Intel and Alpha systems.
Telenet Systems Solutions
Sells pre-installed Linux systems.
VA Research
Sells pre-installed Linux systems.
Workstation 2000
Specializes in selling Pentium II systems pre-loaded with Linux to corporate
customers.
The Micron box I am writing this on, has third party Windows support, hence, that company has been prepared to make the move to ... Linux!!??
Sorry, too much can be read into too little. However, Dell's past history is a more direct indicator of their intentions.
Looks like Silicon Valley is again the place to be right now if you are a support person and are well versed in UNIX/LINUX.
Time to buy stock? The race is on.
Codifex Maximus ~ In search of... a shorter sig.
Posted by Mephie:
Funny thing is, we have linux expertise in-house, and being based in Austin, there's a lot of people locally that we could pull in to create a dept.
--Mephie
Posted by Mephie:
You betcha.
--Mephie
You guys need to get your name out. I've been hearing about LinuxCare for months now, whereas I didn't know about you guys until recent posts to Slashdot. Or have I been blind, deaf, and dumb. The dumb part is especially likely, although not really relevant.
--
This signature left intentionally blank.
I am sure LinuxCare is happy about this. I am glad to hear Linux support agencies getting a boost. I am in college now, so maybe when I get out. . .
Support may be shuffled off to a third party, :)
which in this case is LinuxCare. However, they
may not have puzzled out how to support Linux.
But it is cheaper to hire people are know than to
retrain people in your employment again. Plus,
given that people are trained for windoze, doesn't
seem worthwhile to retrain them to Linux, considering
how expensive those Win-train sessions are.
But the important note is that Linux IS getting
shipped out there. That it get's exposure. So they
buy support from a third party. They are still
offering a token gesture.. even if it does show
just how scared companies are of MS that they
are hedging their bets and not really committing
as much money into the projects.
Seriously though, it is cheaper and easier to have
a third party do the support. Especially when
Linux isn't their expertise.
But then again, who knows.. maybe they are just
screwing around and making claims to get their
stock prices up and make some money without
violating any of their contracts or stepping on
toes. Guess we'll just see, won't we?
- Wing
- Reap the fires of the soul.
- Harvest the passion of life.
- Wing
- Reap the fires of the soul.
- Harvest the passion of life.
Don't forget that IBM also will outsource the support -- to Red Hat.
Linuxcare was even mentioned by Willow Bay on CNN!! You guys really got to get the word out about your company. IMHO, Linux support is possibly the opportunity with the most growth in the entire tech market. I mean how many other service do you have every major company practically begging for.
Funny thing, that Gateway outsourcing. They don't outsource support for their corporate clients. Only for the peon clients who don't really matter, except in a collective sense.
Why not Linux business desktops, especially from Dell's point of view? The hardware's no different from the Windoze systems their assembly lines are already set up to churn out (except that they don't really need as much horsepower, since they won't be running MS bloatware). The software to pre-load is significantly cheaper than the stuff they'd license from MS -- they can probably put command-line Linux, any of various GUIs and Corel Office Suite or StarOffice onto the machine for the price of MS Windows or MS Office alone. (If not less.)
Outsourcing the tech support means they really don't have to do much at all to make this work. Most of their overhead for adding the Linux line of Dells is in marketing, inventorying the new SKUs, creating new packaging, and so forth.
Heck, they can even make a little extra by marketing the neato-keen cachet of a Linux business system. If I were a Dell exec, I'd be all over this idea. There's really very little to lose, and a helluva lot to gain.
Kai MacTane: Web developer for hire in San Francisco
Outsourcing means that they can discontinue support anytime. It would have been more convincing if they committed an internal division for that support. But at this time they do not seem to think that there is a need for them to acquire Linux expertise in-house.
If you've been around the industry awhile, you'd know that most outsource support. i.e. for PC's, Dell and Compaq have used Xerox and Banctec...