9 Dec
2007
9 Dec
'07
11:10 a.m.
To All,
I offer comments / suggestion from perspective of enterprise user -
more precisely from perspective of the IT-folks who will be
installing and operating on behalf of their own enterprise.
First, no matter what we select, we will not be able to satisfy those
whose policy (or learning limitations) restrict them to a specific OS
/ DISTRO / VERSION / VENDOR. Just as there are myriads of
enterprise with unique approaches to their particular industry, so
also most have a very specific opinion about what works best for them.
Therefore, I suggest we boldly assert, that SER is to be promoted as
an appliance where the interests of the harried IT-folks can be best
served. Let this bundle be delivered as a as a stand alone CD/DVD
that, once it is deployed on a "buy it anywhere" machine, the
IT-folks will never need to go beyond the external web /
administrator interface into the inner realms of OS dependencies.
<DREAM>
This may be idealistic! However, broad scale enterprise acceptance
can be achieved very quickly when we are able to achieve this goal.
Oh, by-the-way, this broad user base who love the basic appliance
for it's simplicity will also love those whose talents can deliver
upscale versions of the same fundamental appliance. As one with
enough grey hair and grandchildren to have loved my 195x vintage
black and white television, I absolutely love the HD flat-screens of 2007!
</DREAM>
IMHO we should focus on an Enterprise level DISTRO. I agree with
the statement "... I think the ultimate goal should be something
like an ISO that's ready to go on a server..." Furthermore, I think
virtual machine distributions are just another in a long line of
"Silver Bullets" that may appeal to the developer heart in all of us
. . . but which will scare the crap out of the policy focused
Enterprise IT-folks.
Therefore, I feel there is enough talent among us to create the first
bundle in such a way to make it available to multiple Enterprise
users so long as they understand it as an appliance!
I have stated my preference for the CentOS-RHEL-FCx environment
because it has the broadest base of enterprise-quality custom
applications which equire mission-critical long-term stability. On
the other hand, I will be supportive of the bundled appliance concept
even if someone produces a VM - CentOS or another variation on the same theme.
..mike..