1. Linux Directions

2. This is the proposed support structure for current Fermi Linux releases. FERMI LINUX 7.1.x (based on RedHat 7.1) Support will end on Dec 31, 2003 FERMI LINUX 7.3.x (based on RedHat 7.3) Support will continue at least until Dec 31, 2004 This support will be security updates only. These security updates will be obtained from the linux community. We will mainly be using the Fedora Legacy community, as well as other places when needed. We will be contributing security patches to the community where appropriate. These security updates will be distributed via our usual security update mechanisms. These mechanisms are autoyum and/or direct ftp download from our linux distrubution servers (ie. linux and linux1.fnal.gov) FERMI LINUX 9.0.x (based on RedHat 9.0) Support will continue at least until April 30, 2004. Official RedHat support ends on that date. FERMI LINUX LTS (LongTermSupport) 3.0 (based on RedHat Enterprise 3.0) We expect to have a beta release by December 1st. Fermi Linux LTS is the recommended migration path for all earlier versions. November 06, 2003

3. http://www.whiteboxlinux.org/ What is the goal for White Box Linux? To provide an unencumbered RPM based Linux distribution that retains enough compatibility with Red Hat Linux to allow easy upgrades and to retain compatibility with their Errata srpms. Being based off of RHEL3 means that a machine should be able to avoid the upgrade treadmill until Oct 2008 since RHEL promises Errata availability for five years from date of initial release and RHEL3 shipped in Oct 2003. Or more briefly, to fill the gap between Fedora and RHEL. -- Michele |\ _,,,--,,_ /,`.-'`'._ \-;;,_ Michele Michelotto |,4- ) )_.;.( `'-' INFN di Padova '---''(_/._)-'(_\_) Tel+39 049 827 7188 Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur

5. On Thu, 20 Nov 2003, Michele Michelotto wrote: > http://www.whiteboxlinux.org/http://www.whiteboxlinux.org/ > > What is the goal for White Box Linux? Michele, mail noted. Although this news may have gone quiet since HEPiX in Vancouver, rest assured that discussions among us and with Redhat continue. And this whitebox initiative is noted and will play a part in the negotiations. At this juncture we do not want a public debate but rest assured that we are still seeking a HEP-wide deal from which all can benefit. Can't give a date for more news but hopefully in a few weeks. Alan -- Alan Silverman IT/PS Group Leader +------ CERN - European Organisation for Nuclear Research ------+ | E-mail: Alan.Silverman@cern.ch | | Earth-mail: IT/PS CERN, CH-1211 GENEVE 23, Switzerland | | Phone: +41 22 767 49 55 Fax: +41 22 767 71 55 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

6. >From: Mayly Sanchez [mailto:msanchez@physics.harvard.edu]mailto:msanchez@physics.harvard.edu >Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2003 7:47 PM >To: Minos Software Discussion List >Subject: RedHat education discounts > >Hi, >I don't think that RedHat had spelled this out before (from CNET): > >http://news.com.com/2100-7344_3-5107941.htmlhttp://news.com.com/2100-7344_3-5107941.html > >"Raleigh, N.C.-based Red Hat, the top seller of the open-source >operating system, will sell students its Red Hat Academic Desktop >product for $25 and sell schools its Red Hat Academic Server product >for $50, including online software updates but no telephone support." > >Furthermore they will provide what seems to be unlimited site licenses >for 2500$ and the school itself can set up a satellite branch of the >Red Hat Network. > >Market pressure anyone? SUSE was ready to take their market. Mayly > >=============================================== >Mayly Sanchez msanchez@physics.harvard.edu >===============================================

8. Subject: Redhat progress Gentlemen, here is some news on these negotiations. I have recently spoken with colleagues at SLAC who are working on getting support for the SLAC and BaBar communities. Their aims are very similar to us: Redhat Enterprise seems to offer the longevity of support that we seek; we want a deal we can afford and which covers not only the lab but the "community". And we want it soon because we need to start preparing to move beyond Redhat 7.3. The situation there is that a representative of the Doe (to which major US labs "belong") is negotiating informally on behalf of DoE labs with Redhat. At this sensitive stage we do not want the numbers talked about openly in mail but we are targetting at paying approximately the academic price per node with a significant price break after some number of nodes in a "cluster" (say around 1000) when the fee drops to something nominal. A cluster would be loosely defined and could include all the systems in a Centre at least, maybe in a site. And based on an honour system, no audits or node licences. There may be an extra charge if a site wishes to call in. CERN and SLAC would accept such a charge if reasonable. In this mail, I will put no prices or cost estimate but we (SLAC and CERN) believe that we can afford it. Further, we agreed to try to persuade Redhat to permit other sites to participate in one of two ways - take the software from SLAC or CERN and pay nothing but no rights to call Redhat or to get software direct from them (all calls for help to be directed at SLAC or CERN) - pay the per-node fee to Redhat and get the same access to Redhat as us. We have not had agreement from Redhat if this would be acceptable to them but it would help us if you could indicate that you agree with our principles and if, depending on the eventual price, you might wish to "buy-in" or if you will rely on SLAC or CERN for all software and support. Alan Silverman IT/PS Group Leader