The SuSE Linux Standard Server 8 images downloads option lets you download evaluation copies of the SuSE Linux Standard Server 8 CDs. When you purchase the product, you will receive a registration code that will lift the evaluation time frame (90 days). Download here.
Trialware: SuSE Linux Standard Server 8
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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Based upon my own experience with SuSE Enterprise Server support (or lack thereof rather), I would stay away from it. I installed it for a client and the CDs wouldn’t see the array controller on the server without updated versions of the CDs. Considering SuSE ES was on SP3 according to the website, I expected the product to have at least SP1 included which is what was needed to see the array controller. After registering the product online and logging into the support site, I expected an easy to find update link to download the updated ISO or a boot diskette/hardware diskette. Their support via phone is only open 6 hours a day in the United States and simply tells you to register your question online, so I registered the question via their online support while logged in and asked for an email back with the download location. It has been 3 months now and still no response… I found the answer via a SuSE list archive response about an older service pack.
I typically expect better support on a purchased product.
The headline suggests that it has a time bomb. Does it really have a time bomb? Or is it just a suggested time frame? I don’t like the idea of GPL’d trialware. Is this a kernel mod or KDE mod or what? I mean how do you time bomb free software?
What happens if you don’t enter a reg code? Does it quit working? Nag you to death? Keep going but illegaly (how could it be illegal with GPL’d software)?
I would say it is like most “trial versions” of Linux, it will be a suggested time period with a follow up “did you like the product? would you like us to bombard you with requests to purchase out goods and services?”. Some of the proprietary bits may have arbitory limitations, but I am sure its more of an “honesty” 90 days than actually and enforced 90 days.
Or you could get Whitebox Linux, which doesn’t have a time bomb. No offense to SuSE, but there’s no way I would “test” a distro with the sure knowledge I’ll have to reinstall in 90 days.
-Erwos
Isn’t suse linux open source? Why should people pay for it? If someone contribute for linux development, they will see their code used buy other company’s for profit, when some of you do it for free. Open source is a theory that couldn’t survive without contributions, someday will finish day theory.
Look at suse, redhat, mysql, etc… that profit from open source. Programmers that contributed or contribute are so stupid, that don’t stopped a will for think what they are doing.
there’s no way I would “test” a distro with the sure knowledge I’ll have to reinstall in 90 days.
It is a time bombed version, this means that after 90 days it stops operating normally. However, if you like it and choose to purchase it you simply apply a key code to remove the time bomb restriction. No re-installation is required.
Conversely, if you don’t like it , one would assume that you would not want to continue using it so you would be hard pressed to avoid re-installation at that point.
Whenever I test an application or OS I do it with the sure knowledge that I will remove or re-install it later. I don’t test on production machines which means that if I decide to use the product I will then have to install it on a production machine. Additionally, if I decide not to use it I will certainly be removing it and installing another product or OS in its place.
What you’re missing is that a hard-lock 90 days means I _must_ reinstall something else in 90 days. If it were open-ended, I could remove at my leisure. You get the point?
-Erwos
“Isn’t suse linux open source? Why should people pay for it?”
Think free as in freedom, not free as in beer.
-Erwos
What in the world are you all upset about. This is a step in the right direction, not the wrong direction. At least now you can do a real evaluation of the software before spending nearly 1K on it. And as for why you should pay for it…
SuSE has made some pretty cool advances in LDAP integration. Do you think that the really nice, easy to use web interface to the LDAP server was written by Joe hacker? Not a chance(no offense meant to Joe Hacker… I’ve tried some of the web based LDAP frontends produced for free to the community and while they will get the job done, they just don’t measure up to what SuSE has to offer). If the company puts significant resources into R&D they should get a return on it. The fact that their code is GPL’d is just a bonus. The LDAP integration and web interface to it are just one example. There are loads of reasons this product is worth more than free beer.
Besides… Why weren’t you complaining about this before you could download a 90 day trial? It’s not as though they pulled the free unsupported version in lieu of the trial version. A download version didn’t even exist before.
I think people are upset by the idea of taking GPL source (and possibly even the kernel itself) and placing a time bomb inside it. Imagine a kernel patched with time bomb and registration check does somehow give one a feeling that it is a perversion in term of open-source software.