> From: Alan Dayley <alandd@mindspring.com>
> 
> Had a couple of questions come up about Red Hat
> Advanced Server, comparing to "regular" Red Hat
> Linux and other issues.  I figure this is the
> place to ask.  Maybe some of you have used it
> already.

I am running one copy of it at my company, for a
web server.

> 1. It's Linux based so most of it should be
> Free or Open licensed.  But, is it copyable? 
> If I want to kick the tires before I buy, can I
> get a copy from someone or download it from
> somewhere?

Yes, you can, you just don't get the support and
other benefits.

> 2. Knowing the power of Linux, I know that
> standard Red Hat or another distro can do any
> server operation that I want.  So, what value
> does Red Hat Advanced Server bring to make me
> want it over a "regular" distro?  (I have read
> the marketing speak at the Red Hat site.  I am
> looking for real world reasons here.)

Some folks have already offered up some reasons. 
Here's a couple I haven't heard mentioned.  

1. telephone support - this is nice.  I'm only 2
years into Linux and still have lots of
questions.  The phone support has been just
great, no matter what the question was.  Saved me
several sessions of scouring the Net trying to
find answers how to do something.  

2. guaranteed bandwidth for updates. I have a
cron job that runs automatically and keeps this
machine up2date.  I do this on a RH7.3 server
also, but sometimes that one fails to get the
latest stuff because the RH site is too busy.  I
KNOW my Advanced Server box is always current on
patches and security updates.

3. regression testing.  RH has put the Advanced
Server versions through more testing, and it has
been tweaked for server use, as opposed to being
compromized somewhere between desktop and server
optimization.  And their guarantee is their
support - they'll stick with you until you get it
working/problems fixed.  

But........... Advanced Server has been a
blessing, and a curse, for us.  For instance, you
can't just update software on it like you would
another distro.  If you run some thing on your
web server, for example, and you need the latest
php - too bad.  If you put that on there, RH
won't support the php part.  Another example - it
comes with sendmail.  I wanted to use postfix for
an MTA.  Well, I removed sendmail and installed
postfix - again, no support for this part (though
they still support everything else). 

Scott



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