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SCO Identifies EV1Servers as Linux Licensee
Posted by
simoniker
on Mon Mar 01, 2004 01:21 PM
from the importance-of-being-licensed dept.
from the importance-of-being-licensed dept.
jasonhamilton writes "EV1Servers.net has been identified as a Linux licensee, giving them the dubious title of being the first dedicated hosting company to have a licence agreement with SCO. Rather than 'eliminating uncertainty from our clients' hosting infrastructure', as Robert Marsh (CEO of EV1Servers) claims, some users of EV1 appear to be somewhat upset."
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Their other accolade: (Score:5, Funny)
You can pick up your award at
There seems to have been a slight problem.... (Score:5, Funny)
Warning: mysql_connect(): Too many connections in
There seems to have been a slight problem with the database.
Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.
An E-Mail has been dispatched to our Technical Staff, who you can
also contact if the problem persists.
We apologise for any inconvenience.
Parent
Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... (Score:5, Funny)
Think they are really getting an e-mail with each failed attempt? Poor bastards.
Parent
Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:There seems to have been a slight problem.... (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:Their other accolade: (Score:5, Interesting)
Couldn't they take SCO to the cleaners if/when SCO loses and this "license" is proven not to be a requirement? Might be a nice short term investment...
Parent
Re:Their other accolade: (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:Their other accolade: (Score:5, Funny)
The law of supply and demand suggests that since they made very few of them, someone, somewhere may actually pay for copy.
Parent
Re:Their other accolade: (Score:5, Insightful)
That's a nice theory and for a minute there I briefly considered buying an SCO license, but in reality I doubt there will be any meat left on them bones by the time IBM is done with them. Of course you could play vulture and hope that IBM gets full and leaves a few scraps for you -- but I suspect there won't be anything left of SCO other then a bloody stain on the ground where they went down. IBM will probably grind up the bones and use them to make soup before it's all said and done ;)
Parent
Re:Their other accolade: (Score:5, Funny)
You can almost see the first wire transfer or briefcase of cash being flown to Switzerland. I would like my withdrawl in used unmarked bills, please. Could you also make out that cashiers check to Tin Foil Hats, Inc.
Parent
Re:Their other accolade: (Score:5, Informative)
The text of the contract [groklaw.net] says pretty clearly that you don't have much recourse if/when it turns out to be worthless.
Being Not A Lawyer, I can't really comment on how enforceable this clause is.
Parent
and the next headline is... (Score:5, Funny)
No kidding... (Score:5, Insightful)
[From Groklaw]
Sadly, that last link seems to be slashdotted already via Groklaw. The old "too many connections" PHP error. Heh.
I was apparently a bit late in submitting this article, but I have to wonder, would this action not terminate SCO's license to Linux under Section 4 of the GNU GPL [gnu.org]?
Section 4 reads:
Of course, IANAL.
Parent
Re:No kidding... (Score:5, Informative)
They offer dedicated servers with no support (beyond basic setup of the machine) in either linux or windows.
That article is just saying that initially they offered ONLY linux b/c it took too long to deploy windows servers, but now they can deploy windows servers even faster than they can deploy linux servers.
Parent
Arggh... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Arggh... (Score:5, Interesting)
So you're saying that if I claimed to own the Brooklyn Bridge and tried to collect tolls from the public for using it, that would be legal?
Parent
Not again... (Score:5, Funny)
Users definetly upset. (Score:5, Interesting)
So far I have no complaints against EV1, but a measure like this is only going to hurt its customers - we're going to be the ones who end up paying for the SCO license.
I always told my friends that I'd never buy a SCO license - what do I tell them now.
Re:Users definetly upset. (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
This customer: Taking it in stride (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm not a hosting customer, but I am a dialup customer [ev1.net]. The initial news that they've paid their protection money to SCO annoyed me, but then I remembered why I signed up with them in the first place.
Back in mid-2003, they suffered a transformer explosion and fire [rackshack.net]. Their backup systems kicked in, and they could have easily gotten away with letting the whole thing pass. But they didn't.
They brought in two backup generators -- one to run things, and one as a backup for the backup. That ain't cheap -- it was a 3000 kVa transformer that exploded, and that sounds like an awfully large item to replace (times 2) in 12 hours -- especially since the explosion happened at 7pm local time, when Generators-R-Us is probably closed for the day.
But that's not all -- instead of sweeping the whole mess under the rug, EV1.net's senior technical personnel were on the message boards with up-to-the-minute updates throughout the ordeal. They even posted pictures of the aftermath [rackshack.net]. That takes some guts!
So they paid SCO's mobsters. Disgusting, yes, but I see it as insurance... like having a plan for a second backup generator in case the fail-proof first backup generator fails. The chances of SCO prevailing are slim, but non-zero... just like the chances of the backup generator failing.
Stay with EV1, folks. They're victims, like you... they're just trying to limit the damage.
Parent
Re:Users definetly upset. (Score:5, Interesting)
Parent
EV1 users upset... (Score:5, Funny)
Something stinks about this (Score:5, Interesting)
In the meantime anybody hosting at this company? time to move away folks. I do not want to host my business at a company who lacks basic judgement.
You want me to Refresh? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:You want me to Refresh? (Score:5, Informative)
Parent
Suggested mottos (Score:5, Funny)
"SCO - Playing The Chump Card As Long As We Can"
EV1Servers.net was known as Rackshack.net (Score:5, Informative)
goto Rackshack.net [rackshack.net] and you'll get the 'official' word (and a redirect to EV1Servers.net)
For some reason there seems to be a lot of confusion about this.
What does this do for SCO's legal case? (Score:5, Interesting)
What does this do for their case? Are they going to come forward and say "See, EV1 bought a license. Now YOU need to buy a license!" or what? Really, what does this do for them legally? Anything. I sure hope not.
Re:What does this do for SCO's legal case? (Score:5, Insightful)
While it might have the effect of making other companies choose to buy a license, legally it has no weight. If I set up a scam and you fall for it, and I get caught, I can't tell the judge "Look, this guy bought one, so it must be legit!" That would simply not fly in a court of law in the US.
Parent
Thats good news (Score:5, Interesting)
In fact they should release all names of companies licensing Linux from SCO. Better yet, the names of their CEOs, their email addresses and business types. It will show the quality of business decisions going on within those places and will decrease certainity of investors who know about the whole SCO fiasco.
Customers Will Pay For It (Score:5, Interesting)
They WERE the first... (Score:5, Funny)
It appears they are no longer a dedicated hosting company...
We can't protect you... (Score:5, Funny)
It'd be a shame to see that happen to a nice little company like yours... (/mobster voice)
Tongue-in-cheek, folks!
My letter to them today (sent a few hours ago) (Score:5, Interesting)
I was considering your service for a customer I was doing consulting for, they have built a small web based data driven application for doing internal CRM. Looks like my final recommendation is going to be racksaver as they are not in corroboration with The SCO Group.
I have read the terms of their license agreement, and I don't see anything of value in that contract. Contrary seem to open yourself up to their crosshairs in the future exposing yourself, and anyone that I would recommend to your service. I also strongly feel that they are weaving nothing but lies and decept in their practices, and I can't help but wonder what your company must have gained by doing business with them.
Unfortunately, I do fear that your going to have a backlash of bad press come from this and will be nothing but harm for your company. (Again, another reason that I would in the future not recomend anyone to do business with EV1Servers.NET, I don't believe you can sustain a business with that kind of bad press).
I suggest reading the following website: www.groklaw.net, as I am sure that it's just a matter of hours before your company is front page to it and will definitely be posed as a sacrificial lamb. Having been a business partner/owner myself, I would strongly suggest that you put a clear stance on the front page of your website regarding the purchase. The community that feeds you business will turn on you if you don't. I personally have been completely turned off by the news.
I hope you don't feel this letter was an attack, nor do I expect a response. I hope that the matter might be resolved before further harm is done to your business. Today you just lost one potential customer. I felt enclined to at least notify you why that would be, as maybe it can be corrected.
Kindest Regards
XXXX XXXX
CTO - XXX Xxxxxxxxx
Sure, Slashdot EV1... they're ready for it! (Score:5, Insightful)
Considering that they didn't pay the "going rate" of $699 per server, and likely got a huge discount for allowing SCO to use their name, I'm pretty sure this one's being written off as an advertising expense. Slashdot and the rest of the tech media is taking the bait hook, line, and sinker.
Netcraft sez... (Score:5, Informative)
The site forums.ev1servers.net is running Apache/1.3.28 (Unix) mod_gzip/1.3.26.1a PHP/4.3.2 on Linux.
Well.... (Score:5, Interesting)
It sucks to see them feed the beast, but it may have been the smartest thing for them to do. They're an agressive company, growing like hell, and the last thing they need is to be the point defendent in something like this. So I understand the temptation to just pay it off and get it behind you.
I imagine SCO will next turn to smaller hosts, who will in turn make their own decisions.
What would be really nice is to have the darned courts get on with it, and actually decide something in this case. Most folks think SCO will go down in a ball of flames, but until that's determined, their claims are so wide-ranging that nobody can afford to take even a small chance. Until the courts start to give some indication of where they stand, this stuff will continue.
One interesting thing to note (Score:5, Insightful)
Note in all the articles & releases that 1: there is no mention if these licenses were purchased for any amount of money 2: it only covers "SCO Intellectual Property" and 3: it makes it seem like this is a Fortune 1000 company that's involved. The release states "EV1Servers.Net joins other Fortune 1000 companies that have signed up for a SCO IP license". Go take a look at any list of Fortune 1000 companies and check for yourself if EV1Servers.Net is listed. It's not even close.
In reading this press release it looks to me like the SCO FUD Machine is working at high speed.
EV1 further announces a new acquisition (Score:5, Funny)
Ummm, slight correction.... (Score:5, Informative)
OT: Robert Marsh (CEO of E1servers.net) interview Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, March 01 2004 @ 01:08 PM EST
http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2004/02/03/inter view_ev1servers_ceo_robert_mar
sh.html
Q. You recently made a long-term commitment to Red Hat Enterprise as EV1Servers' standard Linux OS going forward, and have also begun offering FreeBSD. What factors guided your decisions on the "OS road map" for EV1Servers for 2004 and beyond?
A.Our number one consideration was long-term stability. For the majority of our users, web servers are business tools, not unlike phone systems or copy machines. They expect the equipment to work smoothly, and have no interest in devoting significant time and attention to frequent updates. We felt that RHE's 12-18 month release cycle and 5-year support timeframe would best meet their needs.
We also took into account our customers' feedback. While most were strongly supportive of our selection of RHE, we also received a significant number of requests for FreeBSD as an alternative. And that's what we now offer.
Ev1servers opens a new datacenter on 3/3. (Score:5, Interesting)
Focus change suggestion... (Score:5, Funny)
[The above is not intended as real advice - I feel compelled to mention this because their company actually did get an SCO license]
Ryan Fenton
Re:Boycott EV1Servers (Score:5, Insightful)
Indeed. Show that sponsoring the terrorists is not tolerated.
No doubt Darl et. al will bring this up as an example of how the Linux Community (tm) attacks everyone that deals with them, but hey, there's nothing wrong with that.
Show the world that SCO is a disease that infects everyone that touches it.
Bring out the torches!
BTW, I hope nobody is moronic enough to DDOS them. It's a losing strategy. Boycott is much better.
(Obviously these guys could also be out friends, and this might be a scheme to get to SCO, perhaps for selling what they don't own or whatever, but that seems rather far-fetched).
Parent
Re:Boycott EV1Servers (Score:5, Informative)
Parent
Irritating Hyperbole (Score:5, Insightful)
Oh, for crying out loud, does every irritating jackass who uses intimidation tactics have to be called a "terrorist" now?
What a great idea, let's treat being litigious and greedy the same as being insane and murderous.
Parent
Re:Boycott EV1Servers (Score:5, Interesting)
If they're running Linux on anything (desktop, server, game cube, vibrating butt plug - it's been ported, whatever) then spare them the rightous anger and check the revolutionary zeal. Go boycott someone who's actually doing something to merit it (there are plenty of candidates)
Parent
They are NOT on "our" side... (Score:5, Interesting)
Microsoft claims here [microsoft.com] that they considered Linux, but came back to Microsoft products in the end.
My what curious press releases these folks appear in...
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slashdotted (Score:5, Funny)
That happened well over twelve seconds ago, where have you been???
Parent
Re:I was about to rent.... (Score:5, Informative)
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Re:So (Score:5, Interesting)
Oh...and the check is payable to Boies, Schiller, & Flexner, LLP.
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