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Re: commercial support for openldap

Let me, in fact, offer a concrete example of Ben's point. When we originally experimented with IMAP at Linfield we used the open source imap4 server from Carnegie-Mellon. When we decided to go production, in order to insure support we went with a commercial version of the CMU server offered by Simeon, aka Esys and now, Messaging Direct. However, the quality of the support in non-existent (a more expressive adjective comes to mind but I should probably use my better manners in public) and response time is equally bad -- and to think, we'e paying for that excuse for support. We have already dropped their LDAP server (we didn't get enough support to even fully implement it) and the IMAP server is next on the chopping block. And the reason: the combination of peer and developer support over email lists like this one is far superior to that of Messaging Direct's commercial support.

I might also add that having source code means I can also look at the problems myself and do enhancement's and so really tailor the software to the needs of Linfield -- the expression I heard somewhere "If you haven't got the source, it's not software" is very applicable.

-- Rob


--On 09/23/00 09:40:08 AM -0400 Ben Collins <bcollins@debian.org> wrote:

On Fri, Sep 22, 2000 at 11:22:01AM -0700, Adam Shand wrote: 

i was wondering if there is any commercial group that offers support
contracts for openldap.  i'm interested in using at work but
management may not buy off on it if there isn't commercial support
available from someone.


IMO, your management needs to realize the significant differences in
commercial software, in which commercial support is a requirement, and
open source software, in which support from the developers is far
better. I mean, if you go the way of Netscape Directory server for
example, would you ever get to talk to the people who actually write
the code? Would you ever be able to apply fixes on your own? Would
you ever get a legitimate bug fixed within a few hours, days, or even
weeks?

You might want to try a different approach :)

Ben

--
 -----------=======-=-======-=========-----------=====------------=-=
 ------ /  Ben Collins  --  ...on that fantastic voyage...  --
Debian GNU/Linux   \ `  bcollins@debian.org  --
bcollins@openldap.org  --  bcollins@linux.com  '
 `---=========------=======-------------=-=-----=-===-======-------=-
 -=---'





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    /\/_/_/_/_/       /\/_/ \/_/_/_/_/_/  QUIDQUID LATINE DICTUM SIT,
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 Rob Tanner
 UNIX and Networks Manager
 Linfield College, McMinnville OR
 (503) 434-2558 <rtanner@linfield.edu>