Re: Informix running on Linux

I'd like to throw my 2 pennies into this discussion. First of all these are *personal* opinions only. They are not official or unofficial IIUG statements like those my evil genetic clone makes from time to time. I thought you all would appreciate knowing that Informix is very aware your requests and desire for a Linux port of Informix products. My impression is that they are struggling with developing a profitability model for the product. They have to be able to show that the support, documentation, marketing, and other costs involved with the port could be recovered and a long-term and long-lasting profit could be established. It's also a completely different market for them to play in. They are used to dealing with an established vendors who will put X developers whereever the port is occuring to ensure success. That could not happen with Linux. I happen to know that the porting department is very leary about trying to port to Linux because of a failed attempt to port to BSD last year. The suggestion was made that one distribution of Linux be selected as *the* supported Linux O/S, and while that works great from a marketing perspective, the problem still goes back to who do you call when there's a problem with the O/S? In this case you have to put yourself in Informix's mindset of being able to point a finger at someone and say "fix it." That might not be possible with Linux. So what's the bottom line? I know those who control the purse strings have looked at this issue before and have set it aside for the time being. A linux port, however valuable it might be, will not happen unless a viable business case can be built. Those who have successfully got Informix products up and running on Linux would do those interested in seeing a Linux port happen a great service by sending detailed instructions of how they did it to someone like Kerry Sainsbury who maintains the Informix FAQ. While I can not speak for him or what he might do with it, I think he would include this information in the FAQ. Carlton ______________________________________________________________________ Carlton Doe "It's not *over* until I win!" DBA Resources, Inc. -- Les Brown Salt Lake City, UT carlton@iiug.org http://www.iiug.org dbaresrc@xmission.com http://www.xmission.com/~dbaresrc carlton@errin.dbaresrc.com PGP key: finger -l dbaresrc@xmission.com