Re: Informix running on Linux

In article <3364f4ea.43483656@gate.idg.no>, Nils Myklebust <Nils.Myklebust@idg.no> writes > >DBA Resources <dbaresrc@xmission.xmission.com> wrote: > >: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. > >They should reconsidder support, documentation and marketing. >There should be a non supported version available. This would not hurt >Informix in any way. People should still be able to call Informix for >support, but with their credit card ready and with the clear signed >qualification that Informix might not be able to help them at all. >Otherwise c.d.i. and other usenet groups should be refered to as the >real place for support for this version. The SE and 4GL ports would be >the most clear cut products for this system, but even OnLine should be >available in this way. >Informix will possibly be afraid that selling "unsupported" products >in this way might hurt them due to complaints about defects and other >problems not beeing handled properly by them. This is unwaranted. >Their products are stable enough that this will not be a significant >problem. They will of course have to make very clear exactly what >version of Linux they have ported to and what the prerequisites are >for the products to run. > >They would need no additional documentation for the engine and 4GL as >such, but would of course have to make some installation >documentation. The distribution of the product should not include >printed manuals. They should be available on the web as they allready >are today, and on a CD-ROM with the distribution. This could keep the >costs down for Informix. > >On marketing Informix would have to deside for themselves. I think >that if it where available the word would spread real fast. They >should of course have a separate are for Linux information at their >own web site. By making it a separate area the big IS shops that may >dislike Linux wouldn't even have to click on the link to it. >It should be easy enough for Informix to market this as real low end >products so as to not significantly hurt their higher end sales. As I >argued before I also doubt that it will hurt that anyway. Those who >want to run on Linux wouldn't ever run on Sun, IBM or HP hardware. I >can't even see NT sales hurting. On the contrary I am quite sure it >will benefit the NT sales significantly after some time as it will >enable people to develop MS Windows based applications where the >database server can run on any hardware and OS. > > >: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. > >Yes I would doubt pointing fingers in the Linux community would be >very helpfull. However a cooperative effort with one of the commersial >Linux distributors should be possible and give Informix most if not >all of what they need and are used to from the big iron vendors. Of >course they can't expect these people to invest money in it, but they >should be able to find the help and some other resources they would >need. >Another idea might be to actually bring in to Informix some of the >real top notch Linux people on an assignment to help with the port. It >shouldn't be all that hard to find some of these. I even think many >would flock to Informix for the oportunity alone. > >Get someone in to port SE and 4GL first as a proof of consept. No Like me - I'm itching. >cure, no pay to the porters. If those doing it proved themselves as up If I get paid it's just icing on the cake... >to the task let them go for OnLine. Here also no cure, no pay. The >right people would port SE and 4GL real fast. OnLine may require more, >but should be doable according to what has been said about it. If it >should require more Linux development let them put the word out and >come back when it's done. This is one idea, there may be others. > >: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. > >Opportunity is knocking. Creativity is needed. Informix have it, they >only need to use it. Bold moves to new markets would help Informix out >significantly. > >: 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. > >Some information is allready in the FAQ. > > >Nils.Myklebust@idg.no >NM Data AS, P.O.Box 9090 Gronland, N-0133 Oslo, Norway >My opinions are those of my company >The Informix FAQ is at http://www.iiug.org -- David Williams