Re: Informix running on Linux

David, You are ready to rock! "-) The persisting problem I see here with getting Linux on Informix--er was that Informix on Linux, is how to model the distribution. However I think several things have to happen to get this event in motion: 1. There has to be a significant interest from the Informix community. Informix has jumped through hoops for things like this in the past, only to see a yawn come from the end-user community, which includes developers and now DBAs. A few of us here are excited about the proposal, but we too share a vision that may not reach beyond the shores of c.d.i. The demand for the ported version will determine the worthiness of future ports. It can't be an effort for 5 or 6 c.d.i. posters, and then nobody else cares. We need to support Informix in this effort by the numbers. This is the business case to getting it done. People need to email informix and tell them they want a port of DSA 7.x to Linux. Informix needs the reality check to make their effort a reality. They need to supply us with an appropriate email address, otherwise I fear one or two people will be inundated with it--but this might be OK :-) Ask yourself, If Informix 7.x was available for Linux, would you use it? Take five minutes, send an email to informix and tell them. Otherwise this is all for nothing. ( On balance I realize a few will have to take the lead, but a ground-swell of interest will make this a reality ) 2. The port has to be agreed upon as an initial effort, with the prospect that there will be more ports in the future. It is not a one-off, or one-time proposition, and then we have to beg again for future releases. This release should be a on-going release that is as good as or better than any they've got for x86. Everything should scale from Linux up. This means that future efforts for Informix can be a mix of outside development ( for free if you will ) and their own in-house efforts. This is new ground, but I think it is similar to building strength in anything, by bringing in a constantly fresh set of contributions to the table and building upon it. Extensible Development if you will. Linux follows this all the way. We don't have to help develop the 7.x products, however it would be nice to be able to provide add-on tools to this product, primarily because of the high acceptance of the OS. It reaches farther and wider than any other UNIX out there. Tool efforts can be more valuable because of this. Postgres is a great example of development that was non-commercial in its' orientation, and now works quite well as a finished product in the commercial world. DSA 7.x on Linux doesn't quite fit the Postgres model, however, the DSA engine really has no peer. It's so darn unique it should have a unique presence on a rather unique UNIX: Linux. Even if these weren't valid assumptions, keep in mind the competition is alive and kicking. Digital has made a port to one of their platforms. 3. Informix has to endorse the port: - as a significant understanding of the market-place, that Linux is a viable platform for their software as a business product and as a development platform. - they have a new vision of heavy emphasis on building developer consensus using the single developer as a metric for building products. In other words, one developer can work with the product, and build tools or learn on their own, or build collaborative teams, just as in the commercial world. - it needs to be announced with as much legitimacy as any other version, and with the same amount of hype used on their other products. The key thing: Linux makes the most out of the x86 than any other x86 Unix. Informix makes Linux legitimate for business at any level with a commercial data base. This is a "FIRST" they can own, and win back to the fold small-business developers. Imagine using Linux and Informix in a homeless shelter with an old 386 system, with the CURRENT release of both the OS and the data base... Talk about contributions to the community! 4. Once the port is completed we should see end-user support for Informix the likes we've never seen. We'll see an end to my jabs--for a while at least. This is an investment in your customers Informix!!! Oh--I almost forgot, I've a project name for this project: tsunami Isn't that the Japanese word for tidal wave? It fits with the "Make Waves" theme, don't you think? Hey, maybe they have an opening for me in marketing... nah... :-) Tim -- Tim Schaefer \\\\|// tschaefe@mindspring.com (6 6) ------------------------oOOo---( )---o00o--------- http://www.mindspring.com/~tschaefe