Re: Re: slanted article "Inside System Storage -- by Tony Pearson"

>
> Make Hercules unable to run z/OS or z/VM except when it is running on IBM hardware.
>
> Make that rock solid impossible to bypass condition somehow - or have Roger or Jay express the desire to do so to IBM and gain their assistance in doing it - and IBM would almost certainly talk about licenses for major OS's under those provisions.  At least for the sub 1000 MIP world.
>

..disregarding any point of validity about the theory..

You can't do that *BECAUSE* (or is it thankfully to) of the Open Source 
nature of hercules..

And technically, I can't think of any method (foolproof or not) that can 
provide a guarantee we are running on actual IBM hardware.

But not ALL of IBM is this way..

For example, most of the products from SWG (SoftWare Group) are pretty 
much 'trust' and usage based.. Almost none of their products require 
keys or activation (exceptions are Rational products and Lotus 
Foundations). It's basically : we trust you - but we may audit you. And 
we give you the rules : With what you pay, you can do this and that - 
Granted, we gave you something that can do much more, but with what you 
paid you can only do so much... And since I work in that field - I can 
guarantee, at least here (France) - this works ! Of course you have 
companies that try to bypass those rules.. Or ignore them. But most are 
very careful about it - because the legal implications are WAY more 
costly than not paying the license fees.

If the mainframe group followed that method, they could very easily 
leave it to the end user to *guarantee* they are within the rules.

(On a side note, it's already how it works.. You can enable/disable 
Program Products to ensure conformance. And it's entirely voluntary).. 
And adding : You may run hercules but only on IBM hardware wouldn't be 
such a change).

Would it make a dent in IBM's hardware sale ? Very unlikely.. Au 
Contraire.. It would BOOST IBM hardware sales - Mainframe or not.

Would it stifle Younguns or retired admins from trying z/OS on their 
home computer? No.. But this would be EXACTLY what you would want. These 
guys wouldn't buy a z196 just for to entertain themselves.. But keeping 
up to date with the latest mainframe technologies is what they want to 
do. And I would think that IBM would be more than wise to allow 
independents & individuals to run the latest versions of their operating 
systems for personal use!

Would TurboHercules benefit from such a change in IBM : Sure!

But the primary beneficiary would most certainly be IBM itself (No.. 
People are not going to switch their z196 for hercules.. But if using 
hercules is allowed, then I *might* be tempted into buying a z196!)

It's a Win-Win scenario.. And possibly the only way for IBM to benefit 
from the whole thing! (remember : hercules is Open Source.. You can't 
*BUY* this one out..)

--Ivan



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