Re: [tlug] VMWare GSX Server

["Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen@example.com>]

>>>>> "Patrick" == Patrick Niessen <tlug.niessen@example.com> writes:

    Patrick> No doubt that it is possible to run GSX on Gentoo, but
    Patrick> its a matter of liability and safety.

OH MY GOD!!!!

No, it's not.  At least, it's not obvious which way the liability and
safety issues run.  It's true that "nobody ever got fired for buying
IBM", but it's also true that people have been killed by IBM systems
running amok (so much for safety), and IBM was not liable (except in
certain jurisdictions which don't allow disclaimers of liability de
jure, and in others where judges and juries are willing to overrule
legally valid disclaimers if the defendents' pockets are deep enough).

So, are you looking to avoid getting fired, or are you trying to do
your best for your employers' clients?  Think about it.  If those
systems are something that you think you do better than other
companies do, and something that you brag about to your customers,
then you may _want_ to accept the liability, and bust your ass to make
sure that they are as safe as you can make them yourself.  If your
system is just overhead, and you're willing to trust it to others,
then by all means use the reputable systems and the recommended
complementors so that you can concentrate on the work that you
consider to be your real valued-added.

    Patrick> Anyway there is documentation on their website for those
    Patrick> supported systems, and they cannot weasel their way out
    Patrick> of the support by claiming I use the wrong distro.

Are you a lawyer, and have you read the fine print?  Of course they
can wiggle out; it's surely a "best effort" promise, no more.

    Patrick> That will probably happen if their are problems with the
    Patrick> guest operating systems ...

If that's true, you're using the wrong vendor.  Vendors who are
unwilling to support their customers' preferred configurations are
never any happier to support the vendors' recommended configuration.
They simply expect fewer problems, thus the recommendation.

Note that the sales department and the service department are usually
different people.  Look into the record of the service department
before you believe anything the sales people say.


-- 
Institute of Policy and Planning Sciences     http://turnbull.sk.tsukuba.ac.jp
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