From: SCO Information <i...@sco.COM> Subject: Free SCO OpenServer - FAQ Date: 1996/09/05 Message-ID: <9609051257.aa17570@mother.sco.com> X-Deja-AN: 178735785 sender: ed...@xenitec.on.ca (Ed Hew) organization: XeniTec Consulting Services, Kitchener, ON, Canada followup-to: comp.unix.sco.misc newsgroups: comp.unix.sco.announce FREE SCO OpenServer - Frequently Asked Questions 5 Sept 1996 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Below are some questions and answers concerning SCO's new Free* SCO OpenServer product and licenses. Detailed information regarding this product is available on SCO's WWW Home Page at http://www.sco.com under "Products". Q: What is it? A: Free SCO OpenServer is an evaluation version of SCO OpenServer Desktop System and Development System that is licensed for evaluation in educational and non-commercial environments. The license is free of charge. The product media (if you need it) costs $19 plus shipping, handling, and any applicable taxes. Q: What can I do with it? A: You can use it for learning about UNIX systems , developing software that you do not sell, or to run a personal web site. You may not use it in your business or to support profit-making activities. Q: How do I get it? A: Free SCO OpenServer is ordered and licensed via the Internet. To acquire your license, or to order product, direct your Internet web browser to http://www.sco.com then select "Products", from which you can find the licensing page. At this time, SCO can only accept credit card orders with payment in US dollars. Q: I've read about FREE SCO OpenServer in a trade magazine. I don't have Web access. How can I get FREE SCO OpenServer ? A: We want to make the FREE SCO OpenServer media available at the absolute minimum cost. To reduce the administrative burden, we have placed the media and licensing forms on the Web only. If you have no Web connection, you'll need to enlist the help of someone who does. Most University Computer Science departments will have Web access, as do many computer equipment resellers, and Web access is demonstrated in most computer exhibitions today. Q: Can I download the FREE SCO OpenServer media rather than buying the CD-ROM media ? A: No. Even at the fastest typically available connection speed (T1), the download time would be over 20 hours. Never underestimate the bandwidth of a posted CD-ROM. :-) Q: What do I get? A: Licenses for a fully functional, single user version of SCO OpenServer Desktop System, and the SCO OpenServer Development System. Also included on the CD-ROM are SCO Doctor Lite, a systems management tool, and SCO ARCserve/Open Lite from Cheyenne, a backup tool. Q: When is it available? A: It is available now. Q: What comes in the media package? A: Free SCO OpenServer CD-ROM, boot diskette, boot-time loadable drivers diskette, pamphlet with license info, installation instructions, and pointers to free SCO online information services. Note that that you may share this media package with others, however, each user of the software must obtain an individual license, using the Internet, from SCO. The license is not transferable. Q: How long will my media take to arrive ? A: You should allow up to 28 days for delivery, but in most cases it will arrive much sooner. Q: How can I check that the status of my media order ? A: There's no telephone query line for order status checking, as the extra administrative burden would raise the costs of the media. If you're not sure that your order was received, and you've not received your media after a reasonable time, please send a fax to the same address/number you used for media ordering, detailing your problem. Q: Why is SCO doing this? A: We have had many requests from students, faculty, business users who want to experiment with SCO software at home, and non-profit companies that want to investigate putting up their own Internet web servers, who want the leading UNIX operating system, but at a price they can afford. After much discussion, we decided that "free" was the right price for these users. Q: Is SCO nuts? Why does this make economic sense? A: We believe that educational and non-commercial users are so constrained by cost that they aren't likely customers for SCO systems anyway. SCO's interest is that today's students will become familiar with our operating system, and business users will get additional familiarity with our products. SCO's hardware and software partners will also benefit from increased sales opportunities. Q: What if I want to use SCO UnixWare? When will Free* SCO UnixWare be available? A: SCO is working on plans to release a Free SCO UnixWare product and license. While an exact availability date has not been announced, SCO intends to continue this program for SCO UnixWare and future versions of the UNIX operating system as well. Q: Can I buy Free SCO OpenServer from my SCO Reseller? A: Initially, the ordering process is only available via World Wide Web. Over time it will also be available from other SCO channels who wish to carry it. Q: Why do I have to pay for the media in US$ ? Why can't I pay in my local currency ? A: We want to make the Free SCO OpenServer media available at the absolute minimum cost. Processing orders in multiple currencies worldwide would add to the administrative burden and drive up the media cost. Q: I don't have a credit card. Why can't I pay by personal check ? A: Apart from the currency processing costs, we're not able to process checks drawn on local banks around the world. Currently, VISA and Mastercard are the only available options. We are exploring whether we can offer order payment by International Money Order (available at most banks) for postally submitted orders in future. Q: Why can't I pay by other credit or debit cards ? A: Few other credit cards are available worldwide, and those that are have higher transaction costs. These costs would have to be passed on in the media cost. Q: How do I upgrade to real, commercial version of SCO OpenServer or SCO UnixWare products? A: You may purchase SCO's commercial product through your local SCO supplier, and reinstall. Q: How do I get Support assistance on Free SCO OpenServer? A: There is no free support provided with Free SCO OpenServer. There is however a wide variety of free information sources to help with problems. As with SCO's commercial products, you may make use of online information services, including Usenet newsgroups, the SCOFORUM on CompuServe, and software supplements available at http://www.sco.com and ftp://ftp.sco.com. Fee based support is available for Free SCO OpenServer from your SCO support service provider. Q: What kind of hardware is needed for Free SCO OpenServer? A: SCO's business to this point has been primarily in the high-end Intel Server and Business Workstation areas. As a result, although standard systems from vendors such as Acer, Compaq, HP, IBM, Olivetti, and Siemens are likely to be supported, some systems from other vendors are not. Consult the SCO Hardware Compatibility Handbook at http:///www.sco.com for detailed information on hardware support. Q: Where can I get more info on Free SCO OpenServer? A: Direct your web browser to http://www.sco.com and look under "Products". Inquiries via phone or email will be subject to considerable delay in answering. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- *You may obtain, free of charge, a license to use the SCO products contained on the Free SCO OpenServer CD-ROM under the terms and conditions specified in the software license agreement. Copyright(c) 1996 The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.