Hi,
I can not believe the pain in the rear it is to purchase IBM software. I
am running AIX version of Universe right now and want to switch over to
Linux. I just want to be able to try it with my complete database intact to
make sure it will work ok for me and my 10 users. I can not use the trial
version due to the file size limitations. My VOC is even too large for the
limit. My current IBM source will not provide it to me (because they don't
want to deal with Linux stuff) and IBM is giving me the run around too. My
main issue is that this is my personal quest and not company sponsored, so a
company PO is out of the question. I might possibly be able to issue a PO
and pay back the company if need be. I would prefer just to be able to go
out and buy my own personal use UniVerse 10 for Linux Personal Edition.
Does anyone know where I can just go online and do this? IBM does not offer
it on their online sales site.
If you have some good info for me, please email me at
hockman5 (AT) mywaydotcom (DOT)

Thanks,

Mike

Hi Mike.

Can I suggest that you take a look at UniVision? It certainly runs on
Linux (as well as many other platforms), has great features, excellent
stability and is a "well behaved application". This MV database is
greatly underestimated within the MV community.

USA
http://www.via.com/external/univision.htm

UK
http://www.univision.co.uk/

Hope this helps.


John Bend


mike u wrote:

Mike,

As a "10 user" system, if you do want to just purchase the product, you
would qualify for IBM's "Workgroup" pricing - which is cheaper than the
normal "server" style licences.

Also, IIRC, provided the client is paying maintenance, the migration
from AIX to Linux should be "free" (or close to it - maybe a media
charge), so this shouldn't be an problem with a cmpany PO.

Of course, if your current "IBM Source" is also the author of the
software, and responsible for support, then I would sugges you stay
within thrie guidelines - your employer will NOT be happy to discover
the are no longer supported.

If the softweare is "yours" (well, OK, the company you work for owns it
because they developed it), different kettle of fish. If your IBM
source is just that, a source of IBM product & support, then change
suppliers !!

Please feel free to contact me off list if necessary

Mike:

Try www.monolith.com and they should be able to work with on this. U2 have
temporary licenses you can use to try their product.

Hope this helps.

Bill

"mike u" <mike (AT) nunyabusiness (DOT) com> wrote

"Ross Ferris" <rossf (AT) stamina (DOT) com.au> wrote:
That's what I was thinking.

Mike:
If your VAR / Source / Application Support Provider only supports AIX
and not Linux then you may simply not have a choice - this is a
business issue, not technical. You need to stick with the supported
platform or you "can't" run their software. That might be just a
matter of their ability to support you, it might be a legal issue, and
it might be a technical issue. It's possible that because of
AIX-specific hooks in the code that your code simply won't run over
Linux.

There can be different types of legal issues:
- You may not be allowed to rehost the code because it doesn't belong
to you.
- You may not be allowed to rehost because the contract has an
explicit rehosting clause which may require a fee.
- Your application license may only cover 10 users and when you move
it to another platform you're going to need more licenses.

Your VAR may not have any way to de-activate a system, so they have no
way of knowing that your 'test' on the Linux box won't be the prelude
to free migration.

Technically, if they simply don't know Linux like they know AIX and
something happens to the Linux box, then who is your employer going to
call after they fire you for putting them into this situation? I
don't care if you're related to the management - That's a play on the
"getting hit by a bus metaphor". The point is what if you're not
there? The company is stuffed.

The phrase "because they don't want to deal with Linux stuff" really
doesn't say a lot. We don't need to know your business, but it sure
sounds like this is a lot more complicated that can be presented in a
public forum.

Good luck in any case.
Tony

Let me make myself a little bit clearer. I am the Sys Admin for the
company that is the end user of the software. I am migrating only as a
testing situation. I handle all of the support issues internally with the
exception of IBM Hardware and AIX. I finally did get IBM to respond with a
price for Universe and they quoted me list net, (342.00) I know that the
normal discount for an IBM partner is 50% off of that. I would be
interested in breaking away from Universe, however, our data base is written
to work on Universe. I am not sure how hard it would be to migrate to
UniVision. A temporary license for the full version of UniVerse 10 Workgroup
edition would be exactly what I would like to get, but I can not find anyone
(including IBM) to provide it to me. I deal with Monolith on other issues
but I don't see how they can help me with this UniVerse issue.
Is there not a way to obtain software for testing only from IBM?
Obviously their sales dept. is not the ones to contact. And I am not up to
paying 342.00 for something that I don't know if I really will need (if it
doesn't work for me), especially when I know the going price is really
$171.00.
Thanks for all of your replies and recommendations.

Mike





"mike u" <mike (AT) nunyabusiness (DOT) com> wrote

Hi Mike:

The price IS 342. Another thing is the dealer discount. And another
thing is you do not understand why the dealer earns 171 and do not give
you any services, even testing the software on other platform.

If you actually want to test the software in other platform and you
want to control everything and you want to break away for Universe i
suggest you to test OpenQM. It is very compatible with Universe. It is
GNU license and you will only spend your time.

joseba

My understanding is that, provided your maintenance is current,
migrating between OS platforms is "free" with UV .... so I think the
cost isn't an issue .... so we now come to testing ...

If Monolith are the peple your normally deal with, put some pressure on
them ... my understanding is that you CAN get access to time limited
versions of UV, typically for under a month, so you would need to have
the Linux side o things ready to go ...

Exactly WHAT functionality are you looking to test under Linux ? Does
you application use that much AIX/OS specific stuff ?

Mike,

All you need to do is request a 60 day evaluation license for UniVerse
on Linux. Monolith can provide it at no charge. One thing to keep in
mind, support is provided by the "presales" team which is not your
normal support channel.

As for moving your existing UniVerse platform from AIX to Linux, there
is no charge for his platform change, however, I would not suggest do
this to simply test your applicaiton on Linux.

Contact your sales rep or support person at Monolith for assistance.

Ray

mike u wrote:

Mike,

All you need to do is request a 60 day evaluation license for UniVerse
on Linux. Monolith can provide it at no charge. One thing to keep in
mind, support is provided by the "presales" team which is not your
normal support channel.

As for moving your existing UniVerse platform from AIX to Linux, there
is no charge for his platform change, however, I would not suggest do
this to simply test your applicaiton on Linux.

Contact your sales rep or support person at Monolith for assistance.

Ray

mike u wrote: