Commercial file-server software

Hi all,

I am looking for commercially available software to provide fileserver
capabilities under Linux. I am aware of Samba but I cannot use
open-source or free software. Basically I want to load Linux onto an
Apple G5 and act as a file server to connected clients.

I've done a lot of searching and everybody seems to point at Samba for
this. I need a stand-alone (can't be part of an OS) product, that
supports Linux on PowerPC, that can do this and is commercially
avialable. Any suggestions or companies to look at?

Thanks

> I am looking for commercially available software to provide fileserver
> capabilities under Linux. I am aware of Samba but I cannot use
> open-source or free software. Basically I want to load Linux onto an
> Apple G5 and act as a file server to connected clients.
>
> I've done a lot of searching and everybody seems to point at Samba for
> this. I need a stand-alone (can't be part of an OS) product, that
> supports Linux on PowerPC, that can do this and is commercially
> avialable. Any suggestions or companies to look at?

Have you considered purchasing AIX or Mac OS-X?

Those seem likely to be more suitable for your purposes.
--
(reverse (concatenate 'string "moc.liamg" "@" "enworbbc"))
http://cbbrowne.com/info/
If we were meant to fly, we wouldn't keep losing our luggage.

On 2005-09-13, sutil83 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I am looking for commercially available software to provide fileserver
> capabilities under Linux. I am aware of Samba but I cannot use
> open-source or free software. Basically I want to load Linux onto an
> Apple G5 and act as a file server to connected clients.
>
> I've done a lot of searching and everybody seems to point at Samba for
> this. I need a stand-alone (can't be part of an OS) product, that
> supports Linux on PowerPC, that can do this and is commercially
> avialable. Any suggestions or companies to look at?

So, please say again, WHY can't you use Samba?

Just because it's Open Source?

OK, WHY can't you use Open Source?

--
Marco Dieckhoff
icq# 22243433
GPG Key 0x1A6C95BA -- http://www.frankonia-brunonia.de/keys

This solution is for a client so I cannot use open-source/freeware.
It's gotta come from a commercial vendor who can provide long-term
support (I'm talking in the order of decades) so we can't have software
from a developer who might disappear or kick the bucket relatively soon
leaving us high and dry when we need support.

In response to using other OS's, the choice of Linux on G5 platform was
made by higher powers and is out of my hands.

I've considered purchasing commercial support for Samba but haven't
gotten word yet from the higher ups so I'd like to have alternatives.

sutil83 wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I am looking for commercially available software to provide fileserver
> capabilities under Linux. I am aware of Samba but I cannot use
> open-source or free software. Basically I want to load Linux onto an
> Apple G5 and act as a file server to connected clients.
>
> I've done a lot of searching and everybody seems to point at Samba for
> this. I need a stand-alone (can't be part of an OS) product, that
> supports Linux on PowerPC, that can do this and is commercially
> avialable. Any suggestions or companies to look at?

This makes no sense at all!

Linux is open source, but you say you cannot use Samba because it is open source?

And you also say you want to install Linux on an Apple G5 computer. So why would
you not use the MacOS X that was already preinstalled on the Mac? Macs can act
as a file server out of the box just like Linux........

> Thanks

--
Phil Frisbie, Jr.
Hawk Software
http://www.hawksoft.com

On 2005-09-13, sutil83 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> This solution is for a client so I cannot use open-source/freeware.
> It's gotta come from a commercial vendor who can provide long-term
> support (I'm talking in the order of decades) so we can't have software
> from a developer who might disappear or kick the bucket relatively soon
> leaving us high and dry when we need support.
>
> In response to using other OS's, the choice of Linux on G5 platform was
> made by higher powers and is out of my hands.

So, if Linus and the other developers who are developing Linux for
20 years kick the bucket, you're kicked in the ass, right?

Are 20 years of Linux development really so much more than 13 years
of Samba development?

Samba is one of the best developed software you can get for Linux.
There are many software companies using samba - so even if all 30
people from samba.org stop working at one time, there is most
likely a company continuing their work -- which can only be done
with Open Source software!


On the other hand: Imagine you had installed your fileserver with
Windows 2000 around 5 years ago.

Windows 2000 is end-of-life. There will be no further updates.
You now have to buy XP or best 2003, pay again for your licences,
and upgrade your system -- which will most surely be a pain in the
ass.


--
Marco Dieckhoff
icq# 22243433
GPG Key 0x1A6C95BA -- http://www.frankonia-brunonia.de/keys

I realize this is a different situation than most but this is for a
very UNIQUE solution. MacOS X is being wiped off the G5 box and a
commercially distributed verison of Linux will be installed in its
place. I can't go into detail but he G5 box will have other functions
and roles aside from the file-server. I've entertained the idea of
just using Samba, as it comes with most if not all distro's but would
prefer an alternative involving a commerical product for
support/security reasons. Like I said above I've also considered just
purchasing the commercial support but don't know how well that will fly.

On 13 Sep 2005 08:23:42 -0700, sutil83 wrote:
> This solution is for a client so I cannot use open-source/freeware.
> It's gotta come from a commercial vendor who can provide long-term
> support (I'm talking in the order of decades) so we can't have software
> from a developer who might disappear or kick the bucket relatively soon
> leaving us high and dry when we need support.

This must be one of the most stupid things I have ever read. The Open
Source model MAKES SURE you have continuous support for software. Do
you really think there's only one person coding samba. I suggest you
read some on www.samba.org and get your facts straight. There's
actually loads of companies selling support on samba. Take a look at
http://us3.samba.org/samba/support/ and I bet you'll find a solid
company your pointy haired bosses can pay money to.

What makes you (or your boss) think open source softwware suddenly
will die one day? The user mass of software like samba is so huge so
if the samba team stops developing samba somone else can, and will,
just pick up the source code and continue. Hence _OPEN_ source. What
happens if your proprietary supplier goes bankrupt and stops support
for its software? Then you're pretty much screwed. Systems as widley
used as samba has a much more solid guarantee for sticking around for
decades than any proprietary solution you can find.

Sadly I recognize your situation so well. The tie-people refuses to
use software they cannot pay a lot of money for and are totally blind
to the arguments made by their employees that were hired just because
they had the knowledge they didn't have. The future of software should
be (and I think it will be) "Free" in all aspects of the word.

> In response to using other OS's, the choice of Linux on G5 platform was
> made by higher powers and is out of my hands.

So you have been forced into using a free operating system, but are
denied the choice of using free software? That contradicts itself
doesn't it?

> I've considered purchasing commercial support for Samba but haven't
> gotten word yet from the higher ups so I'd like to have
> alternatives.

Have you looked at NFS? It's still free, but at least you get to spend
money buying clients for the windows clients, even though recent
windows versions has support for nfs.

--
Rolf Arne Schulze
Min Weblog: http://rolfas.net/

sutil83 wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I am looking for commercially available software to provide fileserver
> capabilities under Linux. I am aware of Samba but I cannot use
> open-source or free software. Basically I want to load Linux onto an
> Apple G5 and act as a file server to connected clients.
>
> I've done a lot of searching and everybody seems to point at Samba for
> this. I need a stand-alone (can't be part of an OS) product, that
> supports Linux on PowerPC, that can do this and is commercially
> avialable. Any suggestions or companies to look at?
>
> Thanks

As others have noted, your request above makes no sense at all. (Unless you
came here straight after reading Microsoft's get the "facts" website, in
which case you should resign and give your clients the opportunity to hire
someone with a functioning brain.).

Open source solutions are more likely to be around after years than closed
source soultions - if the company goes under, so does your support, and in
most cases, continued product update availability.

That aside, openafs (open sourced by IBM many years ago) is an excellent
choice. Samba would have been insecure (what do you expect from something
that has to work with windows ?) anyways.

Sadly, people seem to misunderstand the bind I'm in.

This is not a typical solution for a typical client. I understand
Linux is a free operating system so my inability to use an open-source
application despite the fact that I'm using an open-source operating
system is a point of confusion. Ignore the fact that the platform is
Linux running on a G5 and focus on the fact that the app HAS TO BE
COMPATIBLE with Linux running on a G5. Come to think of it this might
add to more confusion but there's little else I can say. Ultimately we
will be running a Linux-like operating system.

Keep in mind that I am only searching for alternatives. If there are
none then I will have to do some convincing and relay that Samba
(possibly with commercial support) is the only choice. So please
refrain from referring me to samba.org and the listed commercial
support, I've looked there and realize that option.

I've considered NFS and that might also be an option but for now,
open-source is a serious negative, and not by my call but more of the
client's (and in turn my employers). So trying to convince me of the
benefits of open-source is futile. I KNOW the benefits and advocate it
myself. But that does little to convince very large entities.

For all I know all this might be overcome by events or decisions and
the packaged software (NFS, Samba) will be used. All I'm doing is
trying to find alternatives to consider. It's a mini trade study of
sorts (that's taking much more time and effor than I planned for, this
was supposed to be a side task).

If this whole thing is too ambiguous and confusing (I apologize, I'm
limited in what I can say), then say so and I'll continue my search
elsewhere. Thanks.