On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 16:11:31 -0500 (EST) Tom Ryan <tomryan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > On Thu, 11 Mar 2004, Andre Costa wrote: > > > I guess I will go with Tom on this one: I believe the license is > > referring to RHN on this specific clause. You two have just hit the > > point: this is the exact reason why I started this thread -- to know > > what happens to an installed RHEL server once the license expires > > from the perspective of the system maintainer. > > > > One possible scenario is, despite losing RHN, still being able to > > maintain the system through public RHEL SRPM sites -- which should > > be ok for usual package updates, but could be a problem for major > > version upgrades (like RHEL 3.0 to RHEL3.x or 4.0). > > > > The other possible scenario is that it is not feasible (either > > legally or practically) to maintain a 'rogue' RHEL installation, and > > ceasing to pay the license would mean a full reinstall. This would > > be a no-go. > > Thats a good question.. from their license, you grant them the right > to allow them to audit you for 1 year after you end your license.. Well, on this case I would most likely have a tainted RHEL installation, with non-RHEL packages; during "license lifetime" this would probably mean I would have no right to support, but I am not really sure what this would mean _after_ license expires (when I would not have right to support anymore). > I would suspect that as long as you only install 1 system using the > iso image provided via your subscription within the 2 year period > (i.e. subscribe for 1 year, cancel, wait 1 year).. you would be fine > to discontinue and manually upgrade your system by downloading and > recompiling the SRPMS.. > > after the 2 year period is over, RHN's agreement seems to lose a few > teeth in how they would enforce you from using the iso to install on a > 2nd system and download and compile the SRPMS for updates.. > > again, I am not advocating anything illegal AND I am not a lawyer (no > acroynms to confuse anyone).. Sure, no problem on my part =) We're just brainstorming, and that's what I expected when I posted my question here. Thks for sharing your ideas =) FYI I don't intend to do anything illegal -- that's actually one of the reasons behind my posts: I want to know how (if) I could proceed with RHEL after license expires _without_ going illegal. Best, Andre -- Andre Oliveira da Costa
