Is Sun Directory Server free to use

Quite a bit of Sun's software is now available in this pay-for-support model (including Solaris itself). Check the software you're interested in for details, I don't think all Sun software follows this model yet and there arre various nuances.

Plus Sun has been making a lot of things into the basis for various Open Source or allied projects (OpenSolaris, OpenOffice.org, OpenDS, etc).

Free Beer and Free Speech, much like some Linux distributions. Not perfect yet, but impressive changes.

But these changes aren't as well known outside the Sun world as they could be. Even as a Sun Partner it was months before I knew of the license changes to Solaris.

Some people would disagree with the way I said the above. Perspectives, definitions, and phrasing causes different people to come to different opinions legitimately. Hopefully we can avoid a flame war about the nuances and politics around these issues.

Scott.R.Corzinea at 2007-7-12 9:34:11 >

Hi,

I am not sure I want to answer such questions from someone who calls himself "Evil" ;-)

Yes, Sun Directory Server Enterprise Edition is available from the web free of charge. You can download, install and run it without paying a single dime to Sun.

However, if you are running a serious business and you need any support or indemnification, you must buy a support contract.

And if you don't, I wll just stop answering to this forum when I see your alias ;-)

Ludovic.

ludovicpa at 2007-7-12 9:34:11 >

Hi eviladmin, the licensing is a bit hard to decode but it only indicates that you need to buy an entitlement if you want service and support from Sun.

So here are the pieces that outline this from the license file when you download DSEE:

--

A. ENTITLEMENT for SOFTWARE. Capitalized terms not defined

in this Entitlement have the meanings ascribed to them in

the SLA (attached below as Section B). These terms will

supersede any inconsistent or conflicting terms in the SLA.

Licensee ("You"): The entity receiving the Software from

Sun.

Effective Date: Date You receive the Software.

--

--

License Term: Perpetual (subject to termination under the

SLA).

Licensed Unit: Software Copy.

Licensed Unit Count: Unlimited.

Permitted Uses: You may reproduce and use the Software

internally for Your own Individual, Commercial, Service

Provider, or Research and Instructional Use, subject to and

conditioned on Your compliance with the Additional Terms

below.

--

Additional Terms:

3. If You would like to purchase Service for the Software,

You must first purchase a separate Entitlement to the

Software. Sun will not provide Service to You for Software

provided under this Entitlement. You may, however, purchase

support under this Entitlement for Solaris 10, Sun

Management Center, Sun Studio, Java Studio Enterprise, Java

Studio Creator, and Netbeans IDE.

Hope that helps clarify this better.

KevinLeMaya at 2007-7-12 9:34:11 >