virtualbox.org

Hi Folks,

Anyone have any insight into the fact that the link to buy VBox on line is no longer functional? I tried to get a question answered the other day about what they meant by the online info about VBox licenses: "licensed on a per user basis" and what that was supposed to mean in terms of how I decided how many licenses to buy. I didn't get anyone to answer me, and when I tried to go back and just buy several "entitlements" the next day (figuring I'd go ahead and spend some money before it got entirely diverted to other things), the link now goes to a junk page:

From the "Editions" page:
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Editions

There is still a "Web Store" link, but as of this writing, it takes you to a page that says "server error" & "product information unavailable":
http://globalspecials.sun.com/store/glo ... .165871500

A few days ago, it took you to a page where you could put in a quantity and add them to a shopping cart.

So, is this just a weirdness or is Oracle perhaps backing off full support for VirtualBox (in favor of Oracle VM, perhaps)?

Anyone know anything?

John

I don't know anything about that, but I do know that since Oracle took over, we've been unable to order SunRays through our former Sun partner. Apparently Oracle cut off their ordering access and doesn't seem interested in talking to them anymore. If Oracle can't be bothered to let their partners sell things anymore, it doesn't bode well for individuals wanting to buy things online.

I don't wish to sound alarmist, and I don't have any inside information, but since the takeover Oracle has canned the free OpenSolaris CD programme, started charging $90 for Sun's previously free ODF plugin (to let Microsoft Office work with open document formats). Given these acts and that they killed off the Virtual Iron project shortly after they bought it, I'd think long and hard about implementing an "escape route" from VirtualBox if you find it's become strategically important to your operation.

pete_l wrote:I'd think long and hard about implementing an "escape route" from VirtualBox if you find it's become strategically important to your operation.

Yes, lets not get alarmist... "VirtualBox OSE" is open source, with a GPL license. It will survive. At worst there would be a hickup in development.

As to Oracle beginning to charge for some things: yep, sounds like bad news for leeches. Will I weep forever? ... Apparantly not. Personally I have no problem with Oracle charging a reasonable fee for something of value: that's how people earn a living. You can't have it both ways, i.e. you can't complain about Oracle charging for extras, and at the same time complain that Oracle might shut the whole project down because it doesn't earn revenue.

As to the OPs question: I suspect it means that everything is on hold until something is decided, but I have no idea what that something is.

As of today, the link that stopped working is completely gone. More info on this topic is in this thread:
http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic. ... 52#p145452
Supposedly you can buy it (there's a part number and official description in the thread noted above), but I have had no success so far (and I've spent a lot of time on this--annoying!).

Not directly VBox related, but we're still struggling to try and get Solaris/SunRay licenses. Looking into other thin/zero client products now since Oracle really doesn't seem to be interested in letting their partners take our money and give us goods/services in return.

SSCBrian wrote:Oracle really doesn't seem to be interested in letting their partners take our money and give us goods/services in return.

Sounds like the way British business has went: customers come banging on their doors demanding to give money, and they still can't make a sale. Does Oracle have Brits on the board?