MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-10-15 |
| FROM | Michael Richardson
|
| SUBJECT | RE: [hangout] Shark Tank - Open Source (The Hard Way)
|
this reminds me of some people I know.
-----Original Message-----
From: Inker, Evan [mailto:EInker-at-gam.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 8:26 PM
To: hangout-at-nylxs.com
Subject: [hangout] Shark Tank - Open Source (The Hard Way)
Support tech for this application service provider is trying to help a
customer in another city connect to the ASP's servers, but he's getting
nowhere fast, says IT pilot fish on the scene.
"The guy's job title was systems administrator, but he was completely
clueless about how to configure a virtual private network," says fish.
It's not really a complicated problem. And the tech can't see running up a
big travel bill that the customer will have to pay if someone travels to the
customer's site to get the VPN working.
But then he remembers an open-source program called VNC, for "virtual
network computing," that will let him see the customer's console screen.
Tech tells the customer where to download the program. The customer installs
it, and soon the connection problem is solved.
Not long after, tech's boss -- who has heard about the problem -- drops by
to ask whether it was solved.
Tech explains -- and the boss hits the roof.
"The boss's face became red, and he started yelling that we were not a
charity house," says fish. "He said the tech should have downloaded the VNC
code and recompiled it, adding our company logo -- and then charged the
customer for something that is freely available."
Tech points out to the boss that what he's demanding is unethical. But the
boss doesn't seem to care.
"That wasn't a surprise," grumbles fish. "The company has already cut our
bottled water supply and also rationed coffee and toilet paper.
"And now we have a 'Company Support Tool' that's nothing more than a
recompiled VNC with the company logo."
Regards,
Evan
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