This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Java Buzz by Weiqi Gao. Original Post: I *Do Not* Hate Red Hat Linux Feed Title: Weiqi Gao's Weblog Feed URL: http://www.weiqigao.com/blog/rss.xml Feed Description: Sharing My Experience... Latest Java Buzz Posts Latest Java Buzz Posts by Weiqi Gao Latest Posts From Weiqi Gao's Weblog

I have been a very happy Linux user since 1994, and a Happy Red Hat Linux user since (around) 1996. Here's just a few entries in my system maintenance log book (I did not keep a log before 1998):

• 06/20/1998: Installed Red Hat Linux 5.0 (Hurricane)
• 11/04/1998: Upgraded to Red Hat Linux 5.1
• 05/01/1999: Installed Red Hat Linux 5.2
• 08/28/1999: Installed Red Hat Linux 6.0
• 02/18/2000: Installed Red Hat Linux 6.1
• 07/10/2000: Upgraded to Red Hat Linux 6.2
• 02/17/2001: Installed Red Hat Linux 7.0
• 11/28/2002: Upgraded to Red Hat Linux 8.0
• 05/03/2003: Upgraded to Red Hat Linux 9.0
• 11/09/2003: Installed Fedora Core 1

As you can see, I came back to Red Hat Linux again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again in the last eight years. Keep in mind that coming back to Red Hat Linux is different from coming back to Windows or even MacOS because unlink Windows or MacOS, there are alternative Linux distributions such as SUSE, Mandrake, Debian, Gentoo, Knoppix, etc.

I choose to come back to Red Hat Linux because

• It does what I needed
• Switching to a different brand of Linux offers too much pain with too little gain

Then, all of a sudden, you see a column somewhere titled Why Linux Users Hate Red Hat.

Even before I clicked on the link, several thoughts went through my mind. The most prominent one being: Why am I not hating Red Hat Linux? Is there anything wrong with me?

Had I not actually read the article, that thought would have taken root and might actually influence my decision for the next upgrade cycle.

It's a good thing I did read the article and discovered that it's all about Red Hat Inc.'s business decisions regarding the EOL of Red Hat Linux 9.0 and how

Business customers, who usually expect to get at least three years of work out of an operating system, were as mad as wet hens to find their support disappearing from underneath them.

And in general I agree with everything the article says except for the above quote and the poor choice of words in the title.

You see, Red Hat Linux 9.0, for people who bought it, included:

• 30 days Web-based installation support
• 30 days Red Hat Network Basic Service

And on the outside of the box there is a big lettered notice surrounded with a black frame that reads:

Want to run your business on Red Hat Linux?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the right choice for you. Get mission-critical functionality, support from top enterprise vendors, a longer product life cycle, and up to 24 x 7 support to keep your business running. Purchase or learn more at www.redhat.com/enterprise/

I don't see how anybody could be so confused as to buy something with 30 days of support and expect a three year life cycle.

Maybe they are reading the wrong trade magazine?

As for me, I have just downloaded Fedora Core 2, which is released 4 days ago. I'll upgrade when I have a chance.