Cue a little Jethro Tull https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsCyC1dZiN8. :)
-----Original Message----- From: Linux on 390 Port [mailto:LINUX-390@VM.MARIST.EDU] On Behalf Of Mark Post Sent: April 28, 2015 1:10 PM To: LINUX-390@VM.MARIST.EDU Subject: Re: Silly question about SLES >>> On 4/28/2015 at 12:25 PM, Mark Pace <pacemainl...@gmail.com> wrote: > Why is SLES coming out with a SLES 11SP4 when they have already > released SLES 12? If you look back, there are several things that have been fairly constant. - We always produce a GA version of a product, followed by exactly 4 service packs. - Before the final service pack of a version is released, the next version has been put out. - Typically, service pack 4 is fairly small and the goal is mostly new hardware enablement. The reasons for this are varied. Some customers make a big deal about going from one service pack to the next within a particular version. We do our best to make that as much of a non-event as possible, but some people (and ISVs) are just paranoid. (This was particularly true when we changed kernel versions at a service pack boundary, even though we made sure the kernel ABI didn't change.) These customers view version upgrades with significant trepidation. Other customers view service packs as more "business as usual" but still view (rightly) a new version as something that needs extensive testing. For them, the following service pack(s) for the version they're currently running are a big help. Some customers are so obstinate/paranoid that they pay us obscene amounts of money to continue supporting old service pack levels and even older versions. We have a definite love/hate relationship with them. The money's nice, but it's a pain to support all that "old stuff," sometimes long after even the upstream has stopped supporting it. The effort this requires is why the price tag is as steep as it is; we want to encourage people to stay more current so that we can put as much of our effort as possible into advancing our products for everyone. Hopefully, the way we do this provides some level of warm fuzzies for most of our customers. The more daring get brand new stuff every so often, the less daring can stay in their comfort zone for 13 years, and the not-quite-timid can write us big checks to keep living in the past. :) Mark Post ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@vm.marist.edu with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information on Linux on System z, visit http://wiki.linuxvm.org/ The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review retransmission dissemination or other use of or taking any action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient or delegate is strictly prohibited. If you received this in error please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. The integrity and security of this message cannot be guaranteed on the Internet. The sender accepts no liability for the content of this e-mail or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of information provided. The recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The sender accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail. This disclaimer is property of the TTC and must not be altered or circumvented in any manner. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@vm.marist.edu with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information on Linux on System z, visit http://wiki.linuxvm.org/
