RE: FN-FORUM Virtual Internet - Don't go there.

date posted 13th July 2001 17:33

At 15:48 13/07/2001 +0100, James wrote:

> > 2. The server I was sold - a Cobalt RAQ4 - carries limitations that were
> > not explained at any point during the sales process. Consequently the
> > server sold was not fit for its purpose.
>
>Can you expand on what the limitations were?

I was told by Virtual Internet that I was purchasing an industry-standard
Linux server with Apache, PostgreSQL, Majordomo, etc.

Once the server was sold to us, we discovered the majority of these
programs were in fact heavily modified in some way. To give you an example,
upgrading PERL or PostgreSQL "breaks" the machine. It causes the web-based
interface to die, the system monitor to send out error messages every 15
minutes and other such delights. To add insult to injury, the changes
Cobalt make are only documented in a manual that they sell for several
hundred pounds. There is no information on-line and support is only
available for 30 days.

Cobalt also say that the web-based interface can overwrite any changes to
httpd.conf at any time, and DNS changes can only be made through the
web-based interface.

I did a list of major issues off the top of my head, which I'd be happy to
forward if anyone is interested.

I spoke to Cobalt and they told me that the RAQ4 should only be sold as an
"appliance" and not as an Industry-standard Linux web server containing
"standard" programs that may be upgraded and modified as you would normally
expect with a vanilla Linux or Red Hat machine.

Needless to say, I'm happy to install my own patches, etc... I just unhappy
when someone sells me an industry-standard Linux server that isn't.

All the best,

--
Ian Fenn
Liang ba shiah dz / Ai chu fong to, Chopstix Media Limited
http://www.chopstixmedia.com/

Today's fortune:

A fool at forty is a fool indeed.