SuSE Linux: Only live evaluation avail. for dl?

[danielshoes]

Interesting... I was visiting SuSE Linux site and serching the SuSE 7.2 or 7.1 (kernel 2.4.x) ISO for download (at ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/), I saw only the damn"live evaluation" (runs only from the cd). Older versions (7.0 and below) are available for download. I've also visited http://www.linuxiso.com and noticed the same thing (only live eval).

At the same time you can find RedHat, Mandrake, Slack, etc... latest distros on every monthly Linux magazine here in Brazil!
Why are SuSE doing this? Is this allowed by GNU, FSF, etc?

 

[Elledan]

The latest version of SuSe is available for download, but not as ISO file. You'll have to download the whole folder + subfolders. A time-consuming task.

You can also create a bootfloppy and use this to install SuSe from the FTP server.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< At the same time you can find RedHat, Mandrake, Slack, etc... latest distros on every monthly Linux magazine here in Brazil!
Why are SuSE doing this? Is this allowed by GNU, FSF, etc? >>



Yes, it is. The source is available for all of the gpled software they use.

 

[danielshoes]

Elledan, do you mean the folder "ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/7.2/" ? I am not so sure... Why do they would put available the folders and not the ISO file with the (same) folders? I believe that SuSE wants to avoid that people use their linux without paying for it. If I am correct, maybe they are putting their product under risk with a dangerous business manouver, due to the fact that the Linux market is well served with others good distros, like Red Hat, Mandrake, Slackware, just to mention some of them...
Or people will spend their money with SuSE (because it is the best) and they will become rich... or SuSE is going to the wrong direction.... this is what I think.

 

[n0cmonkey]

The OpenBSD cd layout is copyrighted. This means that there is no iso of the REAL cd. The iso is for the people that support the project by buying the cds. I personally think this is reasonable. You can do an ftp install (of both suse and OpenbSD) so you really dont need an iso, and if you like it you should spend the small amount of money for the cds.