So here it is:
VL Enterprise will have it's own identity, but maintain it's integrity within VL and Open Source. Paid Support and SQI Knowledge Center will be presented and managed as additions to what is currently working for VL and not as a major change.
The income stream from pre-paid technical help will be a
choice and not a requirement. Our current forum will be maintained in it's current identity. A summary is normally for the end of a document. However I thought it wise to put it first with details following.
1. The "Community Support" via the Bulletin Board * Broad community that builds momentum for VL
*hobbyist based - does not address mainstream users needs. An example would be a new M$ user, who is not accustom to text scripts but only GUI environments. This user may or may not ever learn or understand or ever want to learn or understand the use of text scripts. Their preception of Linux as a non GUI environment scares them away by mere preception, but may be willing to pay for that information. Much the same way as taking my vehicle for transmission servicing, because I do not understand it and frankly do not ever wish to. Thus I pay for that service.
* Generates answers to issues
* see
https://sqi.ecosq.com/ic/openCIE2. Information Center *A public "self-service" support site that has Problem/Solution Knowledge Units.
see
https://vector.ecosq.com/ic/FAQs and
https://vector.ecosq.com/ic/HowTos * Structured Content (not free form discussion)
* Problem / Solution format
* Material present in mainstream user "context"
* Structured format enables search to return solution in first or second link
* Authors guarantee quality of solutions
* Generates income to VL via Google Adwords
Screen shot of input page:
https://vector.ecosq.com/ic/?action=ContributorStatsYou will notice the colors get lighter as they move to the right. This displays a lighter color as the input goes down, it darkens as the input increases. I cannot show you this site stats page as it is behind the login page. Will see if I can get it to you. If you already have an account set up within SQI then contact me for further instructions. This page gives merit to the contributor(s) driving the input.
3.
Paid Support * Direct support from VL/SQI members
* Timely response guaranteed
* Issues driven to conclusion
All revenue will be split between those driving pre-paid support on a percentage/involvement basis. Involvement is logged per contributor through RT. It is envisioned that a surplus would go towards trade shows or other means of promoting VL. A commodity we dearly need to popularize VL to were it truly belongs.
http://www.desktoplinux.com/cgi-bin/survey/survey.cgi?view=archive&id=0813200712407So there you have it. We feel that this model accomplishes a great deal in holding to the principals of Open Source. While allowing VL to enter the arena of Enterprise.
Regards
Darrell