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List:       loadbalancing-l
Subject:    Re: [load balancing] F5 BigIP Software software upgrade
From:       "Chris Kirby" <ckirby () solaristech ! com>
Date:       2003-01-18 19:26:32
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F5 told me that they did not start including the media until later versions
of the BigIP. The boxes I am interested in buying are version 3.2.3PTF-01
and media was not included with this version. They were very clear to me on
the phone yesterday that I cannot obtain replacement media without having a
valid current support contract in place. I am more than willing to pay for a
small fee for replacement media for the same version the box already has,
but they said this would not be possible to do. I am also willing to pay a
larger fee for a 4.x upgrade but was told again that a support contract is
needed and from what I'm reading on here, this will cost around $6,000 CDN.
I am not expecting anything for free, that would be totally unfair. I was
just surprised/disappointed to hear from F5 Sales that I'd have to buy a
full blown support contract just to obtain replacement media for the same
version of software that I already have.

Although I understand why contracts are needed for an actual software
upgrade, I would be willing to pay a lower fee if there was a
"software-only" support contract available. Does anyone know if there is
such a thing? I don't mean to be beating this topic to death (grin), but we
really love the F5 product line and have the means to acquire a working HA+
solution, but we cannot afford to buy a full blown support contract at this
time. But we also don't want to be in a situation where if a hard drive
fails, we are unable to buy our own hard drive replacement and re-install
the software ourselves.

Does anyone know if it is possible (technically and legally speaking) to buy
another hard drive and back up the existing hard drive to it using a sector
copier such as Ghost or something? This spare hard drive would only be used
in the event that a hard drive failed in the BigIP and needed replacement.
The boxes are approaching 3 years in 6 months so this is a real possibility.

Thanks for all of your help and info everyone...

Chris.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Hamish Marson" <hamish@travellingkiwi.com>
To: <lb-l@vegan.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2003 1:08 PM
Subject: Re: [load balancing] F5 BigIP Software software upgrade


> Sven wrote:
>
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: Chris Kirby
> >To: lb-l@vegan.net
> >Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 4:31 PM
> >Subject: Re: [load balancing] F5 BigIP Software software upgrade
> >
> >
> >We are a small company and there is no way we would be able to afford
> >$4,000/yr ($6,000 Canadian) for a support contract. I understand some of
the
> >reasons why software upgrades are under the control of maintenance
contracts
> >but due to the cost, we will have to consider other load balancing
solutions
> >on the market. We would also hate to be in a situation where we could not
> >easily sell them either if we buy them new.
> >
> >
>
> If you buy them new, you get the media AFAIK... At least all the F5's
> I've ever seen had the media. If your HD goes bust (A flash card in the
> case of the newer 5000's etc), then you just reinstall from the media
> you've got. I haven't seen anythign to suggest that you have to pay a
> fee to continue to use the OS you've already got. Just one to get
> updates. Which vendors give away free updates?
>
> Oh. With F5 I believe you can just buy the software & run it on a PC if
> you really want to. (I saw something about that on their website last
year).
>
>
> Hamish.
>
> >I guess these things are better suited to companies with larger budgets.
We
> >are just too small at the moment.
> >
> >Chris.
> >*********************************
> >
> >You may want to look into the Alteon line (AD3/180 or AD4) as they are
> >relatively inexpensive (~$1500 USD) and service contracts for software
> >updates run about $900 USD annually. Just a thought ......
> >
> >Sven
> >
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> >
> >
>
>
> --
>
> I don't suffer from Insanity... | Linux User #16396
> I enjoy every minute of it... |
> |
> http://www.travellingkiwi.com/ |
>
>
>
>
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