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20020531: Commercial GEMPAK?

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  • Subject: 20020531: Commercial GEMPAK?
  • Date: Mon, 03 Jun 2002 11:37:11 -0600
Rob,

What you propose is very similar to what a company called Planetary Data
(www.planetarydata.com) is doing. You might want to check them out as well.

Charging for your consulting time and configuring machines should be
perfectly within your right. It should be clear that the clients can
obtain Unidata software without charge if they choose. As you know, we 
cannot make any guarantees to the usability of any software including future 
support of operating systems and hardware, nor do we have the resources to
provide direct support. You can still contact other GEMPAK users through the
gembud email list of course. Also, we are always happy to know of bugs, and
other developments which users may provide, but we cannot guarantee
that any changes will make it in to future distributions- so make
modifications at your own risk.

You have probably seen the various postings regarding Linux problems
with RedHat 7.3 and the Xfree86 bundled X server. I cannot provide
any time frame for 24 bit support at this time, but is does appear that
other Linux users have been able to work around the Xfree86 problems
with source code updates. I throw that out for your consideration
as potential headaches that you might encounter.

Steve Chiswell
Unidata User Support




>From: "Rob Dale" <address@hidden>
>Organization: UCAR/Unidata
>Keywords: 200205311815.g4VIFYp14387

>Over the past few months I've had two TV weather departments and one private
>weather firm ask me about getting GEMPAK, and I know now-a-days anyone can
>sign up and download the GEMPAK/GARP packages... However they have no
>experience with (or time for) setting up Linux and getting GEMPAK fully
>functional -- something I can do.
>
>Would it be in violation of any Unidata agreement if I charged to install
>and configure GEMPAK? What I'm thinking is building a computer, installing
>Linux & GEMPAK, and reselling the ready-to-run computer and provide support
>after the sale. But before approaching them with that idea I want to make
>sure it's legal.
>
> - Rob
>