Subject: Re: [vserver] Roadmap and Future ...
From: Herbert Poetzl <herbert@13thfloor.at>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:24:28 +0100

On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 09:12:08AM +0000, Christoph Lukas wrote:
> Am Donnerstag, den 26.02.2009, 19:58 +0100 schrieb Herbert Poetzl:
> > On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 05:57:54PM +0000, Ed W wrote:

> > > Herbert Poetzl wrote:
> > > > One proposal I have (which was actually tested over
> > > > the years, and seems to work - at least for me) would
> > > > be that Companies using Linux-VServer get some kind
> > > > of 'Service Contract' with a Developer (which is a
> > > > good thing anyway), ranging between a single hour 
> > > > per month up to a day per week, for, let's say 100 
> > > > EUR per hour, which can be consumed or not, where in
> > > > the latter case, this time will be spent on general
> > > > Linux-VServer development and testing. (if you like
> > > > that idea, please contact me and I'm certain we can
> > > > arrange something)

> > > I'm a (very small) business using vservers and I am extremely 
> > > keen to see this project survive because I really don't want to have
> > > to switch to a different project since I do rather like vserver!! I
> > > think there are several other businesses using vserver here also who
> > > have raised their heads in the past (obviously many use the project,
> > > but don't read the mailing list!)

> > > I will happily buy a Service Contract.  However, I think you need 
> > > to do a little more work as to how this is all going to work. 

> > sure, that was just a rough idea where I know that
> > it works, and it always is a win/win ...

> > > In the past I have tried to get a few other people to bulk buy work 
> > > and the issue I think is that businesses (and individuals) really 
> > > have to define exactly what they are getting when they spend some 
> > > money (at least anything over pocket money prices). 

> > exactly and this complicated the whole efford to 
> > such degree that I would need a department to
> > define, organize and finalize such effords

> For me it would be sufficient to get an invoice including vat for
> every payment.

that is the idea beind a service contract, although I
personally prefer to let the customer handle the vat 
(as it is quite different between countries and 
involves a lot of work when I have to handle it)

> It would be great to have a wiki page that defines some conditions for
> this kind of support: what you can expect for your financial support
> and what not and who has to be contacted to make an arrangement.

well, we are trying to figure that right now, my basic
suggestion would be (3 categories):

 - guaranteed response within (a week, 2-3 days, 1 day)
 - guaranteed amount of time (1, 2-3, 4+ hours per month)
 - payment for work hours included (no, no, 4+)
 
so that would work for all price classes IMHO, for example:

a) small company (contributing back):

	CAT I contract, response within a week, 1 hour per
	      month reserved, no payment for actual incident
	      time included, total 50 EUR/month (excluding vat)

b) medium size company (no problems to be expected)

	CAT II contract, response within 2-3 days, 2 hours per
	      month reserved, no payment for actual incident
	      time, total 50 EUR/week (excl. vat)

c) large size company (with mission critical/experimental stuff)

	CAT III contract, response within 1 day, 8 hours per
	      month reserved, 4 hours included, total 250 EUR/week

note that those are guestimations, I still have to
write down a price chart how to calculate each combination
(maybe I do a web app :)

so, what can you expect?

- that I do not overbook my time, i.e. the guaranteed
  time will be available if you need it

- that I will respond to your problem within the response
  time (usually earlier)
      
- that I will use the hours not consumed by the customer
  to do Linux-VServer related work (coding, wiki, testing)

HTC,
Herbert

> Cheers,
> Christoph