某论坛上有网友问及,下载 RHEL的 ISO 文件进行安装,但不购买 Red Hat 提供的任何服务,并且移除系统中 Red Hat 注册商标,这样做是否合法？去年我正好研究过这个问题,现在把旧文找出来整理重贴.
RHEL 的版权由 GPL 软件版权和 Red Hat 自有版权两部分组成,而 GPL 许可证具有传染性,故所有基于 GPL 开发的软件都要符合 GPL 条款,因此 Red Hat 自有版权部分在 RHEL 中只占很少的部分,只需删除所有 Red Hat Network Code 即可完全自由使用RHEL.这在 RHEL Subscriptions Renewal FAQs 里说得很清楚：
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6. If I don''t renew, can I continue to use the software?
Yes, under the General Public License (GP), you may use the software and maintain your own custom version of Linux. However, you will not have access to:
* Technical support from Red Hat.
* Security or software updates via Red Hat Network. You will have to find updates from alternative resources that provide reliable, secure downloads.
* Support from certified hardware suppliers or software vendors like Oracle for applications running on an expired Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscription.
* Coverage from the Red Hat Open Source Assurance program, featuring an Intellectual Property Warranty for Red Hat Enterprise Linux customers. Red Hat designed the program to protect customers using open source solutions.
Please note that when your subscription expires you will still be bound by the terms and conditions of the End User License Agreement and will have to remove all copies of Red Hat Network Code. |
Red Hat 的营利模式是 Subscription Business Model,即通过向用户出售技术服务,获取相应年费营利,这在 Red Hat Store 网页上说得也很清楚：
其 Subscription 内容主要包括 phone support、web support 和 unlimited incidents.如果你的技术能力足以自我 Support,又何必购买如此昂贵的 Support 呢？
这样使用 RHEL 完全合法.其实 Oracle 所谓的 Unbreakable Enterprise Linux 就是把 RHEL 改头换面,再低价出售 Compatiable Subscription（鄙视）,详见： http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_Enterprise_Linux
当然,Red Hat 为 Linux 的发展付出了巨大的努力,他们提供的 Red Hat Enterprise Linux 系列较之同类产品,无论在功能还是性能方面都有极大的提升（相对于 Fedora 9 和 Ubuntu Server 的测试结果可以看出）.我们应该如何回馈 Red Hat,促使其继续保持对开源软件的巨大热情,进一步推动 RHEL 又好又快发展,这是大家都需要考虑的问题（欢迎购买 Red Hat 相关产品、服务,参加 RHCE/RHCA 认证培训和考试）.
 ,向各位担心法律问题的朋友,奉上许可证检查脚本： CheckLicense.sh
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#!/bin/bash
# Author: hutuworm (http://hutuworm.blogspot.com)
# RELEASED UNDER GPLv2.
for PACKAGE in `rpm -qa`
do
NOTICE=`rpm -qi $PACKAGE | grep License | grep -iE ''red ?hat''`
if [ ! "$NOTICE" = "" ]
then
echo $PACKAGE ":" $NOTICE ;
fi
done
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在装有 RHEL 的服务器上执行：
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# sh CheckLicense.sh
redhat-logos-1.1.14.3-1 : Size : 993129 License: Copyright ?1999-2002 Red Hat, Inc. All rights reserved.
anaconda-images-9.1-3.RHEL : Size : 5363878 License: Copyright ?2003 Red Hat, Inc. All rights reserved.
anaconda-product-3-1AS : Size : 75111 License: Copyright 2003 Red Hat, Inc. All rights reserved. |
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