[ale] The i2o Bus: A Conspiracy Against Free Software? (fwd)

[Greg Vence]

Geoffrey Myers wrote:
> 
> Has anyone heard of this 'i2o' standard.  I checked out the web site mentioned
> and it looks for real.  Does anyone see a way around this specification in
> order to implement Linux support?  Kinda scary for 'non-members.'  You can
> check out a list of the 'member' companies at:
> 
> http://www.i2osig.org/Members.html
> 
> There's a bunch of them.  Is this for real or a sick joke???
> 
> }Forwarded-by: Felix von Leitner <leitner at math.fu-berlin.de>
> }
> }This was forwarded back and forth about ten times.  I got it from the
> }linux-kernel mailing list.  It originated from Bruce Perens, the Debian
> }project leader (an important Linux distribution).
> }
> }-----Forwarded message from bruce at pixar.com-----
> }
> }Bruce Perens (bruce at pixar.com)
> }Wed, 16 Jul 97 11:40 PDT
> }
> }
> }Check out http://www.i2osig.org/ "i2o" is a developing "non-proprietary"
> }standard for high-performance computer peripherals. Unfortunately, it's a
> }closed standard, it requires a NDA, and you need a license to develop
> }software for it. Their terms are:
> }
> }        Membership is $5000/year.
> }        You can't develop software or hardware for it without being a member.
> }        You can't disclose source code for your drivers.
> }        You must stop making hardware or software for it if you lose membership
> }.
> }        Members can vote out other members.
> }
> }The backers of this are Microsoft, Novell, Hewlet-Packard, and NETFrame.
> }It looks as if the i2o agreements are deliberately written to exclude free
> }software.
> }
> }I suspect that if i2o peripherals become popular, free operating systems
> }will be locked out from running on PC hardware.
> }
> }Please take a look at this and give me a reality check.
> }
> }        Thanks
> }
> }        Bruce Perens
> }        Debian Project Leader
> }-----End of forwarded message-----
> }
> }The joke about it is that apparently, the admins of the ftp.i2osig.org
> }FTP server forgot to disable anonymous FTP for a brief period over the
> }last weekend, and so a someone found the PDF document with the
> }specification there, downloaded it and spread the word.  The ftp server
> }has been down since then, always loaded with the maximum user number ;)
> }When they finally noticed their problem, they removed the file, but the
> }damage was done.
> }
> }Now people are speculating whether it was a mistake on their side or
> }some benevolent admin or company put it there "accidentally" for the
> }free software community.
> }

As one of the Debian developers, I can say...  That the sight was
publicized by Wired On-line and Bruce didn't tell them.

Also, there is going to be an interesting announcement inside of a weeks
time.  (Read 'good news')

L8r -- Greg.