Topic: Time to pitch in for SME 8.0....

[guest22]

People,

It's about time we ALL pitch in for the great efforts of the devs.... We can now enjoy SME Server 7.2! and again, a huge amount of effort has been put into this achievement. Many thanks for that!

How about SME Server 8.0? Do you really think it pops up automagically here on contribs.org ? WRONG! The devs need help, especially on donations

What if the 6.000+ registered users would donate $10,- each... and let's say for arguments sake because they love the distro. That would mean a usd$ 60.000 to cover some costs and makes up for the spare time not spent with family for those devs!

I would love to see all pitch in USD$ 10,- and for those of you using SME Server for your customers, why don't you charge your customers USD$ 100,- for each server install and USD$ 50 for each update??? After all, SME Server provides you a way of living, and consider doing the same thing back.

Wouldn't it be great if we can raise about a USD$ 100K within 3 months or so to SME Server Inc. Let's start the counter as of july 25th and check the balance on september 25th.

10 bucks is just a couple of beers, 100 bucks is just a few beers and a dinner. It's not about money, it simply takes money to keep on going to your all benefit!! Deal?

Go here: http://www.smeserver.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=34

Can anybody from the dev/doc team keep a wiki page up to date with the latest totals please? Even make this post sticky?

guest

[perelandra]

Very encouraging!

Donated 50.-

Your work (SME) is awesome!

[francissvictor]

On the outset I appreciate all the developers who contribute to SME. It is really a wonderful job.  It is to be supported and encouraged. There is no doubt in it. If you don't mind , I have one point to say. I would like to bring to the notice of the moderator that your donation page is not secured (http://www.smeserver.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=34). I am bit hesitant to pay through my credit card (since I don't have a paypal account).  Can you make it as a secure page so as to enable us to contribute something to your noble service.  I once again appreciate the SME server OS and its team.

[bpivk]

francissvictor the page is secure. You get sent to a secure paypall page if you click on a link to donate it just doesn't show that because the page gets opened in a frame. But you are on a secure paypall webpage so there's no need to worry.

[william_syd]

Decide on an amount

[JohnG]

Thanks to all involved with 7.2, it's a great product and each new version gets better and better.  Our donation is gladly being sent asap, keep up the excellent work, cheers!

(can't wait for 8!)

[francissvictor]

Thanks bpivk, I have paid thru my credit card.  Since the credit card companies always says  to check the secured page lock symbol (https) in the bottom before make any transactions. Thats the reason I got doubt.

[mmccarn]

Here's a link that will show you the "https" when you're actually talking to paypal: http://www.smeserver.org/sme-paypal3.html

[guest22]

Today is the 27th and we're 2 days into the 3 month period. Already some of you have donated and that is much appreciated!!

Now remember, this is all about showing your gratitude and appreciation. Again getting to SME 8.0 takes more then visiting contribs.org and.or posting questions. It's all about showing commitment.

I've been chatting with a few fellow visitors and asked them if they ever considered donating to SME Server. They didn't and I asked why?

The general answer I've got was 'contribs.org is there and we can read and download everything for free'.......


How long do YOU think this 'free' service will last if we do not assist. I know many visitors do ot have the excellent skills of the devs, but we still can do a lot of things.

1. Verify bugs (please install a VMware or VirtualBox server to test)
2. Donate

Anyway, let's see what you all feel is appropriate, let's make up the balance within 3 months, and see.

Meanwhile, give it all some thought and see where you can 'pitch in' you contribution.

Many thanks in advance!

guest

[tropicalview]

I realy like to make a donation.
but the buttons do not work.

This session contains invalid data.

[tropicalview]

it worked on the message before mine ....


Hey people.

what about recurrent donations.

a small amount everymonth will give a lot of recources for development i think.

does anybody know how i can set up a recurrent payment in paypal for 2,5 dollar a month???

[ercflmnt]

People,

It's about time we ALL pitch in for the great efforts of the devs.... We can now enjoy SME Server 7.2! and again, a huge amount of effort has been put into this achievement. Many thanks for that!

How about SME Server 8.0? Do you really think it pops up automagically here on contribs.org ? WRONG! The devs need help, especially on donations

What if the 6.000+ registered users would donate $10,- each... and let's
[cut]
guest

can you create a donation link in Euro(s) , it will be better for european-users..

Tia

Eric

[warren]

People,



It's about time we ALL pitch in for the great efforts of the devs....



What if the 6.000+ registered users would donate $10,- each... and let's say for arguments sake because they love the distro. That would mean a usd$ 60.000 to cover some costs and makes up for the spare time not spent with family for those devs!



I would love to see all pitch in USD$ 10,- and for those of you using SME Server for your customers, why don't you charge your customers USD$ 100,- for each server install and USD$ 50 for each update??? After all, SME Server provides you a way of living, and consider doing the same thing back.



Wouldn't it be great if we can raise about a USD$ 100K within 3 months or so to SME Server Inc. Let's start the counter as of july 25th and check the balance on september 25th.



10 bucks is just a couple of beers, 100 bucks is just a few beers and a dinner. It's not about money, it simply takes money to keep on going to your all benefit!! Deal?







Can anybody from the dev/doc team keep a wiki page up to date with the latest totals please? Even make this post sticky?



guest

Donation gladly made  



Com on guys / girls, the challenge has been made, lets meet it !

SME Server is a wonderful product, for the non-developers out there like myself, lets contribute and show our appreciation to the dev team.

Can anybody from the dev/doc team keep a wiki page up to date with the latest totals please?

I think we all need to see a target to aim for.





Warren

[mercyh]

Donation made.

Thanks to all for the great work.

[jfarschman]

Thanks...

  Continue to do a campaign like this every now and then.  Frankly I forget that I haven't donated in a while.     and the guilt becomes overwhelming.

  I think the $50 is highly appropriate.  If someone told me I could have a server that replaces Microsoft, includes anti-spam and anti-virus and that I could have it for $50/year I would gladly pay it....  but I need reminding every year.

[raem]

I would gladly pay it....  but I need reminding every year.

There's a possibility. What about creating a supporters mail list. Once a year or once a quarter (or however often deemed appropriate) a fund raising mail out could be sent to all list subscribers.

Of course registering on the list would be voluntary as is contributing funds or whatever else, but if people need reminding to donate regularly then surely that is not a hard thing to setup.

[jfarschman]

I work as a director of a non-profit organization and people are well intentioned, but they have to be reminded.  I have one other observation to make if you are going to build a reminder script.  

Keep a list with the $ amounts everyone last gave and solicit those same or greater $ amounts next year.  If you send people to screen with lesser donation options, people will tend to take those options.

Personally, I just donated $50.  Next year I would solicit my account specifically for $50, $100, $250 and $500. _NO_SMALLER_AMOUNTS_  Craft a message to people like me where I am led to believe that $50 is kind of the smallest amount I should give and if I give only $50 perhaps I should be embarrassed.  

These may, on the surface, seem like insipid ideas, but they work.  People give money according to their means and to alleviate guilt.

[mercyh]

Hi,

Just a bump to get this back on the first couple of pages of the forum 

[cactus]

Just a bump to get this back on the first couple of pages of the forum 

Maybe it deserves a sticky!

[byte]

Maybe it deserves a sticky!

Lets make it a sticky and see what progress is made...

[daniel]

My payment is made...  Thanks to all the developers for such a great community product.

[brianr]

ok, donated $100 (good value, given the pound to dollar ratio at the moment).

As a substantial part of my income comes (indirectly) from smeserver installs (I have 18 smeserver customers in the north west of England), I am happy to donate... but as someone pointed out earlier, I do need to be reminded sometimes!

[p-jones]

I am exceedingly happy to make a contribution here and now. I intend to deploy on a more commercial basis in the near future and will also explain to clients the pro and cons and point them to the direction of where they too can make a contribution. I do however refuse to collect that money on their behalf as it does make cloudy the isssue of whether the software itself is being sold for gain.

Having said that, I also have a perception that PayPal is not a safe place to send ones credit card details to. This perception is secondary to the issue of the secure/insecure site issue raised above. It is based on small snippets of rather non specific (= I cannot remember the details) info gleaned from trawling the net over the years.

Is this a valid perception ?

Whoever instigated this method probably knows the risks (or lack of) . What are those risks ? (if any) and are there any bullet proof alternative payments options for those of us outside of the USA.

[jfarschman]

p-jones,

  Paypal is one of those places that receives a lot of media coverage anytime any idiot makes a mistake and compromises their own account.

  The suffered from coverage about the phishing emails that got users to enter user names and passwords into a fake 'paypal' server.

  Frankly... I've had my AMEX card compromised twice in the past year and my PayPal compromised "0" times.

[Snoopyski]

People,

It's about time we ALL pitch in for the great efforts of the devs.... We can now enjoy SME Server 7.2! and again, a huge amount of effort has been put into this achievement. Many thanks for that!

How about SME Server 8.0? Do you really think it pops up automagically here on contribs.org ? WRONG! The devs need help, especially on donations

What if the 6.000+ registered users would donate $10,- each... and let's say for arguments sake because they love the distro. That would mean a usd$ 60.000 to cover some costs and makes up for the spare time not spent with family for those devs!

I would love to see all pitch in USD$ 10,- and for those of you using SME Server for your customers, why don't you charge your customers USD$ 100,- for each server install and USD$ 50 for each update??? After all, SME Server provides you a way of living, and consider doing the same thing back.

Wouldn't it be great if we can raise about a USD$ 100K within 3 months or so to SME Server Inc. Let's start the counter as of july 25th and check the balance on september 25th.

10 bucks is just a couple of beers, 100 bucks is just a few beers and a dinner. It's not about money, it simply takes money to keep on going to your all benefit!! Deal?

Go here: http://www.smeserver.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=34

Can anybody from the dev/doc team keep a wiki page up to date with the latest totals please? Even make this post sticky?

guest

Hello HF,

It's funny !!!

Thats the resolution I take for our compagny last month !!!
We are a IT Compagny base in Montréal (Québec) Canada and now each SME Server installed on a site for our custumer we charge 100 $ for the "SME Server 7.x or 8.x Software" to the client and send back to SME Server Inc. for donation...

Presently we have about ±10 Server Up and running in production since 3 years... So in next upgrade you will get some money !!!

So we work with you  (in money and support ) 

So far so good... Thanks for everybody supporting SME Server project...

Stéphane Gauvin
Service Informatique SG

[guest22]

Fantastic!

Very encouraging to see all of you expressing those positive 'waves' and especially the donation kinda 'wave'

Reading through the, very nice, reactions there seems to be the 'need' for a little friendly hint now and then to get the right attention at the right time. SO let me share some thoughts about timing then...

Timing is a subjective thing, it varies from individual to individual, pending on what business/personal or focus (or both) you may have. Would it be correct to identify the following high level 'groups' of SME users?:

1. Enthusiastic home users using SME Server for their home/SOHO needs
2. Companies that use SME Server (in whole of partially) for their SMB office(s)
3. IT Companies, deploying and maintaining SME Server for their clients
4. Others that use SME Server (or related) for commercial reasons in various ways

If so, would it fair to attach a donation SUGGESTION to each group to provide a guideline or food for thought?

Suggestions per group:
1. Annual donation $5 - $25
2. Per (re)install $100 plus annual maintenance contribution (updates) $25
3. Annual donation $100
4. Fair donation based on own judgment and above suggestions

Please don't 'shoot' me on the spot here, it's just a suggestion and for a good reason. As expressed in the start post, we really need to make sure we ensure the future of SME server. Virtually ALL related to the existence of SME Server is donated, ranging from time to hard dollars. Having said that (again) let's see what you get in return...

- VERY stable, easy and flexible Linux server distro (seen a better one yet? )
- A team of highly skilled and dedicated developers giving up family time for your pleasure
- Very accurate and frequent (security) updates
- Your 'hobby' home contribs.org including hardware servers, forums, website, wiki (all maintained)
- A huge amount of bandwidth to download/upload the many contribs and to read the tens of thousands posts
- 6000 + 'colleagues' that try to help you with your challenges
- Massive amounts of learning opportunities and study material
- Fun and new friends

Now where can you get that for 'free' ?

Again, these are all suggestions and food for thought. Please give it some consideration, e.g. what it takes to ensure a solid future for SME Server and what it will 'cost' you... (couple of drinks? 1 line item on an invoice? little extra internal expense budget?)

By the way, over 6000 contribs.org users and over 170.000 posts/replies! To how much would that total up if we would be charged 0.01 cent per pageview? Better opt for a fair donation.

Cheers,
guest

Please consider your reoccurring donation...

[brianr]

HF

I fit into the category 3 in your analysis, and consider $100 pa very reasonable (i just gave that amount as the result of your earlier post).

Although I have 18 companies signed up to smeserver, and they provide me with ongoing work, this OS is just too damn reliable!  Consequently they provide me with a living, but no more.  Luckily I have a few Windows based servers to look after as well.

I agree with the earlier poster that confusing the customers with fees for "free" (as in speech not as in beer) software is tricky, I make money on the time I put in, and also on the initial cost of the server I provide. Luckily people's cost expectations of a server is set very high due to the requirements if you go to the opposition.  However I usually sell on 3 or 4 boxes a year, so no fortune to be made there either.  I am just putting the "other" side of the story, sometimes I feel that some elements imagine that those of us installing  Open Source software to third parties are making lots of dosh... 'fraid not.

[guest22]

Brian,

Understood and fair enough. I do agree that it's all about IF the OSS model can be actively and clearly 'marketed' towards potential clients/users. Let's brainstorm here a bit;

That said, the SME Server software comes for 'free' as it is, and at a fixed point in time. Although it is 'damn' reliable, just like all other software, it needs maintenance and updates, whether it's free down loadable or not.
Pro-active monitoring and interpreting/analyze the reports, could one of of the hardware and software could be a service offering enclosed within a maintenance agreement/SLA. And that's with with the stock SME, let alone additional contribs.

Many times the 'general public' is focusing on the 'free' part, while the real question could be 'How do we make it work and maintain it for your specific needs'. meaning:

- Added (functional/business process) value of the proposed solution
- Fast Return on Investment
- Low Total Cost of Ownership

do NOT come just from buying hardware and pay someone to download and install a 'free' package. The (healthy) discussion with clients should focus on the above and not technical possibilities. We all know it simply works. And that's the tricky part, the enthusiasm 'we' have about SME Server and all services it provides by default tends to let us forget about the real added business value for a client. 'We' give away many hours in the form of 'pre-sales' where this could well be payed consultancy hours. The same could apply for our 'desire' to prove that it 'simply works' by spending free time on a installed SME Server and forget about ourselves.

A sample model for offering maintenance could be:

SAMPLE ONLY
Value every service with a 'score' (pending on your personal considerations). For example default server is 10 points, Active web server is 5 points, Active mailserver is 7 points etc. etc.

Total up the total 'value' of the installed server, let's say it totals up to 65 points in total. Then take the number of users, let's say 25. Now multiply server points times number of users (65 x 25) totaling to 1625.

So in this sample the maintenance/SLA annual fee would be $ 1.625,- Ofcourse you have to descide on what kind of support you're going to offer per service/functionality and the basic server. It seems to me there are many tools out there that, together with your own added value' would make this possible.
Also the maintenance fee would make an annual donation to SME Server possible

Anyway, it's all about your own added value, not about the 'free' down loadable software.

Cheers,
guest

[gerd]

I just released my guilty conscience - donation is made.
And thanks also to all those people working hard in the background to improve the performance of the SME server...

best regards

gerd

[Merv]

Donated!

I've been using this very, very reliable system for some years now - it's about time I at least donated!! Thanks everyone involved for one of the best/easiest internet servers around.

cheers, Merv

[purvis]

well i just made a sizeable donation and not because of this pitch, but because i am starting to use sme server.

[gducci]

Hi,
I made a donation, too. I found this forum very dynamic, so I think we have to donate some $$
Keep going on
Cheers

Gio

[edeganay]

But it forwards me on a "missing page" on paypal... 

Edd

[byte]

But it forwards me on a "missing page" on paypal... 

What is the link you used? Thanks.

[2whlgeezer]

I fall into category (1) above, and think that it the suggestion is a good one.  SME server is way way overkill for my house,  (just me and the wife and her butterfly stuff), but being stable, easy to install and administer, why not use it?  There is no way we could have anything approaching the utilty of SME without forking out considerable cash.  Further, running SME has be a great learning experience as well.  I rarely  post here (little to contribute) and get the vast majority of questions answered just by searching the forum. Kicking in a few bucks to help the cause is the probably the only way I could ever make a contribution to the cause.

[edeganay]

What is the link you used? Thanks.

All price buttons are redirected to a unavailable page from paypal (I'm french)

Edd

[stephen noble]

http://www.smeserver.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=34

works for me.
but paypal does treat some countries differently

[mrshark]

10$ donated...

[guest22]

10$ donated...

and counting....

next please..? 

[imcintyre]

Do we have a target? or a report on progress?

Any thought given to an advertisement on this site (don't shoot the messenger). I'm sure some hardware company might like to have all these hardware specifiers or recommenders see their name and a link.

I'm category 1 (home user) and gave $20 in March. Entertainment and education at a very low hourly rate

[gbentley]

Was just thinking outloud on another thread ....

For 'Commercial Installers' (as opposed to occasional home use/install) - a page to download CD lables, create a printed user manual even a box/cover for the CD and manual?

That way we could have something 'solid' to present the client with following the install. They then 'feel' like they are getting a serious product, not just some 'geeky freeware' (as one client put it)

Also, how about an installer network? A place to look up in your area where / who the regsitered installers are?

http://www.linuxgfx.co.uk/karoshi/mambo/dev/index.php?option=com_contact&catid=18&Itemid=0

Installers contribute a monthly donation in exchange for prioritised bug fixing and access to marketting media?

And a yearly reminder on 'voluntary subscriptions' to the installers newletter / support group.

Just ideas / invitations for comment etc

Edit: Just noticed the 'Subscriptions' section on your forum profile. This needs to given higher visibility IMHO.

[CharlieBrady]

Also, how about an installer network? A place to look up in your area where / who the regsitered installers are?

That would be a good idea, as long as the installers were funding co-ordinated marketing and ongoing development and bug tracking efforts.

Unfortunately, the contribs.org election process doesn't seem to have generated these sorts of initiatives. The elected Development Manager did a great job co-ordinating the development, testing and release of SME 7, and there's been some progress on the website, but I'm yet to see a business plan from the Business Manager, who we hoped would ensure that the SME server project was economically viable. There's no doubt in my mind that quite a few people are making money from SME server, but very little is being channeled back into R&D.

[Reinhold]

Business Manager

So what happened to cranky - Paul Dahlmann ?
It's been a while: Last Active:     March 21, 2007, 02:37:42 PM

Is it time for fresh activities in that direction?
I do remember there were several candiates for this post.

[guest22]

Is it time for fresh activities in that direction?

How can I help?

guest

[shawnbishop]

Gave my $$$$, very happy with SME...wish my programming skills were better so I could contribute more...

[byte]

wish my programming skills were better so I could contribute more...

They don't have to be, we are always looking for people to help verify bugs and such in the bug tracker

[visionoz]

Just donated $100 - hope that the donations are still streaming in - Thanks to all for the dev of such a useable product!!

[jjcuk]

Home user here
Just donated $50 , be a nice idea to have a running tally.




best regards
Jim Cuthbert

[Orlok]

Just donated and wanted to say a big thank you to everyone that has contributed to this project. I've been running SME server since ver6 and it is easily the best server distro I've used (and not to mention its free). I've installed SME for a couple of companies for filesharing and backup purposes (saved their bacon a couple of times, I shall see if I can get then to donate  ) Good luck with SME 8.0

Orlok

[zatnikatel]

Donated made also

[azylx]

Donation on its way.

Thanks to all for the great work.

[Tib]

I have put in $50.00 as well 

Keep those donations running

[wgimenes]

Donated as well.

[dadoudidon]

i did it as well some months ago
david

[beeboob]

Donate

[FraunhoferIFF]

Donate

[Fumetto]

I am still time to donate something? 

[wellsi]

Yes - still time.

SME 8 is not here yet - relating to the title of this thread, and even if it was released the running and development of the SME Server needs supporting.

[gery]

Donate

[Chummers]

Hi all..

Great product!

Made my donation!! ($50)

Keep up the great work and support.  I really appreciate everyones efforts!

 

Chummers

[troykd]

In for $20.  Any chance a 64 bit version is coming out?

Thanks for the hard work.

Troy

[CharlieBrady]

In for $20.  Any chance a 64 bit version is coming out?

Nobody has yet justified a 64bit version. Please search here and you should find discussion of pros and cons.

Why do you want a 64 bit version? In what way or ways do you think it might be noticeably different to a 32 bit version?

[cactus]

BUMP

[arne]

I would prefer a 32 bit SME edition before a 64 bit edition. Reason: As far as I can understand/have experienced, a 32 bit Linux server performs quite much bether as a virtual installation under vmware server 1.x than a 64 bit guest system. Centos 64 as host and SME 7.3/32 running as guest performs and works very well.

[zatnikatel]

Nobody has yet justified a 64bit version. Please search here and you should find discussion of pros and cons.

Why do you want a 64 bit version? In what way or ways do you think it might be noticeably different to a 32 bit version?

one good reason it can accept a lot more ram than 4gb of the current 32 bit system

[CharlieBrady]

one good reason it can accept a lot more ram than 4gb of the current 32 bit system

SME currently supports 16GB of RAM, with a maximum of 3GB per process (and these limits could easily be increased to 64GB total and 4GB per process with the 'hugemem' variant of the kernel). Nobody has ever suggested that these limitations are a problem - check the bug tracker.

[Peasant]

As per my pledge in http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=40039.msg184491#msg184491 donation of $200 sent.

Client is delighted with the system, and all has run smoothly so far. I've another interested, and a further $200 will follow if they bite as well. Keep up the good work, and I'll try and find more time to help out with bug verification and so on.

Cheers.

[zatnikatel]

SME currently supports 16GB of RAM, with a maximum of 3GB per process (and these limits could easily be increased to 64GB total and 4GB per process with the 'hugemem' variant of the kernel). Nobody has ever suggested that these limitations are a problem - check the bug tracker.

always though that 32 bit system could only support 4gb ram max maybe thinking to much about windows as 32 bit XP vista can only support 3.5 max out of 4 gb you loss 500 meg of it as i work with both windows and linux but linux is much better trying to get our clients of windows server to linux server as exchange server uses a crap load of ram if you have 3gb store.exe will use almosy all of it exchange is such a huge memory hog windows = very bad code
the old saying is Intel giveth and microsoft taketh away 

[dmcguire]

It's about time we ALL pitch in for the great efforts of the devs....

Just installed 7.3 on my home Dell SC440 at home. $50 donated. Thanks to all involved.

[sinclair]

i just saw the message and I'm pitching in wid a tenner. the exchange rate for the 'worthless' dollar is almost 2:1.
so all you Europeans on this side of the pond can pitch in knowing that your EU currency can get nearly 2 dollars for one EU note [of toilet paper] good work if you can get at it.

SME 8.x Keep it open and saucy-like for da peoples - Non suits free zone from djmamalove & da legsman.

[RvLardin]

That would be a good idea, as long as the installers were funding co-ordinated marketing and ongoing development and bug tracking efforts.

Unfortunately, the contribs.org election process doesn't seem to have generated these sorts of initiatives. The elected Development Manager did a great job co-ordinating the development, testing and release of SME 7, and there's been some progress on the website, but I'm yet to see a business plan from the Business Manager, who we hoped would ensure that the SME server project was economically viable. There's no doubt in my mind that quite a few people are making money from SME server, but very little is being channeled back into R&D.

Could be a good to create an "installer community" inside the contribs one.
Count me in.
What are the projects from the "Business manager" in this direction ?
As i said many times, I looking for an incitative way to coordonate "installer's" need and developpment focus.

Other thing, about the incomes :
Can we have a global view on Incomes/Outcomes of contribs.org ?
Can we know the amount that is effectively paid to the dev ?


Thks,
RV.

[cactus]

Can we know the amount that is effectively paid to the dev ?

Nothing AFAIK, as this is done in their own (spare) time and driven by personal motivation.