I was thinking about using the FDS Express on a small community Web site, namely Princeton Java Users Group that I run. This is 100% non-profit pretty simple Web site. It’s current version runs on Java Struts and MySQL. I’d be happy to use Flex/FDS to replace Struts, but the licensing of FDS Express may not allow me to use it in the real world scenario. Here’s the extract from the Peter Ent’s blog where he explains the limitation of this version”
“Q2: How do you quantify the limitations for Flex Data Services Express?
A: Flex Data Services Express is production software that can be deployed only on a single, non clustered CPU. The Express license does not allow (1) install, use or access of Adobe Flex Data Services Express software on more than one CPU (2) cluster any CPUs, and/or use load balancing software or hardware; and (3) can not deploy any unique application on multiple disconnected single CPUs, including kiosks and other such devices.”
This makes it literally impossible to use it on a setup where the site is hosted by an ISP, because they are running multi CPU boxes. I know that theoretically you might be able to ask your ISP to do a special setup for some kind of a VM that is configured to use one CPU, but again, is it real? The other choice is to find in the attic one of these old single CPU boxes and host the site on your own. But it’s a hassle.
FDS Express can be used for education (does someone who runs it on a Core 2 DUO CPU violates the license?). I wonder if anyone can suggest the use of FDS Express for non-commercial Web sites? Can Adobe make some changes to the Licensing agreement to allow wider use of FDS Express?
Yakov Fain
Richard Leggett said,
February 8, 2007 @ 4:40 pm
It’s probably easier to think of it as a “developer edition”, just as we had with several Macromedia products, great for developers that are running a local server, or small teams for initial development before going to a staging or production server. I guess the name is a little confusing in that respect. Technically if you are running on an ISP using a virtual server (e.g. media temple, dreamhost etc) you still only have access to 1 CPU even though the hardware underneath is using multiple CPUs for hosting the multiple virtual servers, or is this a different example?
Jeff Whatcott said,
February 8, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Hi. We don’t license by the core today, so Core 2 DUO CPUs are legal for Express. We’re interested in talking to hosting companies about hosting Flex Data Services in a way that would be low cost for developers, consistent with the goals of the Express edition. If you are aware of an ISP that has expressed interest, please put is in contact with them.
Jeff Whatcott
Adobe
Yakov said,
February 8, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Richard, I gave a pretty simple example of a community Web site that does not have an easy way to be converted into the use of FDS Express. IMHO, this is an obstacle for “getting the message out” about this technology. If this was meant as a developers edition, it should be named so. For example, there is a free license for WebLogic applicatoin server Developers editions. It’s clear.
I’ve heard on some of the Adobe presentations (do not remember which one) that FDS Express is suitable for small community sites. If this is still the case, there should be an easy way to use it with any ISP without asking for server virtualization. May be it would be just easier to restrict Express edition to 5 concurrent connections (WebLogic Dev Edition works this way) rather than to a single CPU?
Anatole Tartakovsky said,
February 9, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Jeff,
ISPs do not get involved with the Java boxes – you are pretty much on your own in terms of software setup and configuration. However, most of the ISPs that our clients are running (and departamental “proof of copncept” servers fall in the same category) have multi-cpu boxes – even if Java server is just a part of overall solution.
Is it legal to use process affinity t bind instance of Java server to 1 CPU? Other CPUs will be bound to DB/Web tasks only.
Another cases are virtual hosts that use VMWare type of software to host multiple apps on multicore server. Those servers can be bound to variable number of CPUs – can it be considered legal for “Express” if it is bound to 1 CPU only?
Thank you,
Anatole
Yakov said,
February 26, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
Adobe is making a serious mistake by not providing any options between free FDS Express and $6K per CPU for 100 concurrent users. Why are they eliminating a huge number of potential businesses having anywhere between 2 and 100 concurrent users?
100 concurrent users at $6K, translates into $60 per each concurrent user. This could be the answer – do not lower the price, but create more fine-grained pricing, for example a license say for 7 concurrent users will cost $7*60=$420 per CPU. Many smaller businesses would easily pay $840 for licensing of each two-CPU server. If my business goes well, let me quickly upgrade the FDS license from 7 to 10 concurrent users, and so on.