UNIX Software Libraries and Service Agreements

Overview

Information Services and Technology (IS&T) maintains a software library and administers service agreements for HP, Sun, and SGI computers on behalf of departments and laboratories throughout MIT. This service provides software and updates at prices that are a fraction of commercial prices. In addition, a custom help desk serves departments that do not have dedicated vendor-specific software experts.

A software library is available for the following platforms:

• HP (Hewlett-Packard) (formerly Compaq)
• Sun
• SGI (formerly Silicon Graphics)

Hewlett Packard

Annual software licenses
The ESL provides licenses for hundreds of VMS and HP Tru64 UNIX products. These licenses are, in effect, annual rentals, through an authorization key that must be re-installed annually. When you renew your annual ESL subscription, you become eligible to receive the new one-year keys. A list of ESL products is available for browsing at HP (Various CSLG Products Listings for Tru64 UNIX) or (Various CSLG Products Listings for OpenVMS)

Right to new versions
Each CPU registered for the ESL is authorized to upgrade to new revisions of the operating system and any layered VMS or Tru64 UNIX products included in the program.

Unlimited User Keys
Through the ESL, you can upgrade from one to unlimited users on VMS and Tru64 UNIX systems

Software Updates via MITnet or Loaner Media
UNIX-VMS-Help distributes ESL software via loaner media. Main campus subscribers can borrow media and installation documentation from N42-150 O. Loaner media will be delivered upon request, email to unix-vms-help@mit.edu or contact us by phone (617) 253-1103 (MIT x3-1103). Lincoln subscribers may borrow loaner CD's from Karen Meehan in LL-A-024 and she can be contacted via email at karenc@LL.MIT.EDU.

Software technical assistance
UNIX-VMS-Help provides software technical assistance to ESL subscribers. Assistance includes information on software installation procedures, software problem troubleshooting, assistance in hardware/software problem determination, answers to "how to" questions, and the like. UNIX-VMS-Help consultants also deal with HP's customer support centers on subscribers' behalf, escalating problems that cannot be resolved locally.

Manual Reference Library
UNIX-VMS-Help maintains a limited reference library of HP software manuals and installation documentation.

Contact
Ted Luera, TEI Coordinator, HP Computers
Email: ted.luera@hp.com
Phone: 877-480-4433, x 15582

The HP Government and Education Home Page

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SGI

Educare Support
SGI Streamlined the previous program (aka Varsity Support) into the EduCare Support offering. Rates vary as a function of the hardware configuration and optional offerings such as CD-ROM updates. Please contact us for machine eligibility and a pricing quote.

EduCare Subscribers are eligible for direct phone support with the vendor.

With your EduCare contract you get (via the Educare Software License Bundle):

• Software licenses for:
  • Message Passing Toolkit
  • ProDev(tm) Workshop
  • C Compiler
  • C++ Compiler
  • Fortran 90
  • Fortran 77
  • IRIX Dev Foundation 1.2
  • IRIX Dev Libraries 6.5
  • Auto Parallelization Option
• Software technical assistance and bug reporting directly to SGI.

License Information
Various SGI software products included in the Varsity Package (notably all compilers issued after version 7.1) require runtime licenses generated from information available on your machine. These are ordered as a complete set so that you will have all the products to which you are entitled.

As a general rule when you take delivery of a new system from SGI, check the serial number that is generated on the system from the command /etc/sysinfo and compare it to the serial number that is on the paperwork. If there are any conflicts, call 1-800-800-4744 and make sure that the correct serial number is in the SGI database. All license requests that contain a serial number not correctly registered in the SGI database will be rejected.

The host ID will not be checked, so it's important to obtain this number from the system at the time of the request. This number is the Ethernet MAC address(in decimal) and can change if a system board is replaced. If an incorrect host ID is included in the request, the licenses will be issued, but they will not work.

First check to see if your machine has already been registered for the licenses you need by sending email to lookup@sgi.com with a line containing the machine serial number. The response is virtually immediate. If you do not receive the licenses that you require, follow the directions below for requesting your permanent varsity licenses. In the meantime, EMERGENCY licenses (good for 2 weeks ) can be obtained by calling SGI at 800 800 4744.

Commands Used to Obtain Necessary Information:

For All License Requests:
Send email to unix-vms-help@mit.edu with the following current information from your machine:

• Host ID
• Serial number
• IRIX version
• hostname
• #CPUs

Contact
To get information on or to purchase other SGI products, contact the local Silicon Graphics sales office:

Diana Leland, Silicon Graphics
New England Sales Representative
Email: dianal@hartford.sgi.com
Phone: 860-633-6452
Fax: 860-659-2774

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Cost

Volume and Site licenses:

• Hewlett Packard - Membership in the Hewlett Packard Education Software Library (ESL) program - $500/year (rate depends on machine capacity)
• Sun - Membership in the Sun ScholarPass program - $250/year per CPU
• SGI - Membership in the EduCare Support program - $300/year (rate depends on machine capacity)

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Getting Help

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