Is it really free?

Installing Linux from the internet is FREE! Need to be patient though, takes long time. If you fix some Linux problem from people, you can charge. If you develop a Linux program, you need to send it to internet for free, if people want to go to you directly for upgrade, you can charge, but not as EXPENSIVE as MS.

You should not charge for software that you get for free.

If you burn the programs to cdr, and you provide that to your client, then I'd say you can charge for the media and for the time you spent making a cd for your client... but you "should not" charge for software that is freely obtainable.

You should also be able to charge for "setting up a box" for fair market value of the service provided.

There's "legal" and there's also "right/wrong." I am not a lawyer; in my opinion, it's wrong to charge for anything freely obtained.

What I was getting at was the installation side of it. The configs of server and w/s, ect..

Is it free for both businesses and home use?

yes, the only thing you will pay for is if you decide you want to buy support. Other than that the only other thing that may cost something would be custom apps that they may have someone create for them, and non gpl software.

FREE for Linux requires reading of the GPL (General Public License) which should be included in your installation. If you install the software on a computer for someone else you may charge for your time to install and configure the system. If you maintain the system for another person you may charge a fee for maintenance. You may not charge for the FREE software! However, you may charge for any enhancements you make (new programs not based on the free software supplied.) Companies like RedHat charge you for the following items: The installation program developed by them to make it easier to install Linux on your computer, the cost of creating the distribution CD set, the cost of preparing and printing the manuals shipped with the CDset, and your FREE installation support. If you sign up for a maintenance agreement they charge you a fee to put your name on a mailing list, notify you when new releases are ready, and (in Red Hat's case) allow you to download new releases from their website automatically when releases are available.

The GPL is really a delight to read. Also visit www.fsf.org . It is assumed that if you make your customers aware that they can obtain the source code freely, and you do not claim credit for work somebody else did, then you can fairly charge whatever the customer is willing to pay. Some decades ago, IBM sold hardware and gave away the OS. And published the source! So it's not all that new an idea. The US Govt. imposed "unbundling" which meant that IBM had to charge for the hardware and softwareseparately. It was supposed to introduce competition. In hindsight, I'd say it was a failure.

The only way to get in trouble with Linux is to try to make it your own propriatary software, the GPL does not allow ANY part of the source code to be made unavailable. There is no restriction for you setting up, configuiring, or supporting a systemwith Linux. You are allowed to charge what ever you want for your services/time. Most (if not all) the major distro's have different levels set up for support. Also, you can charge a fee for providing install media (CD's DVD's etc.) for your time and matierial. You could also do the support for free, if you wanted to, but I would not recomend that for obvious reasons. ;>

Hope this clears the mud up some,
Ray

If you download the OS and software, and set the systems up, you can charge for your time for install and setup. You can also charge for support on a call by call or contingency basis. As for charging for the OS and software, unless you actually modify the code and recompile it you can not charge for it. You can, however, be reasonably compensated for your time spent downloading and for the media (if you leave the media with them). I would recommend comparing this cost to the cost of purchasingthe packaged solution. EXAMPLE: If you expect $80/hr. and it took 2 hours and your media cost was $1.25 your cost would be $161.25. If you could have purchased the same software from the vender for less, to be fair, you should charge the client whathe would have spent buying the shrink-wrapped package.

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