Bug 8541

Uh.... startx doesn't need to be setup. Can you test this with 6.2, and in any
case give me the exact error messages?

Ah! Six months later, eh? I don't have the exact error message. It said that it couldn't configure startx. I don't have 6.2. I put this call in prior to the release 
of 6.2, so naturally, I expected support of 6.1. I have since worked around the problem. I presume that if I rerun Xconfigurator it would reproduce the 
problem, but I'm disinclined to take the chance of fouling my working system configuration.

So, tell me: if I upgrade to 6.2 and discover problems, will I have to wait six months for assistance? I have not had meaningful support from you through 
versions 6.0 & 6.1. Considering that I do UNIX network support for HP-UX, I do know something about support. What kind of support is it to put a 
problem on hold for six months, then to doubt that I even have the problem?

Sorry for the late reply - my guess is that the reason for the initial delay was
a sense of "this does not make sense" for the report itself. Shouldn't have
happened of course (I've just taken over development of the component, so I can
assure you no 6 months delay)

Thanks for your quicker reply. I've had so many problems with Red Hat 6.0 & 6.1 yet no consequential support that I have serious doubts about anyone 
without my kind of UNIX experience having lots of success using it. Every time I had to reinstall in the beginning I'd get different behavior & different 
installed software. Later this year, I'm inclined to bring it up to 6.2 unless you're going to a later version, but I cringe in anticipation of the new problems I'll 
get to play with.

Screen configuration has been the biggest beast because no two installations configured the same way, and the configuration that finally worked on 6.0 
didn't work on 6.1. Furthermore, 6.1's installation wouldn't start X once I got the screen configuration worked out. I had to manually set the inittab to start 
the right run level. Although Red Hat 6.x is better than what I've seen of earlier versions, it still seems not-ready-for-prime-time.

Xconfigurator in 6.2 will ask you if you want to boot into runlevel 5. When it
comes to hardware support, most supported hardware should work well but you will
have some cases where you will have problems. E.g., on my computers the last
couple of years I've just had to put in the CD or the bootfloppy (if somewhere
with a good Internet connection) and everything worked out of the box (with the
exception of newer HP Deskjets). BTW: the next release adds DDC probing to
Xconfigurator.

Xconfigurator typically set up booting into X, but not this time. Once I figured out what I had to do to get my resolution configured, the run level didn't start 
X. It took me a moment to determine that inittab had lost the initdefault setting.

As for hardware support, the only problems I had were 1) of my own mistake by not looking up support for the sound card, which has since been solved, 
and 2) discovering that there was no printer driver for the HP Officejet 350, but I've worked around that by using the Deskjet 500 settings -- not full 
capability, but it works.

On getting the new release, what would you propose? When 6.1 came out, I had had so much trouble getting support that I bought a new 6.1 package 
from the store to start support over again. During my 6.0 coverage, you guys changed your online support software and I couldn't get to my old account to 
start new calls or continue with my existing calls. While waiting for replies to this 6.1 call (you've been very helpful, thank you, so don't get the wrong idea), 
you guys moved to version 6.2. Now, I presume, you're going to 6.3. I'm not averse to paying a small fee to upgrade and get support, but the support 
needs to be more timely. What upgrade path or method would you suggest?

We're always working on improving support, and they are constantly getting
better. Happily, I don't do support (I'm a developer) but the people in support
I know are very good at what they do. If you want some support and the new 6.2
release, but are not sure how they are handling it right now, try the standard
edition - the support period isn't too long, but should be sufficient. It
doesn't have all the software in the DeLuxe edition, but it's much cheaper.

That's how I upgraded to 6.1. Based on that, I entered this call. You'll notice that the first entry in this call indicates a request about the previous support 
problem. That and my other calls have been ignored. I haven't seen any improvement in support and you're the first person who has been helpful. Well, 
this isn't your problem. So, is the next release coming soon enough that I needn't bother with 6.2?

This is not support, this is not a support call. This is a bug report facility
directly to us who develops the distribution. I've no knowledge whatsoever on
your support status, support calls etc - I just happen to be the person
developing Xconfigurator right now. 

As such, if the bug report doesn't look much like a bug or more of a support
question, you may not have a quick answer (or even an answer at all in some
cases, though I try do that)

I consider any problem report to be some kind of support call because a problem reported requests support. That the report might reveal a bug is a 
side-effect and should be handled, bringing in other people or another group as needed according to your categorizing of calls. When I logged this call, I 
explained what happened. The only place I could find at the time, January, to log this was in this location. I don't think it's appropriate for someone to look 
at a call, decide it's in the wrong place, and then ignore it. If there's a different group that handles the problem and due to customer error the call is in the 
wrong place, transfer it. Notify the customer that it got to the wrong place. Get someone more appropriate on the call.

I managed to work around the problem. I assume that the problem still exists and would be reproduceable. Now that I have the system working with 
respect to this call, I'm not inclined to bring it to its knees to reproduce the problem for you. Back in January or even February was the time to do that. 
Thank you very much for your advice, time, and interest in this. I do appreciate your effort. You can close this. When I upgrade, I will make a point of 
reporting everything that goes wrong and we'll see how the support has improved.

Sorry, but we have separate people, resources, tasks - they ask us if they need
to (hard issues), add bugs if needed etc. This is our public bug database, where
anyone can search for bugs (and solutions to these), add new bugs if these are
not found etc. If you mistook this for support, I'm sorry - it would indicate a
clearer labeling of the sites. Anyway - thanks for your input.

I didn't mistake it for support. I reported a bug in Xconfigurator on 6.1. Thanks.