Linux version of performance test

[maddog-uk]

Is there going to be a linux version released that will allow us to do comparisons between xp, windows server and linux?

[David (PassMark)]

We are just in the process of finishing our first Linux product. BurnInTest for Linux
http://www.passmark.com/products/bitlinux.htm

If this product is popular then we will look at doing other Linux products. If it turns into a flop (i.e. no one buys it) after 6 months or so then we'll probably give up on Linux as it is fairly expensive to develop on multiple platforms.

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David

[maddog-uk]

We are just in the process of finishing our first Linux product. BurnInTest for Linux
http://www.passmark.com/products/bitlinux.htm

If this product is popular then we will look at doing other Linux products. If it turns into a flop (i.e. no one buys it) after 6 months or so then we'll probably give up on Linux as it is fairly expensive to develop on multiple platforms.

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David

That looks good. Do you have a ball park cost for porting the performance tester? Ie what kind of investment would you be looking at?

Also do you do site licensing?

[David (PassMark)]

To get the same functionality and stability in Linux that we have in Windows our estimate is about 5 - 6 months of full time work for one person. In some cases it would be a complete re-write, for example none of the DirectX 3D tests will move to Linux.

So this gives a cost of about $50,000. (We have to pay salaries, rent, computer hardware, development licenses, etc..). So we would need to sell several thousand Linux licenses to break even. Then there is the ongoing support.

Our experience with Linux so far it that Linux users make a lot of noise about the software they want, but then expect someone else to develop a free product for them to use. But maybe this is a slightly negative. We have only just started our Linux experiment.

Yes, we do site licenses. Prices are about half way done this page.
http://www.passmark.com/sales/index.php

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David

[maddog-uk]

Thanks. I hear what you are saying on the linux stuff. Expect a site order from us shortly for the windows one.

Actually it possible to have set of tests it always runs but based on a selection. For example we dont need to test 2d/3d or cd/dvd

[David (PassMark)]

You can either run one test at a time or all the tests (or all in the suite) at one. So you just need to run the ones you want and avoid the ones you don't. There is no automatic way to do this.

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David