On Sun, Feb 23, 2020 at 12:41:13AM -0600, Eremey Valetov wrote:
> 
> 1.	I think that it is very likely that CentOS or a similar Linux distribution will be available in the long-term ...
> 2.	It makes sense for a scientific distribution based on CentOS or similar to be maintained.
>       If Scientific Linux is no longer maintained by Fermilab, a dedicated nonprofit organization may take over.
>


The elephant in the room is CERN. There will be a "free" "CERN Linux" until the need to run scientific machines
the size of the LHC and the need to analyze data from LHC sized experiments goes away (not today, not tomorrow).

At those scales of computing, commercial pricing schemes ("per core", "per cpu", "per user", "per seat") break down
and lose meaning. (how do you count "users" of embedded magnet controllers? how do you count the number of cpu cores
in LHC tier-1, tier-2, tier-3, etc computing centers spread across 50 countries? Then multiply that number
by any non-zero "per core" price and you get dollar numbers bigger than the GDP of Elbonia).

Anyhow, CERN has been effectively running a linux distribution ever since Red Hat went with paid subscriptions,
SLC based on SL at back then (with Fermilab & co), CC based on CentOS now. Of course CERN Linux is available
to all the CERN member states, and probably to states that have cooperation agreements with CERN.
(link to cern linux) http://linux.web.cern.ch/linux/ and
(link to list of cern members) https://home.cern/about/who-we-are/our-governance/member-states

And the issue is bigger than just the Linux base OS:

(link to cern-ends-trial-facebook-workplace) https://home.cern/news/news/computing/cern-ends-trial-facebook-workplace
(link to CERN Microsoft Alternatives project) https://home.cern/news/news/computing/migrating-open-source-technologies
(link to CERN "drop box") http://information-technology.web.cern.ch/services/CERNBox-Service


-- 
Konstantin Olchanski
Data Acquisition Systems: The Bytes Must Flow!
Email: olchansk-at-triumf-dot-ca
Snail mail: 4004 Wesbrook Mall, TRIUMF, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 2A3, Canada