"James B. Byrne" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Andrew Sigmund wrote:
>>
>> In the HP 3000 FAQ on 3K's web site, I noticed several
>> references to the MPE/iX 5.0 "push" release, and one
>> reference to a "pull" release.  Could `someone enlighten
>> me as to what these terms (push/pull) mean when refering
>> to software releases?
>>
>
>A cynical person might say that the difference is:
>
>One you have to ask for;
>The other you get whether you want it or not.
>
>There are certain support issues related to the push/pull
>moniker.  Once the push release of an OS is out the door the
>support life of the pull release expires six months later (or
>something along those lines).
>--
>James B. Byrne                 mailto:[log in to unmask]
>Harte & Lyne Limited           http://www.harte-lyne.ca
>Hamilton, Ontario              905-561-1241
 
 
Well, I'm not cynical, but I'd say your definition is pretty good.
You have to place an order to get a pull release.  Once every
other year or so, we will send a push release to all customers
who have support contracts.  "Pull" and "Push" are internal terms
that have been somewhat adopted by the HP3000 community.  We do
this to encourage our customers to move forward to releases with
extended support lives.
 
Support Life:  we also call "push" releases "Platform Releases",
and these have extended support life.  A Platform Release is supported
for 2 years or a year after then next Platform Release, whichever is
longer.  A regular ("pull") release is supported for less time.  So,
if you want to get onto a stable release and stay there for a long
time, get onto a Platform or "push" release.
 
   For example:  4.0 (a Platform Release) shipped in mid-1992
      and is still supported (although it will not be supported
      once Release 5.5 ships, in mid-1996).  4.5 (a "pull"
      release) shipped at the end of 1992, and the 5.0 Pull
      shipped in mid-1994 -- both 4.5 and 5.0 Pull are no
      longer supported.
 
Hope this helps.
 
Jon Cohen
HP -- Commercial Systems Division