Free version of DA?

[chrda]

This is a idea i came over, that may not be fully thought over by me, but i am writing what i got. Hopefully some other good comments will come.

A free version of DirectAdmin
* Limited to 1 Domain
* LImited to 1 user (only admin)
* Limited other sections?
* No official support, own forum for community
* No Plugin support.
* Some other restrictions?
* Just need a new license to give full access, no new install.

Positive things:
* Easier to find bugs, with more people trying it.
* Attract more users to the paided version, after trying the free one.

Same install as the paided one, but the License sets the restrictions?
But it need the same struckture as the paided version, so the custombuild can be used.

That what i got in my head right now, maybe i get flamed, maybe not :)

Sign me up

[midro]

Possible problems:
* Big portals which are hosted on dedicated servers would get free licenses despite of their big budget.
* Actually other users would have to compensate this financial loss.
* More crowded forum because of support requests.

And what are advantages of making this type of licenses? What would you do with a one user server if not big portal hosting or testing? DA is not a game, it is made for production use. I can't see a point of such license.

I think that bulk VPS licenses would be much more usable.

[rtaylor]

DA is already the best deal out there. I voted no.

[Duboux]

voted NO as well..

They really work hard and do their best.
Free versions for windows kids to play with, will only drain more attention from the DA-makers away.

If we could pay like 5 bucks more.. if that could make them add another techie on the project, than that would be more my vote. ;)

[Nivko]

There will be a change too that the software can be nulled/cracked? So i voted no. :)

[chrda]

Enought good reason to not do it. like i said i didnt think it fully through.

Just so much simpler to use DA on a single domain server, than edit manually..
custombuild rocks also

maybe take a look at ispconfig

[SupermanInNY]

I voted Against that.

DA is already priced at modest pricing and is very affordable.

[Chrysalis]

the advantages it allows people to install directadmin on testing development boxes to aid in testing etc. without doing so on live production boxes, whilst currently to do testing you have to buy a full license so I certianly see the merits of a free or at least subsidised version.

It would need to allow adding at least 1 resseller and 1 user and a small amount of domains so functions can be tested but could be restricted eg. time bombed, limited to 2 ips, periodic wiping of data to prevent commercial services been sold on it. There is a risk of people using such a free version when they otherwise would buy it and I expect this is why there is no free version.

[Virtus]

On the other hand, a free TEST licence would be great, but for testing only, so all services only function internaly.. that would be nice..

[Nivko]

You can request it by the sales/support :)