Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!stanford.edu!leland.Stanford.EDU!jessica.stanford.edu!buc
From: buc@jessica.stanford.edu (Robert Richards)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: How schools and other groups handle support ???
Message-ID: <1991May1.004649.7910@leland.Stanford.EDU>
Date: 1 May 91 00:46:49 GMT
Sender: news@leland.Stanford.EDU (Mr News)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Stanford University
Lines: 45


As a consultant who provides support to a wide group of NeXT users,
from novices to experienced system administrators, I would like to hear
ideas from others in a similar position.

Possible issues include:

	o How is mass distribution of the OS and upgrades performed?
	o Is any training provided?
	o Does NeXT itself provide any level of support?
	o Are owners who are "users" treated differently then "system
	  administrators"?
	o Are the consultations provided free of charge or on a fee
	  basis?

Thanks for your time.  Below I answer the questions below in
Stanford's case.

	o The OS is distributed by NeXT student consultants which are
	  payed by NeXT.

	o No training is provided specific to next, but seminars and
	  classes are provided in Unix which applies to the NeXT.

	o NeXT provides support through 2 NeXT student consultants,
	  Stanford is supposed to have access to direct technical
	  support, but answers are rarely received.

	o Presently all NeXT owners are treated as System
	  Administrators which affords them a high level of support
	  that seems to be being wasted on trivial "user" type
	  questions.

	o All support is provided free of charge.

===============================================================================
        Rob Richards				
        Supercomputer & Workstation Support Staff
        AIR					
	Stanford University

In ``The American Crisis,'' Thomas Paine wrote, ``He who is the author
of war lets loose the whole contagion of hell and opens a vein that
bleeds a nation to death.''
===============================================================================