So, I’m working on some Foundry gear and I’d like get access to some manuals to learn how Foundry works. I’m doing an audit /review and need to check the configuration on several items. Except they are hidden behind a login for valid service contract holders – in effect, a pay wall. So now I’m trying find someone with the login that can get me the manuals, but no one remembers the login. And it’s gonna take three days to get it fixed.
Marvellous.
What’s to hide ?
Why would you hide your manuals and prevent customers from getting access to the vital information that they need. Right now I’ve got a sour taste in my mouth, cursing the idiocy that thinks that you must pay to be able to use a product.
If there is one thing that Cisco does well it is the documentation and just about all of it is freely available. A login gets you access to code and other specific matierals, but most things are freely available. The manuals are well written and coherently organised. Importantly, there are large numbers of case studies, practical examples, and reference material to assist you. They have created a benchmark that I measure other companies against.
So, Brocade, If you want customers to buy your product, or consultants to recommend it, don’t make it hard to support or configure. Manuals need to be readily available and not hidden behind a paywall. We already paid to have your equipment, we shouldn’t have to pay again to get the manuals.
