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				vanmeeuwenUnsubmitted Not Done Inline Actions Would this subject be better suitable for inclusion in the installation guide, or be a front-page "About" or "Introduction" type of section article? I would like to point you to https://docs.kolab.org/introduction/index.html#introduction as linked from the front page, and suggest we consider making the title stronger, and the (set of) article(s) stronger with the content proposed in this differential. vanmeeuwen: Would this subject be better suitable for inclusion in the installation guide, or be a front…

				=====================================
				The Advantages of Kolab Subscriptions
				=====================================

				Subscription-based support is available for Kolab from `Kolab Systems AG <https://kolabsystems.com/>`_.
				vanmeeuwenUnsubmitted Not Done Inline Actions This can be made <backtick>Kolab Systems AG<backtick>_ vanmeeuwen: This can be made <backtick>Kolab Systems AG<backtick>_
				Kolab Systems is the primary developer and maintainer of Kolab, and provides enterprise-level
				design, deployment, development, and support for Kolab installations to public and private organizations
				of all sizes. Subscriptions are offered on a per-seat basis, and provide subscribers with distinct advantages.

				The Benefits of Having a Kolab Subscription
				===========================================

				Subscriptions are an excellent way to support the ongoing development of Kolab, as proceeds go directly
				into infrastructure Kolab development relies on as well as the employment of the core
				Kolab technical team.

				But the most compelling aspect of subscriptions are the exclusive benefits that come with them. These
				advantages reliably lower the cost of ownership and increase overall reliability for the customer, including:

				1. Access to rolling security and bugfix updates.
				Non-subscribers will need to update their Kolab
				installations annually to get the last year's worth of fixes and improvements. Subscribers, on the other
				hand, will benefit immediately from fixes as they become available between releases.

				2. Five years of extended support for each release.
				This is vitally important for production
				deployments, as significant changes may occur from one annual release to the next. Performing “update
				the world” upgrades to production systems every year can be a significant task and induce risk, both of
				which incur costs. Subscribers, on the other hand, can upgrade when it fits their interests best, secure in
				the knowledge that the version of Kolab they are currently running will be supported for years to come in
				that configuration.

				3. Professional support from Kolab Systems.
				If problems are encountered during setup, deployment,
				migration or production usage, you can access the expertise of Kolab Systems' technical support team
				through your subscription privileges, such as access to our internal ticketing system. Subscribers also
				receive greater priority in the community support forums and other communication channels Kolab
				Systems maintains.

				4. Professional services
				Kolab Systems' “Tiger Team” of specialists may be retained by those with active Kolab subscriptions.
				Services which are available on a per-project basis include deployment planning and management,
				infrastructure integration (e.g. with existing directory services, including Active Directory),
				custom development, and white-labeling. Subscribers also have a greater say in where Kolab Systems
				focuses development resources for upcoming releases.

				5. Access to optimized system packages.
				By default, Kolab uses the stock packages for PHP,
				Apache HTTPD, MariaDB, openSSL and others that come with the base operating system. Kolab
				Systems engineers have made many improvements to the configuration and builds of these packages.
				These optimizations ensure that Roundcube scales better and that encryption is set up in the most
				secure way possible for Kolab's needs, for example. Every production environment benefits from this
				tuning and fitness work, which is only available to Kolab subscribers.

				vanmeeuwenUnsubmitted Not Done Inline Actions These numbered items can be better indented and separated line title items from explanatory text in order to both render better, as well as be more legible in their plain text versions. In and by itself very minor, might just get around to it whenever. Other benefits of subscriptions include; Inclusion of package enhancements and updates not a part of the stock distribution repositories, All versions of packages released ever remain available (yum downgrade), GPG signed with trusted keys on controlled infrastructure, Fast-tracks available, Additional H/A, L/B, config mgmt and audit infrastructure software and consultancy vanmeeuwen: These numbered items can be better indented and separated line title items from explanatory…
				Have Questions or Comments?
				===========================

				We welcome feedback from our users, customers and partners. If you have any questions, concerns or
				comments about the information in this briefing, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at
				info@kolabsystems.com.