cross-posted from: https://sopuli.xyz/post/44386190
Fujitsu has a NAS server which they ship with a software CD. That much is applaudable, because it’s shitty to assume everyone has Internet and to make that a requirement of a product that does not inherently need it.
But if you buy the NAS server 2nd-hand without a CD, they fuck you. They apparently decided: we no longer sell this product, so why should we continue making the software available on our website?
If you request the software, they say fuck off, in so many words. So indeed, the hardware outlasts software in the Fujitsu world.
Interesting to also realise that they were diligent enough to allow SSH access to their NAS server so admins could manage the device, but no commands are documented in their manual. And many of the commands are their custom commands, which are likely called by the GUI. The GUI software is Windows-only, and the manual only covers that. Motherfuckers. It’s in fact the GUI software that needs no docs. So they will not give users a copy of the Windows software, which is needed by anyone following the limited manual.
Motherfuckers.
I was thinking that as well, but I find nothing there for my hardware. Strictly speaking, I think it would be illegal for archive.org to distribute the software. But archive.org likes to dabble in the grey, test what it can get away with, and likely has a good legal team to fight off attacks. I’ve found s/w there that would be even harder to defend than drivers, so I think archive.org would put their neck on the line in this case. But I guess someone needs to upload the software first.
In principle, softwareheritage.org and sfconservancy.org would perhaps also be good candidates for this kind of mission. But ATM their focus seems to be on source code.