Unixxx S/N Generator?

[Patton Echols]

On 02/08/2011 12:01 AM, Doug wrote:
> On 02/08/2011 02:25 AM, Patton Echols wrote:
>> On 02/07/2011 03:34 PM, Doug wrote:
>>> On 02/07/2011 12:28 PM, Alex wrote:
>>>> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 11:01 AM, Amichai 
>>>> Rotman<amichai at iglu.org.il>  wrote:
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>> I would like to hand out some Coupons to my customers granting the 
>>>>> 2-3 hours
>>>>> free phone support as part of a marketing campaign.
>>>>> I am looking for a way to generate a unique S/N number / code 
>>>>> (preferably
>>>>> letters and numbers) for them to read back to me over the phone, 
>>>>> so I can
>>>>> verify it's authenticity and provide them the service.
>>>>> Is there a tool out there I can use?
>>>>> I'd like to set different ranges of codes for different target 
>>>>> audiences.
>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>> Amichai.
>>> I have changed the name of the thread so as not to compromise the spam
>>> detector, because that's what this "unique" thing is. This is not a 
>>> pleas for
>>> assistance with Ubuntu, this is a blatant attempt to get somebody to do
>>> for free what he should clearly be paying for, since he's looking 
>>> for some-
>>> one to help him run his business.  Please put this "unique"thread on 
>>> the
>>> spam list.
>>
>> Huh?!?!?
>> I had no idea that this list was only for hobbyists.  If I have a 
>> business motivation for my question, am I allowed to post it here?
>>
>> --PE
>>
>>
> I have no objection whatever to someone asking a question about how to 
> use Ubuntu, no matter what he uses it for.  I would be encouraged if
> someone is using it to run a business.  But that doesn't mean that he 
> should be asking for free service for something he should expect to
> have to pay for.  And no, I'm not an IT person being cheated out of a 
> job, but of course, somebody is.  Fortunately, we don't see RTFM very
> much anymore, since most readers do try, but this person didn't seem 
> to have gone even that far.  Simply inputting "generate random
> numbers in bash" into Google will come up with answers.
>
> Some time ago, there was a big fuss about some folks asking for 
> scripting help, and some readers jumped on them for asking the list
> folks to do their homework!  Well, I didn't take it that anyone was 
> asking for homework help, but even if they were, that's OK by me.
> That's not something one would expect to have to pay for, I hope. In 
> every case, a script was submitted that wasn't working, and the poster
> was asking for assistance--not for a new program to solve something.  
> And I don't think of homework as a "hobby," even if the supplicant
> is not studying to becoming a sysadmin. (For that matter, someone who 
> actually has homework has already paid in coin for his lessons, and
> believes that the instruction is worth it.)
>
> Perhaps you see the difference?
>

Thanks for the reply Doug.  I certainly do agree that we should all try 
and do our homework before posting here.  If for no other reason, than 
the selfish ones.  If I don't do my homework, I'll ask a bad question, 
not understand the answer, have no reality check on the answer, never 
learn anything, etc.  [1]  I guess I don't understand the part about 
"service he should expect to pay for".  The nature of this list is that 
the people who answer questions do so without expectation of payment,[2] 
and (for the most part) without discriminating based on why the question 
is asked.  [3] The fact that the project is commercial in nature is not 
something I have seen as an issue.

In the context of the OP's original question, I see your point.  In 
general, not so much.  But I appreciate the point of view.

Regards,

--PE


[1] Of course, respect for the people you are asking is huge, but I was 
listing the "selfish" reasons.
[2] I suspect that the individual reasons why are legion.  From ego 
boosting, to expanding the poster's own knowledge base, to "give and ye 
shall receive", or perhaps just as a hobby or an IT pro who might want 
to find new clients . . ..
[3] The big exception seems to be "School homework".  If the student 
wants to learn, they have to do the work, not just scam an answer.