The idea was not to charge per server, or CPU, or agent, or target.

The core concept around utility computing has not changed. The priorities are to solve immediate problems, and give customers the confidence that we can set them on a path towards a data center that will be more automated, and aligned with business needs.

This gets us in the game.

The scale of the data in the remote office is enormous and the solutions for doing it are terrible; no one is happy with the way remote office backup is done.

This really establishes Symantec as the standard for data center management with an offering that cuts across every server OS and every storage platform. For a channel partner, what it means is they can work with a single partner in Symantec and provide a comprehensive solution for any customer running more than 50 servers.

I don't know what's going to happen after this article is published. If I have to start looking for a new career, I'll do it. It is just important to say that a lot of what people think about coal miners has been blown so far out of proportion, that its hard to set the record straight. Like I said, the water is my fault.