[ale] running OPA (other people's apps) on my network

[Chris Kleeschulte]

I need opinions here.

For a while now, I have been forced to run Custom Data Solution's  
DataStreamer Jar file on hardware under my care. For some reason the  
before-mentioned company insists on me running this jar file to be  
able to submit data to them so we can get a discount from the vendor  
that is a customer of theirs.

I have asked to just POST the data to them and they can run their own  
app against it on their machines, they refuse.

I have asked to see the source code for the datastreamer java app,  
they refuse.

I have told my company not to comply with their data plan, my company  
refuses.

Custom Data Solution says that they have many customers who run their  
app on the customer's machines/network, nary a complaint.

I have quarantined this app as much as possible, but this is extremely  
bad business for CDS to ask me to run their app on my network without  
providing me the source code. I try to run only apps that I compile  
myself or from trusted sources.

What would you all do in this situation? I guess I am just wondering  
if you think that it is absurd for a client to ask a supplier to run  
their software? The unmitigated gall.



Chris Kleeschulte