Assuming I want to sell a hardware appliance with only my software on it, what do I need to do?
- Where can I find the hardware?
- How can I remote into the machine to fix things if I need to?
Google used to do this with the search appliance (don’t know if they still do). VMWare should have a website like cafepress where you upload a logo, choose specs, and then give them an image and they dropship you a server with that on it.
Edits to this question are encouraged, for all the things I forgot.
Goolge still has it check it out here
Here is another example, trixbox.
You need to make some decisions. For example:
Are you going to provide the hardware support?
How much you want to price it?
Requirements of the software?
What is the brand?
Then build a prototype, you can head up to newegg.com and buy some parts. See how customers respond and if its a good idea. If things go well then you can contact ODMs, and check what it takes for them to develop your appliance and put your brand.
But first thing, take baby steps. Define the specs, design the system, develop various prototypes and see how your customers react. Actually VMWARE image could be the first prototype and might be the way to go. Just sell them the image and let your customers take care of the hardware.