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Novell To Cease NetWare Development?
Karl Cocknozzle writes "CNET News is reporting that Novell may discontinue NetWare following the purchase of Linux software company Ximian - for details on the purchase, see the recent Slashdot article. Novell plans to run its NetWare services - such as eDirectory and Secure Identity Management - on the Red Hat and SuSE Linux distributions."
This really shouldn't shock anyone. Novell has already stated that NetWare 7 will allow the installer to choose between Linux or NetWare kernels. Can you say migration path?
The recent Novell Connections magazine talked about their Linux strategy up to NetWare 7. So far, no one has talked much about what comes after. With Novell's history of shifting strategies, I think I'll just take it one day at a time.
the no
One thing I forgot to mention is that Linux has amazingly broad hardware support. Novell could take advantage of this and break into new markets all by simply recompiling their source code for the various different architectures Linux supports. And peripheral support is probably much better in Linux, which means that overall the Novell solution could be far more beneficial on a Linux base than on the old NetWare base.
Novell Denies It's Killing Off NetWare
Network software and service vendor Novell, meanwhile, upped the ante of its bet on Linux by announcing that it was porting its GroupWise groupware and collaboration software to the open-source OS.
Novell, which has been rushing to shift to Linux, announced Tuesday that its GroupWise collaboration platform will run entirely on Linux in the first half of 2004, when both client and server software is finalized. The Linux version of the GroupWise client is currently in beta, while the server software will enter beta in September.
GroupWise, which is part of Novell's Nterprise suite, does e-mail, calendaring, instant messaging, document management, and workflow management. Currently it runs on Windows and Novell's own NetWare operating systems. The Linux edition will also integrate with Ximian's Evolution collaboration client, promised Novell. The Provo, Ut.-based Novell acquired Ximian earlier this week.
Novell's pitch is just the latest in a round of moves by companies to port their collaboration and workgroup software to Linux. Last week, IBM Lotus said that it would include Linux support in the next version of its Domino Server, which is scheduled to debut as part of Notes 6.5 this fall.
"Enterprises are looking at Linux and open standard platforms for their messaging and collaboration applications," said Maurene Caplan Grey, a research director at Gartner.
Novell also announced that it's added support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 to its eDirectory directory service software.
eDirectory 8.7.1, which will be available August 8, will add support for these two Linux distributions to the already-available support for Windows, Solaris, NetWare, and AIX. Additional authentication features, including support for biometrics, smart cards, and tokens, will also be part of the upcoming edition. eDirectory will be priced at $2 per user, said Novell, with volume discounts available.
Also at LinuxWorld, reports surfaced that Novell was taking an even bigger step towards Linux by discontinuing development for its flagship NetWare network operating system.
That talk is all wrong, said Novell's president and CEO, Jack Messman on Wednesday.
"Novell is not dropping NetWare, we're adding Linux," said Messman.
Novell's shipping NetWare 6.5, the most recent version of its OS, next week, added Messman, and when it debuts NetWare 7.0 -- which is still in development -- the operating system will support both the NetWare and the Linux kernels.
"NetWare is not going away. Period," said Messman.
John Kerry is a Joke!
I've asked our novell representative in the netherlands about this. :
he forwarded me an e-mail from the CEO
A recent news report coming out of the LinuxWorld Conference suggests that Novell is considering stopping development of NetWare. We're not. Despite Novell's firm and frequent statements concerning continued development and support for NetWare, discussion of Novell's Linux strategy invariably leads to concern over Novell's NetWare commitment. Let us put those concerns to rest.
As we've said repeatedly, Novell is not dropping NetWare, we're adding Linux. Novell's focus is on the customer, and the customer wants choice. As we stated in April of this year, and again yesterday at LinuxWorld, we will make Novell's services available both on a NetWare kernel and a Linux kernel going forward. Novell has a large installed base of NetWare users, and we'll continue to serve those customers as we've always done. NetWare 6.5, the latest version of NetWare with powerful new services for business continuity, open source, Web application services and "virtual office" capabilities, begins shipping next week. . We have also announced that NetWare 7.0 is in development, that it will run on both the NetWare and Linux kernels, and that we will have more to say on it when it is appropriate. This is hardly a sign of reduced commitment
NetWare is not going away. Period.
Jack Messman
Chairman, President and CEO
Novell, Inc.