Novell Not Dumping Netware

jerel writes "eWeek describes how Novell will still develop and support NetWare. The eWeek article quotes Bruce Lowry, a top spokesman for Novell as saying, 'The bottom line is no. The whole thing with Linux is an additive thing. We're not dumping NetWare, we're adding Linux.' NetWare 7.0 will allow users to either upgrade to the latest version of the NetWare kernel or move to Linux." I guess this answers any lingering doubts going around.

Comments

still relevant.

[sirmikester]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but from IBM, to Oracle and now Novell, Linux is keeping these old hat computer businesses relevant. I think its a mistake for Novell to keep Netware around, they should just focus on developing for the linux kernel. If they continue developing for both platforms the quality of each will suffer.

Re:still relevant.

[segment]

Linux is keeping these old hat computer businesses relevant.

This would be an Open Source-o-files dream come true if it were true, but IBM probably makes more money off of legacy applications and there hardware products than they would by anything Linux could offer them.

I think its a mistake for Novell to keep Netware around, they should just focus on developing for the linux kernel.

There are plenty of corporations around the world which would still support purchasing and using Netware, so I wouldn't see why they would just flat out trash it. Maybe make some significant modifications, but it wouldn't make sense for any company to throw away something still generating revunue. Novell has been around for sometime which means they're doing something right.

If they continue developing for both platforms the quality of each will suffer.

Disagree. By developing with both, they might just be able to tweak their own product to a dominant force which may not be a good thing should they do so. That would obviously mean after a while they would not need Linux anymore now would they.

======== Article 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.

Personally I feel Netware is likely to make some major modifications over the next few months in order to tweak Netware into something that may catch the eyes of many businesses. Netware isn't something that we use at home, so I notice that a majority of posters here are a bit blind to Netware, and are rather making odd comments on it. For those who have used it at work, or at school somewhere, you would know it has its pros and cons. With Linux in the mix now, hopefully Novell can make some form of comeback from its mid 90's WOW! phase.

Re:still relevant.

[big-magic]

I really doubt Novell will drop Netware any time soon. For the hardcore Netware shops, I could see them supporting it for many years to come. Of course, the price will probably rise over time. If you call HP/Compaq, you can still buy VMS and Himalaya (operating system from Tandem, which they bought several years ago). They are pretty expensive. But HP is still making money from them. Netware can probably occupy a profitable niche market for many years to come.

Re:still relevant.

[Kenneth]

I think its a mistake for Novell to keep Netware around, they should just focus on developing for the linux kernel.

Most likely they are hedging their bet with the SCO thing. Sure SCO doesn't appear to have a case, TO US! But how often have we been flat out suprised by court decisions? Continuing to develop on both platforms does two things. It makes their business viable should SCO win. They can simply drop Linux and go back to NetWare, and two and more importantly, it makes it look to the stockholders that they are being prepared for the future should SCO win, thus 'enhancing shareholder value'.

As for the quality of each suffering, I doubt it. If they're smart, they'll develop the kernels seperatly, and make the system and application software useful for either. That way, should SCO loose, they can move over to a Linux kernel, and be able to use it as a drop in replacement, on the other hand, should SCO win, they can drop Linux, and all of the software people had could be used with a Netware variant. I'm not sure what that would take, but that's what I would aim for were I in their position.

Remember, if sharholders can prove by a perpodereance of the evidence that decisions you made as CEO or board, were less than optimal given the information you had, you can be sued. Playing both for a while seems like the safest bet. It means that the shareholders might not make as much as they could have, on the other hand, Novell has protected them by increasing the likelihood of the companie's continued existence no matter the outcome of the SCO thing.

SCO's suites are Irrelevant

[billstr78]

I read today that Oracle was continuing to speed ahead with it's internal Linux deployment and full commitment to Linux support in thier products. Nobody but those being sued seem phased by these feeble attempts of SCO to squash a very powerfull penguin.

Dividing resources without making more money

[3770]

They aren't going to make more money by dividing their development resources between Netware and Linux. So there will be less development work done on Netware.

They are saying this to try to calm their customers so that they "abandon" netware as slowly as possible, giving Novell time to build up a platform and revenue stream based on Linux.

It is simple business strategy and it is very transparent.

Don't just accept what they say. Read between the lines.

No brainer.

[-tji]

This is not too surprising.. They have a ton of Netware devices installed, and a lot of administrators intimately familiar with those Netware devices. There's no way they could do a flash cut. Even if they wanted to completely drop the "legacy" Netware stuff, it would take them years to migrate all their customers.

My thought

[Anonymous Coward]

I do not think it would be good to take a total flying leap off into the unknown. Novell is smart at least to have some sort of transition period. Releasing a linux-based version of their service software is a great idea, but Netware has existing mindshare and customers. (At the least, those customers will want to ensure they will continue to get indefinite support.) I'm sure they just want the linux software to prove itself. I'm sure it will-- for new installations, a linux install with all of novell's edirectory and everything looks very attractive, and i expect people to flock to it. I imagine that once they see the Linux-novell-thing is taking off, they'll decided it's proved itself and put more and more resources into it as it gets bigger. Eventually Netware will fall into maintainence mode, and there will be only Linux for the thrust of their development.

I can't imagine Novell ever ceasing at least to continue doing hardware support updates for Netware. Novell's biggest attraction in these last few years after WinNT's taken over is that you can install Netware once and train your support staff for it, and then never have to use anything else ever again. It will end that, and screw their corporate reputation, if they suddenly announce "yeah, after now if you want to do new instals, you'll have to learn to use linux." I'm sure most of novell's current customers will migrate to linux all willingly and such, but forcing them to is not at all a smart move by novell.

I mean, Novell's core *base* at this point, or at least it seems from where i'm sitting, is those uber-uber-uber-conservative-purchasing-department situations.. Novell's mostly got mindshare around the people who still consider *NT* unproven. How comfortable would these people be with Novell suddenly offering *only* a new linux-based product?

That said, the linux netware-y thing should rock.

Netware keeps it simple.

[x.Draino.x]

At my company we just recently rolled out some new Novell software. It's all web based and very easy to use. When I first joined the company I had not worked much with Novell and thought of it as archaic. Even with age, Netware is a good product that makes Window's box's easy to manage. I am happy to here about the Linux integration and Ximian addition. Now I can get my Linux and Novell administration too!

The future for Netware is the past

[mattypants]

I really hope Novell do well on Linux, it is the kind of OS that they should have had all along which would have let them concentrate on what they do best.

I recently wrote a series of reports for my boss in which I had to make the cases for and against a port of our product (an app server) to Netware. Bear in mind that it was over two years ago now that we decided to discontinue Netware development because sales had dropped through the floor (it was, and still is, available in older versions which we are quite happy to sell and support). Apparently, our sales department discovered that there was still some residual demand which was affecting their commission. The idea was shot down by the board after only a few seconds' reflection - apparently, my boss (Technical Director) didn't even have to present our work on the matter, they just knew it was a daft idea!

Is anyone actually considering picking up Netware development for commercial products? I bet there is not a single one out there. Prove me wrong.

Netware has become a legacy faster than anything I have ever seen - even the mainframe concept will outlive it. Netware is dead, long live Novell.

Wow....good Linux week

[MegaHamsterX]

Redhat and SuSE slam SCO

IBM jumps in and whacks the good old folding chair on SCO's head

Oracle announces it will be a Linux shop through and through, taking all of SCOs threating talk and brushing them off like a runt.

Novell anounces that while it will keep Netware around, there will be a Linux option, further breaking SCO's back with their loss of any credibility.

I think now that almost every major heavy hitter in Industry from Movies to Wall Street is using Linux, in the process of deploying it, or making plans too, billyg must be seriously thinking, do I keep stonewalling or port everything over.

With all the FUD SCO tried to spread, the press releases and news reports throw it right back in their face, the very fact IBM's lawyers put SCO's GPL violations in their complaint validates it all.

ESR may be extreme, he may be a pain in the ass, but the man did make a major contribution to computing and this whole saga deserves to be written in history.

These are good times for the battle tested UNIX/Linux admins out there, it's really hard to be a paper Linux admin(RHCE whatever) and not get called on it, funny thing is most Linux people can do Windows, but they leave that for the help :-)

Re:Interesting....

[Anonymous Coward]

Why should Redhat or SuSE benefit of the investment of Novell?

Well Novell certainly benefits from the investments of SuSE, Red Hat and others by using Linux.
See this is what makes the GPL cool, it keeps the software free and lets everyone cooperate on making the best OS without the fear that anyone can just snag the source and release a closed OS.
What you want back is the fragmentation of the old unix world.
Thankfully most of us and even old unix companies don't want that.

Novell is horrible for users

[zorgaliscious]

I'm used to Outlook in corporate environments (as a user) and now am in a company that has Novell. GroupWise is such s POS. Its one of the most limited Email / PIMs I've ever used. THE only advantage is it's not as susceptible to virii as Outlook and Exchange. GroupWise is still at a mid 1990's level of user interface and ease of use. It may be great in a back end, but for us end users, its SUCH SH!T!

Novell is Smart.

[salesgeek]

Novel understands that they should not kill their golden-egg laying goose, even though it doesn't lay that many eggs any more.

Legacy products can be very, very profitable. Good call Novell.