Slashdot Mirror
Novell Makes More Open Source Moves
Roger Foss writes "Novell has announced it will release its cross platform iFolder file synchronization software as open source. This is pretty cool: far more transparent and easier to use than Unison or some of those friendly Rsync variants. iFolder does multi-master delta synchronization and is user friendly. The source software will be available at Novell's own Forge site and release under the GPL. This sure beats Novell's earlier open source efforts, when they released their proprietary IPX protocol stuff years ago. For those who want to try it, there's a live demo site that I doubt would withstand slashdotting."
Finally, mj01nir writes "According to Miguel de Icaza's web log, Chris Stone just announced that Novell will be moving the whole company to OpenOffice by the end of the year, and to Linux on the desktop a year after.
I have to admit I'm surprised its taken Novell this long to announce their move to Linux + OpenOffice.org given how long they've now had Ximian in the fold. I would've expected them to have announced their intention to do so a lot sooner.
:-)
This is a huge coup. Not only are IBM doing the same thing with their desktops (although they're porting MSOffice instead of using a Free office suite) but with Novell, one of the oldest Networking platform companies still surviving, announcing this on top of all their other efforts, people are really going to start taking notice and realising that maybe Linux truly is Prime Time for businesses now.
Then again... So far its only been companies that have a lot to do with Linux and Linux based services that have announced this. Would be very nice if someone like HP, Dell, or Gateway came out and got on the bandwagon. That would hold a lot more weight with the average IT manager or C-level management.
Still, slow small steps turn to huge gallops rather quickly in the IT world
A couple of years from now, all the RHCEs will be bummed because the latest OpenBEOS certification will be the new hotness... More serously though, certifications such as these are just another product for OS vendors to sell.
Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
I just got a position as the IT director at my company. They've been using Netware for years. Just before the SuSE/Novell news, I was planning to switch to SuSE for all server applications. Even bought some hardware to try it out. Now, I'm thinking about using those Netware licenses a little while longer....
Hey, think I can trade one or two of those in for a boxed copy of 9.1 pro??? We can all dream, I suppose...
...other that moving applications from NLM to ELF, I don't see any giant advantages to this on the server end. We already have apache, tomcat, ssh, etc, etc for Netware.
And on the desktop, I have memories of Novell trying to take on MS once before and failing horribly. I'm skeptical. I can't see how any "synergy" with Linux will make Netware a better product than it already is--aside from the PR buzz it's getting and the goodwill from the Linux community.
My Guess is that it can run under KDE, but they're not supporting it. After all, they do OWN Ximian now, that does kinda put them in the GNOME support realm.
"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is." G.W.Bush
Innovation? NDS, Zenworks, Border manager... Where was AD, SMS and ISA then?
Sheeezzeees, AD doesn't even have role based objects yet suitable for application deployment.
Agreed there's not a lot of room for innovation that can happen in the File and Print arena, but that doesn't mean Novell doesn't innovate at all.
Area51 - We are watching...
Novell has got a great position.
1) They got tried and tested file, print, directory, and groupware services (including mail, calendar and secure IM services) - that's probably 50% of the windows server market right there
2) They got good security and infrastructure management offerings. Microsoft can't even compete in this category.
3) They got an enterprise class J2EE / Web Services platform from their SilverStream acquisition. (that's the other 50% of the windows market)
4) They have their own linux distro now from SUSE
5) They have a Linux on the desktop offering from Ximian
6) They have a world class distribution, partners program and support organization with over a decade of experience.
7) They've got a good core system integration group from CTP
8) And they are trying to replicate the success of the Certified Netware Enginneer with the new Certified Linux Engineer program. (MSCE was a complete rip off of the NE program)
Only one problem, they have managed to screw up every acquisition they did in the 90's.
Please Novell, don't screw this one up. We're counting on you.
OK, so now can Novell get their own topic? Please? I mean, Corel still has their own topic.
Throw us old Novell guys a bone willya?
the no
Netware is the product that contains the file and print services.
... but on only NT clients.
Novell is a company that has a whole range of products, including Netware.
And while I agree that file and print services are treated like a commodity now, Novell has kicked Microsoft's ass in innovation in that area.
Ever manage trustee rights on Netware versus NT? NT uses the same crap from the LAN Manager days, which is basically made up of hidden files which contain trustee information. Try blocking access to a single file three levels deep to a single user. With Netware, you can do it. With Microsoft's offerings, you cannot.
iFolder? Take a look at iFolder and tell me that Microsoft has kicked Novell's ass in file service innovation. It does BYTE level diff syncronization. So if you have a 20MB Powerpoint presentation and you change one word in one slide, it only syncronizes the small change. Microsoft's solution? Syncronize the whole file.
Print services are a commodity too. But compare NDPS with Microsoft's print services. NDPS has so much more administrative functionality.
Sorry, but to say Netware 6 (and 6.5 is the current release) is the same as 4.11 is a statement only made by someone who is ignorant on the topic. The Netware kernel may not have significant changes, but the services running on top of it are amazing. I recommend that you actually look into it before spreading such inaccurate information.
If your point is only one about perception, I agree with you. File and print services are treated like a commodity. But don't start making statements about Microsoft innovating in those areas when, in fact, they haven't done anything since NT 3.5 came out and they support pushing print drivers to the client
If there was any doubt about novells intentions, and its place in the future of open source, i feel that this quote sums it up nicely....
[""We're giving them software and services, but we don't set the direction for open source, we only contribute to that discussion and make suggestions. The open source community is driving where competition will occur and we are a member of that community," he said."]
Its important to note that its clear they feel a member of the community, and not a self appointed figure head. Theres a reason "open source" and "community" are seen so often side by side in print, because this selfless "community" spirit is what gave open source its true value, and will continue to make GNU/Linux and its components a threat to anyone who attempts to market inferior software.
Whats not to like about that? Why do I need Linux?
The future. The Netware kernel is aging, and cost of continuing hardware support is high. By using Linux, Novell gets a wider range of hardware support largely for free. They also get to capitalize on other open source software, like Samba, rather than implementing thier own CIFS layer.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it, by any means! However, in 5-10 years when you outgrow your current setup, you'll be happy that Novell switched to the Linux kernel for Netware. They can now focus on innovating more in the userland stuff, and take comfort in the fact that almost all new hardware they'd want to use will be supported by the community.
Lex orandi, lex credendi.