Novell Nterprise Linux Services Changes the Face of Enterprise Computing

Novell today gave enterprise Linux customers expectations for a happy new year, announcing the availability of Novell® Nterprise™ Linux Services 1.0. Delivering file, print, messaging, directory and management services in an integrated package that runs and will be supported on the SUSE* LINUX Enterprise Server and Red Hat* Enterprise Linux distributions, Nterprise Linux Services is a suite of enterprise-ready software that allows organizations to economically replace Windows* servers and extend traditional "NetWare®" services to the Linux platform, while keeping the security, reliability and functionality Novell products are known for.

"The shift toward open source in the enterprise is about solving real business problems, including dramatically reducing IT costs, and Novell is out front carrying the banner directly to customers," said Jack Messman, Novell chairman and CEO.

While Linux is a stable and mature operating system, a recent survey of large companies cited lack of support, immaturity of products, lack of applications and lack of skills as the top barriers to the adoption of Linux in the enterprise. Nterprise Linux Services - when combined with Novell support, education and consulting services along with partner solutions - eliminates or reduces those barriers by providing enterprise-ready applications and middleware backed by a global ecosystem that today's businesses need.

Martin Fink, vice president of Linux, HP, said, "At HP, we are focused on enabling customers to deploy Linux solutions with confidence and use Linux as a core infrastructure component of an adaptive enterprise. HP and Novell share the goals of providing Linux customers with enterprise-strength Linux; Novell Nterprise Linux Services will help Linux customers realize the full potential of HP's open, industry-standard platforms."

Trusted and Secure Network Services for Today's Enterprise
Nterprise Linux Services 1.0 features the following proven, integrated software solutions:

• Virtual Office - Self-service and collaboration capabilities, ensuring the work experience follows users wherever they choose to work." eDirectory™ - High-end directory services that provide an identity foundation to strengthen enterprise security and decrease management costs of cross-platform business systems.
• Novell iFolder® - Personal file management that lets users' critical business data securely follow them, no matter where they go or what machine they happen to be using at the time.
• iPrint - Print services that let users easily print from any location, reducing help desk calls.
• NetMail® - Internet messaging and calendaring that promote productive collaboration, while easily scaling to match customer growth.
• iManager - Web-based management for simplifying and reducing the costs of managing business system platforms.
• Novell Resource Management - Powered by Ximian® Red Carpet™, the world leader in secure, automated software management for Linux servers.

 

Novell's Linux service commitment includes the "Certified Linux Engineer" program, which debuted this month to limited audiences and will be available worldwide in February. It will enable both current Certified Novell EngineersSM and Linux professionals who have no prior knowledge of Novell software to support Linux distributions and the Novell software running on them. In addition, Novell provides around-the-clock support for Novell applications running on Linux and the Linux distributions themselves, along with "best effort" support for the open source components such as Apache, MySQL* and PHP that are in the distribution. Novell's ability to provide a fully supported solution in an open source environment exceeds anything provided by competitors such as Red Hat or Microsoft.

"To realize the full potential business value of Linux, customers need a reliable source for applications, tools and support services," said Sam Greenblatt, senior vice president and chief architect of Computer Associates' Linux Technology Group. "Novell and CA are working together to ensure that these three essential value-adds are available from proven industry leaders - enabling customers to confidently embrace Linux as a strategic enterprise platform with accelerated time-to-benefit."

Novell's Delivery on the Promise of One Net and Linux
Since Novell's March 2000 introduction of its "one Net" vision of a world without information boundaries, Novell has consistently delivered solutions across computing platforms, including Linux. With the purchase of Ximian in August and the pending acquisition of SUSE LINUX announced in November, Novell continues to fulfill its commitment to providing a complete range of Linux solutions, including Nterprise Linux Services. Accompanied by comprehensive Novell technical support, training and consulting services for Linux, Nterprise Linux Services lets customers effectively choose what's best for their present and future enterprise. It puts customers on a path to being able to run all of Novell's advanced networking services on Linux, on Novell NetWare, or on both.

The additions of Ximian and SUSE bring Novell invaluable open source and Linux expertise, along with world-class software such as Ximian Red Carpet, SUSE LINUX, Ximian Desktop 2 and the Mono™ project. Businesses need choice and flexibility, and while Microsoft and Red Hat are imposing unpalatable licensing terms and attempting to dictate when businesses buy their software, Novell is committed to partnering with customers to provide real solutions to real business problems.

Pricing and Availability
Novell Nterprise Linux Services 1.0 will be available Dec. 18 through Novell Authorized ResellersSM and solution providers for a suggested $59 per user. Novell customers with NetWare upgrade protection or maintenance agreements with Novell will receive Nterprise Linux Services 1.0 for no additional charge. Novell is also delivering a set of methodologies that provide valuable migration and Nterprise Linux Services integration assistance for customers moving from UNIX*, Windows or NetWare. These methodology offerings are available through Novell consulting or Novell partners worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.novell.com/linux/linux_consulting.html.

Nterprise Linux Services is part of Novell Nterprise, a set of offerings that improve communication, simplify and automate network management, and allow workers to be productive regardless of location, device or platform. For more information about Nterprise Linux Services and Novell's Linux strategy, visit http://www.novell.com/linux.