Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 to Deliver Innovative Workgroup Services on Linux

Novell today announced the upcoming public beta software availability of Novell® Open Enterprise Server 2. Open Enterprise Server 2 features innovations in storage management and enhancements to simplify user access in Microsoft* Windows* environments, along with the virtualization of NetWare®. These and other updates complete the Open Enterprise Server shift to providing workgroup services completely on SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server.

"Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 provides the value-added software services that make Linux a good platform choice for us," said Mike Maday, senior LAN manager at Vanderbilt University. "We've been testing an early beta, and I've been very impressed with how easy the installation and setup process has been. With the new features and improved management capabilities added to its outstanding security and reliability, Open Enterprise Server 2 will help us further reduce costs and streamline IT operations and allow us to better serve our users."

By using SUSE Linux Enterprise Server as the foundation for trusted Novell workgroup services, Open Enterprise Server provides the benefits of 64-bit hardware support, along with enhancements such as virtualization of NetWare, Dynamic Storage Technology and Domain Services for Windows.

Virtualization

Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 takes advantage of the built-in Xen* virtualization technology in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 to run multiple, self-contained virtual machines on a single physical server. NetWare 6.5 has been enhanced with paravirtualized drivers to provide support for traditional NetWare applications while allowing for server consolidation to cut costs. With virtualization and provided migration utilities, NetWare customers can easily and automatically transition to Linux* and continue to deliver their business applications that currently run on NetWare. They will also be able to take advantage of hardware innovations leveraging 64-bit architecture.

Dynamic Storage Technology

Dynamic Storage Technology is new, patent-pending technology from Novell that will significantly reduce storage management costs, help ensure regulatory compliance, and improve backup and recovery of critical data. Dynamic Storage Technology allows administrators to create policies dictating whether data is "active" or "inactive." Inactive data is relocated to lower-cost storage solutions and is backed up less frequently, keeping active data on higher-performing storage environments to be backed up more frequently and making it first to be restored in the event of a disaster. Transparent to end users, Dynamic Storage Technology makes better use of expensive storage hardware, improves disaster preparedness and reduces administrative costs.

Domain Services for Windows

Domain Services for Windows lets Windows desktop users take advantage of Novell back-end services and technology without using a Novell Client. It allows Windows users to seamlessly access Novell servers using native Windows protocols, as well as provides cross-authentication between Microsoft Active Directory* and Novell eDirectory™. With this integration, customers can easily drop Linux servers into Windows environments. Using either Novell iManager or Microsoft Management Console to manage the network, IT administrators can standardize on fewer desktop images and have one less component to update and manage on the desktop, resulting in lower IT budgets.

Kent Erickson, vice president and general manager of Workgroup Solutions for Novell, said, "Open Enterprise Server was designed to take advantage of the many benefits of Linux while adding innovative and proven workgroup capabilities to support the particular needs of knowledge workers. It leverages SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and specifically addresses the need to manage multiple users accessing multiple servers from multiple locations, all with different security and access requirements. For existing customers and others seeking to introduce Linux, the clear path to maintaining and even improving management experiences and user services is Novell Open Enterprise Server."

Beta Software Availability

Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 is due to begin public beta testing in early May, with pricing and general availability to be announced at a later date. For more information about Open Enterprise Server or to preregister to obtain the beta software, visit http://www.novell.com/oes.

Partner and Training Migration Help

HP recently announced the HP* ProLiant* NetWare migration program in the United States and Canada, providing customers with a $100 cash trade-in incentive to move from older versions of NetWare to Novell Open Enterprise Server or the Novell Open Workgroup Suite on any new HP server. The offer runs through May 31, and details are available at http://www.hp.com/go/tradein.

Novell Training Services has established a learning path for current Certified Novell Engineers (CNE®) to migrate to Novell Open Enterprise Server 2. This path will contain two courses that prepare the CNE to put a Linux server in Open Enterprise Server into production. For more information, visit http://www.novell.com/training/certinfo/nce.