Novell Expands Directory Leadership through New Tools, Pricing Model and Continued Support for Industry Standards

Novell, Inc., the leading provider of Net services software, today made several announcements to demonstrate continued market momentum for the industry's #1 directory service, Novell® NDS® eDirectory, including plans to release the next version of its eDirectory Software Developer Kit (SDK) within the next 30 days. A leader in promoting interoperability within multi-vendor environments, the company is also supporting the Open Group's newly launched 'Works with LDAP' program and has submitted several Net services software for certification. By certifying eDirectory, DirXML, Novell eGuide and NDS eDirectory SDK, Novell is guaranteeing customers open standards-based products that are interoperable with leading software and technologies on the Net. This is becoming increasingly important as companies make the transformation to eBusiness, requiring products that work across intranets, extranets and the Internet.

"The launch of the "Works With LDAP 2000" program is a significant step in the world of directory interoperability a step that Novell has whole-heartedly embraced by certifying products such as eDirectory, DirXML, Novell eGuide and the eDirectory SDK," said Allen Brown, President and CEO of The Open Group. "Buyers can look for the "Works With" logo and be assured of product interoperability, while vendors know the product will work with all conformant servers. This is a big step forward for the cause of interoperability."

Giving Developers Opportunity to Increase Application Revenue
The availability of the NDS eDirectory SDK, combined with Novell's recent announcement regarding making eDirectory free to developers, equipment manufacturers, and independent software vendors, will drive adoption of the directory as a core platform for the Net and encourage the development of directory-based eBusiness applications.Demonstrating its commitment to further this goal, Novell is launching LDAPzone, a community portal targeted at developers that will give them access to free developer tools like XML and DSML, software downloads like LDAP and SDK, and educational materials and resources. Scheduled to go live May 15 at www.LDAPzone.com, the portal will give developers a worldwide audience for their directory-based applications and an opportunity to increase application revenue.

"Novell is leveraging its nine years of directory experience to drive strategic initiatives like these that will further the development of directory-based eBusiness applications. These initiatives are important to ensuring directories play a central role in the future of the Net," said Carl Ledbetter, chief technology officer and senior vice president, business and corporate development, Novell, Inc. "By removing price barriers and providing developers with robust development tools and information and resources, we are taking a leadership role and removing the barriers to eDirectory adoption."

Delivering Robust Development Framework
Novell has significantly enhanced the new release of the eDirectory SDK, a free, robust open standards-based developer kit by offering a comprehensive library of developer tools, including offering OpenSSL tools. This will allow developers to build cryptographic functionality into their applications. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a security standard widely used for eCommerce applications. Novell is also making available for the first time its eDirectory Management Framework SDK, allowing developers to customize interfaces, management tools, and applications for their directory-based applications. Novell's new development tools will ensure superior management, performance and security across multiple platforms and devices. For more information please visit http://developer.novell.com/ndk.

Continued Directory Leadership
Demonstrating its continued market leadership, Novell recently received accolades and industry recognition for eDirectory including Product of the Year for best directory service by Network Magazine, a leading U.S. publication focused on networking and the Internet. In addition, eDirectory is the first directory to complete SunTone* Program Certification. This certification means that eDirectory has passed rigorous evaluation and demonstrated superior levels of reliability and quality of service on the Solaris Operating Environment.

About eDirectory
Novell eDirectory is the industry's #1 directory service that provides centralized management of user identities and network resources and information. As the only directory service to work on all networks and operating systems, including Windows NT/2000*, NetWare®, Solaris*, Linux*, Tru64 UNIX* and soon IBM AIX*, eDirectory is the most open, robust and secure platform for developing eBusiness applications. eDirectory is designed to work internationally and is available in the following languages: Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional,English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portugese Brazilian, Russian and Spanish.

About Novell Worldwide Developer Support
Novell offers several programs for developers writing applications to Novell eDirectory, NetWare, GroupWise®, and other Novell technologies. Developers can take advantage of Developer Labs to get them started and leverage a number of developer support offerings through the Novell DeveloperNet® program. Worldwide Developer Support provides software and hardware development support and compatibility testing tools for applications software developers (ISVs), OEMs, hardware developers (IHVs), consultant systems integrators (CSIs), and corporate developers. By providing world-class developer support, Novell enable partners to provide higher quality, more stable products to the one Net solutions market.

About Novell
Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL), is the leading provider of Net services software that delivers services to secure and power all types of networks the Internet, intranets, and extranets; wired to wireless; corporate and public across leading operating systems. Novell's Net services software provides the foundation for one Net a single global network that supports new applications and forms of business. Worldwide channel, consulting, education and technical support programs, along with strategic alliances, combine Novell Net services software with third-party products and services to form complete Net solutions.

For information on Novell's complete range of products and services, contact Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272), or visit Novell's Web site at http://www.novell.com. Press may access Novell announcements and company information on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com/pressroom. In addition, detailed comparisons between Novell products and competitive offerings from other vendors are available on the Web at http://www.novell.com/competitive.

Novell, NetWare, NDS and GroupWise are registered trademarks, BrainShare and DeveloperNet are registered service marks, and eDirectory and DirXML are trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.