Novell Strengthens the Foundation for One Net Solutions, Gives Sun ONE Customers an Alternative

Novell today released Novell® eDirectory™ 8.7, the latest version of its flagship directory software. Novell eDirectory simplifies the management of user identities and access rights and is the foundation for solutions in secure identity management and cross-platform network services - solutions that help companies eliminate boundaries to information and create one Net. With the shipment of eDirectory 8.7, Novell also announced an aggressive plan to help customers migrate from Sun ONE/iPlanet* Directory Server to the more stable and scalable eDirectory.

Hall Kinion, a global placement firm, sees the advantage of one Net solutions built on eDirectory. Keeping tabs on so many potential candidates and accessing up-to-date information across different business systems proved a challenging task. Upgrading critical applications on company workstations was a costly, manual process taking up to six months; and multiple and inconsistent user identities across those applications caused a lot of redundant administration and posed a security risk. In addition, employees juggled up to seven user IDs and passwords to gain access to critical systems, which placed a costly burden on the helpdesk.

Together with its technology partner, KIS Computing, Hall Kinion selected Novell to eliminate these obstacles. Tapping Novell ZENworks® to automate desktop management and a Novell Nsure™ secure identity management solution, Hall Kinion is now able to get the right resources to the right people, anytime, anywhere. "The Novell solution has enabled us to integrate user information across applications that were once data silos, including our ERP system, a business intelligence app, and the company extranet," said Bill Griffin, director of Information Systems and Technology for Hall Kinion. "That integration ensures our security policies are enforced, and it also cuts hundreds of hours of redundant administration - which coupled with the benefits of remote desktop management equals some major cost savings. Equally important, employees have single sign-on to the applications they need, contributing to a 70 percent drop in helpdesk calls.

"Novell eDirectory is the foundation, the hub really, that makes this solution possible," Griffin said. "Its flexibility allows us to work with the applications and operating systems we already have, no rip-and-replace required; and its scalability gives us plenty of room to grow."

An Alternative for Sun ONE Customers
Novell is also launching an aggressive promotion to help Sun ONE/iPlanet Directory Server customers take advantage of Novell Nsure secure identity management solutions. Current Sun ONE/iPlanet Directory Server customers can receive free of charge 250,000 user licenses of Novell eDirectory 8.7 plus 25,000 user licenses of the Novell DirXML® Driver for LDAP. The combination of eDirectory with DirXML will allow companies to continue to use legacy data stored in the Sun ONE/iPlanet Directory Server while introducing eDirectory, with its proven scalability and security, as a foundation for secure identity management.

"Novell customers and potential customers want a directory service that can scale - reaching millions of users and identities; and only Novell can deliver that," said Angie Anderson, Novell vice president of Identity Services. "The promotion we're announcing today will allow companies to start taking advantage of a superior, scalable directory service without ripping and replacing their legacy applications."

What's New in Novell eDirectory 8.7
Already the market's best directory service, Novell eDirectory 8.7 features a number of enhancements over previous versions, including new support for IBM's AIX* operating system, in addition to NetWare®, Windows NT*/2000, Linux* and Solaris*. eDirectory 8.7 also features new role-based administration capabilities and includes a new utility, Novell iManager, which allows customers to manage the directory from a Web browser and a variety of handheld devices.

Availability and Pricing
Novell eDirectory 8.7 is available now for $2 per user through Novell partners or directly from Novell by calling 888-321-4272. For more information, go to www.novell.com/edirectory. ISVs, OEMs and developers interested redistributing eDirectory with their applications, can visit http://developer.novell.com/edirectory.