Partners Welcome Novell's Open Enterprise Server

Novell took its first step toward converging its separate NetWare and Linux platforms, with the release Thursday of Open Enterprise Server, a single product that combines the latest upgrade to the NetWare kernel and services, SUSE Enterprise Linux 9 distribution and migration utilities.

OES and SUSE Linux Pro 9.3 both made their official debuts last month at the Boston LinuxWorld conference. Viewed as an option for NetWare partners and customers considering a switch to Linux, or that support both platforms, OES provides numerous services on top of both the Netware and Linux kernels. These services include, for instance, Novell's enhanced Nterprise Linux Services 1.0, Novell Storage Services on Linux, mapped drive support for Linux from a Novell client, clustering on NetWare or Linux and migration tools and upgrade utilities for NetWare, Microsoft and Linux, Novell said.

One Novell ISV, Syncsort, of Woodcliff Lake, N.J., plans to offer seamless support for Novell's existing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 (SLES9) that shipped last summer and OES. Syncsort's Backup Express soon will support backup and recovery protection for NSS (Novell Storage Services) volumes and properties on OES and SLES9 systems, according to the company.

Open Enterprise Server will also offer customers an iPrint client for the Novell Linux Desktop or any Linux desktop, enhanced Virtual Office management features and shared iFolder capabilities between Windows and Linux clients, Novell said.

OES is currently being deployed by Volvo Motor Grader Limited, a division of Volvo Construction Equipment of North America, and Westdeutscher Rundfunk, a public broadcasting company in Germany, Novell said.One longtime Novell Platinum partner in the Northwest said supporting both platforms allows him to give his customers objective advice.

"It's got our attention and we're doing a fair amount of work in the Linux area," said Charlie Tragesser, CEO of Polar Systems, a Portland, Ore., solution provider. "When it comes to Linux, we're not interested in religious wars. We'd like to integrate Linux into companies."

The NetWare-Linux server will be available at regular upgrade pricing though Novell's channel, the Waltham, Mass., company said. NetWare will no longer be sold as a separate product. The proprietary NetWare kernel and system services will continue to be enhanced as part of Open Enterprise Services, Novell has said.

Meanwhile, Novell also announced Thursday plans to ship in midApril its SUSE Linux Professional 9.3 at retail. Version 9.3 provides many open source products, including preview copies of XEN virtualization software and intuitive search engines, Novell said. The software, which will support existing 32-bit processors as well as AMD Athlon 64 and Intel Extended Memory 64 technology, will be available only through retail.