Novell Nterprise Linux Services Delivers Top Networking Services on Fastest-Growing Server OS

PROVO, Utah — June 24, 2003 — As part of its recently announced plan to provide customers the choice of running all of Novell's advanced network services for business on Linux - including the entire services stack in the future NetWare® 7 - Novell today introduced Novell® Nterprise™ Linux Services, giving customers file, print, messaging, directory and management services in an integrated package that runs and will be supported on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server distributions. Available later this year along with comprehensive Novell technical support, training and consulting services for Linux, Nterprise Linux Services combines the benefits of Linux with proven, rock-solid support and network services from Novell.

Novell today also announced agreements with Dell, HP and IBM through which the three major hardware vendors will offer Novell's Linux solutions to their customers, working with Novell to provide full training and support (see details in today's separate announcements).

"Novell's focus is on secure solutions that provide people with the same quality experience, no matter where they're located or what kind of device or operating system they're using," said Jack Messman, chairman and CEO of Novell. "We've followed this model successfully with many of our solutions already. Providing network services on Linux is a natural extension of our proven cross-platform strategy and brings the value of secure, scalable and reliable Novell networking to the rapidly growing Linux server market. And the support of the major hardware players ensures customers will be able to obtain and run these proven Novell network services on the operating system and hardware platform of their choice."

The initial version of Novell Nterprise Linux Services is comprised of a number of Novell network services integrated into a single business solution. These include identity services via Novell eDirectory™ and DirXML®, file services via Novell iFolder®, printing services via iPrint, messaging services via NetMail™, management services via ZENworks® for Servers, and a Virtual Office for end-user access and productivity via exteNd Director™ Standard Edition. In addition, Novell iManager provides a browser-based, single point of administration for Nterprise Linux Services.

Dan Kusnetzky, vice president of System Software research for IDC, said, "IDC's demand-side research has indicated that Linux faces several impediments to mainstream acceptance including lack of Linux expertise and experience in the organization, an organization's ability to integrate Linux into their network, and issues with ongoing support of Linux environments. Novell's move to expand customers' options and support Linux is likely to go a long way towards resolving these issues in the minds of IT decision-makers in many organizations."

Novell's Linux consulting, technical support and training services, including the recently announced Novell Certified Linux Engineer program, round out Novell's Nterprise Linux Services solution. Novell consulting delivers direction-setting offerings such as strategy and return-on-investment analysis as well as implementation and migration services, and beginning in late 2003, Novell's Certified Linux Engineer program will combine certified expertise on Novell's Linux offerings with Linux Professional Institute (LPI) certification recommended as prerequisite knowledge. Novell is also empowering its top channel partners to provide the same quality support to the customers they serve.

Novell will continue to develop and enhance NetWare - a premier platform for delivering advanced network services for business - as its impending delivery of NetWare 6.5 illustrates. NetWare 6.5 includes business continuity, open source, Web application development and virtual office features, all of which will also be available and supported on the Linux kernel in the future. NetWare 6.5 and Nterprise Linux Services provide parallel paths for NetWare and Linux users until they meet at NetWare 7, when the complete Novell services set will run on both the NetWare and Linux kernels.

Novell partners and industry leaders agree that Linux is growing as a platform for critical enterprise services and Novell will add significant value to the Linux enterprise.

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. Novell's GroupWise® client for Linux desktops, for example, will be available later this year and will give customers additional choice for taking advantage of the most trusted and secure messaging platform in the industry.

Novell Nterprise Linux Services 1.0 beta testing begins in July. Pricing and general availability will be announced at a later date. For more information about Nterprise Linux Services and Novell's Linux strategy, or to apply to be a beta tester, visit http://www.novell.com/linux.

About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell Nsure™), Web application development (Novell exteNd™) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell NgageSM). Novell's vision of one Net - a world without information boundaries - helps customers realize the value of their information securely and economically. For more information, call Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272) or visit http://www.novell.com/. Press should visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

Novell, NetWare, DirXML, GroupWise, Novell iFolder and ZENworks are registered trademarks; eDirectory, exteNd, exteNd Director, NetMail, Nsure and Nterprise are trademarks; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.