Ahead of Schedule, Novell Builds Bridge Between SUSE LINUX and NetWare

• Novell brings together SUSE LINUX and NetWare to create the next-generation enterprise operating platform
• Management of mixed environments is facilitated through Novell Open Enterprise Server's cross-platform management technologies
• Novell executes on its vision of providing choice and flexibility to customers deploying networking services and enterprise applications

SALT LAKE CITY (BrainShare® 2004) — March 22, 2004 — Accelerating its delivery of promised networking capabilities by a year, Novell today announced Novell® Open Enterprise Server, a combined NetWare® and SUSE® LINUX product. Open Enterprise Server will deliver networking capabilities associated with Novell's NetWare platform and the company's newly acquired SUSE LINUX and Ximian® offerings. As part of Novell's Nterprise™ family of products, Open Enterprise Server will provide all components necessary to establish a manageable, low-cost infrastructure for hosting mission-critical networking services.

"Customers have been encouraging us to deliver a solution that gives them flexibility in the way they deploy and manage their networking infrastructure," said Jack Messman, Novell chairman and CEO. "Open Enterprise Server combines the benefits of NetWare and SUSE LINUX to create an unprecedented offering. It is a solution comprised of NetWare 7, the recently announced SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9, and a rich collection of networking services, including Nterprise Linux Services, which will transparently interoperate between the two environments. For example, if you have NetWare servers delivering your print services and SUSE LINUX servers running your file system, or vice versa, you can print between the two, independent of where the files reside."

"Novell Open Enterprise Server customers will be able to choose how these services are deployed and which operating environment suits them best," Messman continued. "Open Enterprise Server is packaged to enable NetWare customers to start taking advantage of SUSE LINUX under their current NetWare upgrade protection and maintenance agreements, giving them flexibility in the timing of their transition to Linux*. Customers can run a mixed environment using NetWare servers, Windows* servers and Linux servers. They need a solution that gives them the flexibility to move at their own pace, with the confidence that their mixed environment will work together and be manageable. Novell Open Enterprise Server gives them that flexibility by using common management tools across all systems to protect their current technology investments."

With Novell Open Enterprise Server, it is about the services up the stack, not just the operating system itself. Novell has put a stamp on the future of network computing through a combined offering that leverages the strengths of Novell's NetWare, SUSE LINUX and a wide variety of networking services and applications enabled to run in enterprise environments. Open Enterprise Server delivers reduced management costs and transparent networking by infusing management technologies with the open source strengths of Linux and the traditional strengths of NetWare.

"Novell's installed base represents a large, loyal group of customers for Novell - prime prospects to deploy SUSE LINUX alongside their NetWare systems," said Al Gillen, research director, System Software at IDC. "By introducing Open Enterprise Server, Novell is converging its licensing strategy used with NetWare to cover both of its operating systems in a seamless, customer-friendly manner."

With Open Enterprise Server, Novell has built a bridge between SUSE LINUX and NetWare that gives customers a choice as they make decisions about their future computing needs. Novell Open Enterprise Server is due later this year, and pricing, licensing and availability details will be announced at a later date.

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). Active in the open source community with its Ximian® and SUSE® LINUX brands, Novell provides a full range of Linux products and services for the enterprise, from the desktop to the server. 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 and Ximian are registered trademarks; exteNd, Nsure and Nterprise are trademarks; BrainShare is a registered service mark; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE AG, a Novell company. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.