Novell Readies Customers and Partners for Linux-Based Open Enterprise Server 2

WALTHAM, Mass.
30 Nov 2006

Support from software partners along with training and technical services promotion will help more customers take advantage of advanced workgroup and networking services on SUSE Linux Enterprise

Novell today introduced Novell® Open Enterprise Server 2, announcing support from software partners and delivering a training and technical services promotion to help more customers take advantage of Open Enterprise Server. Backup solution vendors CA, Commvault, Symantec and Syncsort along with anti-virus software vendors McAfee, Symantec and Trend Micro are planning support for Novell Open Enterprise Server 2, which is scheduled to ship in 2007. The next Open Enterprise Server will feature virtualization, storage and file management innovations and complete the shift to providing workgroup services completely on SUSE® Linux Enterprise, while helping long-time customers maintain their NetWare® investment.

“Open Enterprise Server is designed to fit with today's environments that run a mix of platforms including Linux*, Windows* and NetWare,” said Kent Erickson, vice president and general manager of Workgroup Solutions for Novell. “It delivers advanced workgroup and networking services on Linux, letting customers get in on all the benefits of Linux without giving up the proven Novell workgroup services they've come to rely on. We're committed to providing the additional support customers need to be successful, such as quality training, technical services and certified applications and hardware options.”

Next Novell Open Enterprise Server

The current version of Novell Open Enterprise Server has been focused on providing advanced workgroup and networking services in a mixed environment and has been recognized for excellence, most recently earning the top spot in the server operating systems category of the 2006 VARBusiness Annual Report Card. The next version will complete the shift to workgroup services running completely on the Linux platform. Open Enterprise Server 2 will make traditional NetWare workgroup services run on Linux as well or better than they do on NetWare or Windows and simplify the migration of those services to Linux. In addition, it will use the virtualization capabilities in SUSE Linux Enterprise to offer extended hardware support for traditional NetWare applications.

As was recently announced jointly with Microsoft, Open Enterprise Server 2 will also include improved interoperability with Windows. Novell ZENworks Virtual Machine Management, announced earlier this week, will provide capabilities for managing virtualized environments in Open Enterprise Server.

Key Partners Support Open Enterprise Server

Backup and anti-virus software support is a critical part of the ecosystem customers expect for Open Enterprise Server. Key partners CA, Commvault, McAfee, Symantec, Syncsort and Trend Micro have already committed to support Open Enterprise Server 2 and will help ensure valuable data is preserved and protected.

“Symantec and Novell share a common commitment to deliver integrated software that spans a mix of environments,” said Rob Clyde, Symantec vice president of technology. “We offer customers the flexibility to select from and deploy a broad range of technologies and platforms across their IT infrastructures. We see significant value to Symantec's customers by continuing our support for Open Enterprise Server through Veritas NetBackup and Backup Exec for data backup along with Symantec AntiVirus for anti-virus protection.”

“Customers require consistent user services and data protection across their enterprise IT environments,” said Frank Jablonski, CA director of storage product marketing. “With BrightStor ARCserve Backup on Novell Open Enterprise Server 2, they can meet this goal, providing advanced workgroup services and critical information protection and availability on a Linux server.”

“McAfee has enjoyed a long partnership with Novell, and we are mutually committed to protecting our customers' critical data and infrastructure from today's ever-changing threats,” said Eric Winsborrow, McAfee vice president of product marketing. “Our support for Novell's NSS file system on Linux reflects our commitment to innovation, support for multiple operating systems and the importance of securing the Open Enterprise Server solution.”

For information on current Open Enterprise Server backup and anti-virus software partners, visit http://www.novell.com/products/openenterpriseserver/partners.

Training and Support Promotion

Customers who have, purchase or upgrade to Novell Open Enterprise Server before March 31, 2007, will be able to download the self-study kit for Novell's five-day “Integrating Novell Open Enterprise Server for Linux” training course for free. Customers will receive a discount if they choose to take an instructor-led version of the course. In addition, customers with product maintenance agreements will receive 90 days of free support for installation or other Open Enterprise Server product assistance. Qualifying channel partners are also eligible for the promotion.

For more information on Novell Open Enterprise Server or the free training and technical support promotion, visit http://www.novell.com/oes.

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers Software for the Open Enterprise™. With more than 50,000 customers in 43 countries, Novell helps customers manage, simplify, secure and integrate their technology environments by leveraging best-of-breed, open standards-based software. With over 20 years of experience, 4,700 employees, 5,000 partners and support centers around the world, Novell helps customers gain control over their IT operating environment while reducing cost. More information about Novell can be found at http://www.novell.com.

Novell, NetWare and SUSE are registered trademarks, and Software for the Open Enterprise is a trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.