"The most prevalent software running on networked computers is common, off-the-shelf business applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, simple databases, and E-mail. Although the applications may be located on the client, most of the applications' output resides on the server.

"The important requirements are file and print performance, easy administration, inexpensive and efficient hardware, and interoperability. In all these areas, NetWare is hard to beat.

New IntranetWare features (not included in earlier versions of NetWare) include the following;

"NT 4.0 is basically a cosmetic upgrade that adds Internet capabilities to Version 3.51. . . . The two most notable changes other than the interface are the addition of the distributed common object model -- a technology that looks interesting but has little practical impact today-and video drivers move to unprotected kernel memory. This move make sense in NT Workstation, but not in NT Server; to preserve the common driver model, Microsoft has compromised NT Server's stability for NT Workstations performance." InfoWorld, May 27, 1996 (cover)

"'Novell corrected a lot of things that were hampering the mind share of 4.1. It's no longer a big, complicated enterprise product that requires a [Certified NetWare Engineer] to install,' said Josh Turiel, director of information services at Ad Life Marketing in Norwood, Mass. . . .

"'I've been playing with Green River for months now. It's stable and a major advancement for NetWare,' said Robert Harbison, an expert user and president of Network Integration Consultants, Inc. in Sausalito, Calif. . . .

IntranetWare provides comprehensive client support for DOS, Windows, Windows 95, Windows NT, Macintosh, OS/2 and UNIX workstations. Novell has also promised to make NetWare protocol-neutral, starting with the delivery of IntranetWare.

IntranetWare supports all of the standards needed for Inter/intranet publishing and access. IntranetWare completely supports all the IP protocol providing seamless connectivity to Web servers, Web browser capability, and access to HTTP and HTML files. L-CGI and R-CGI are also supported.

"Adding FTP services to IntranetWare -- a package for setting up intranets that includes Netscape Communication Corp.'s Navigator Web browser and an IPX/IP gateway -- will allow users to transfer files to and from NetWare servers via the common Internet based protocol, officials said. InfoWorld, September, 16, 1996 (cover)

"While IntranetWare addresses a short-coming in Novell's Internet strategy for corporate users, the company has progressed in its effort to make its directory both cross-platform and integrated with Web technology. At its IntranetWare press briefing, Novell officials demonstrated a number of products, including the precursor to NDS running on Windows NT. Code-named Tabasco and previously referred to as Applications Server Manager, the software will let users manage NetWare and NT servers simultaneously." LAN Times, September 2, 1996 (cover)

"Microsoft fails to support LDAP.

"Over 40 companies, including Netscape, AT&T, BBN Planet, Computer Associates, Digital, Excite, Hewlett Packard, IBM Lotus, Lycos, Novell, Silicon Graphics, SunSoft and Yahoo!, announced support for the IETF's RFC 1777, known as the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol." Internetwork, June 18, 1996 (page 46)

"Novell Inc.'s initial implementation of Novell Directory Services on Windows NT will rely heavily on the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) to link NT applications to the directory. InfoWorld, September 16, 1996 (page 16)

Because users cannot delete icons or change path information, support calls to your help desk are greatly reduced. To provide full support when needed, customers can include a support number and E-mail address with each NDS-delivered network application.

"NT's Domain Service provides functions very similar to NNS. The flat naming structure necessitates the creation of multiple domains for medium-to large-sized networks. The required trust relationships between these domains make the service cumbersome to set up and maintain. No object types can be added to NT beyond the five that come with the name service--users, local and global groups, computers, and printer." LAN Times, January 22, 1996 (page 65)

"Windows NT 4.0 Server still lacks a real directory service and suffers from a cumbersome trusted domain model, so if you're building a large network enterprise, Novell's NetWare is a better solution." Windows Sources, August 1996 (page 56)

"Windows NT Server 4.0 is just about to hit the streets with all the momentum the Microsoft Corp. Marketing machine can muscle, but users and analysts say the product simply is not ready for prime time as an enterprise NOS.

"NT Server 4.0 is greatly improved over previous versions, but it certainly is not the be-all and end-all of network operating systems,' said Jason Perlow, a consulting engineer with New Technology Partners, Inc. In Bedford, N.H. Microsoft has still got a lot to improve on in terms of a directory service and allowing users to better manage growing networks.'" Network World, September 2, 1996 (cover)

"NDS gives Novell a lead over Microsoft in network design and administration. With NDS, a network administration can establish as many workgroups as needed, assign fine grades of privileges and enforce uniform security policies. NDS allows centralized administration. It gives a central supervisor power over other administrators.

"Under NDS, there's's always a supervisor for the supervisors, and this leads to a clear chain of command and line of accountability. Under NT, it's possible for all network administrators to be equal, with all the attendant confusion.

"If you want centralized management under NT, one of the few ways to get it is to organize the enterprise as one master domain, with all users logging in to one central server. But doing so defeats the purpose of having easy-to-maintain network segments. So NT remains a distributed -- let's say fragmented -- approach to the enterprise.