Open Letter to Novell Customers

Dear Customer,

Over the past few months, you may have heard of our plans to provide business-critical services on the Linux platform. We recently introduced Novell® Nterprise™ Linux Services, making this plan a reality. Novell Nterprise Linux Services, shipping this fall, delivers core services such as file, print, messaging, directory and management services as an integrated package running and supported on the SuSE and Red Hat Linux distributions. Along with these core services, Novell will offer comprehensive technical support, training and consulting services for Linux.

As we continue to enhance NetWare®-a premier platform for delivering advanced services for business-we will provide these advanced services for the Linux platform as well. NetWare 6.5 and Novell Nterprise Linux Services provide parallel paths for NetWare and Linux users until both groups see the complete Novell services set running on both the NetWare and Linux kernels with NetWare 7.

You also may have noticed that we recently announced agreements with IBM, HP and Dell. These three major hardware vendors will offer Novell Nterprise Linux Services to their customers. These agreements will further strengthen productive and customer-beneficial relationships with these key hardware vendors.

As our valued customer, we want to be sure you know how to take advantage of the value offered in Novell Nterprise Linux Services. If your NetWare licenses are covered by upgrade protection (or MLA Maintenance), you will be eligible to receive it as part of that coverage under the terms of your agreement. If you are not currently under NetWare upgrade protection, you can purchase licenses for Novell Nterprise Linux Services the same way you normally purchase products or services from Novell.

Whether your plans have you running NetWare and its award-winning services or adding Linux with Novell Nterprise Linux Services into the mix, the services you depend on to run your business will now be there to make it possible. The addition of Novell Nterprise Linux Services will bring the value of secure, scalable and reliable Novell networking to the rapidly growing Linux server market.

We appreciate your business. With your continued support, we remain committed to consistently delivering the business-critical services and technical support you need to stay competitive in today's markets.

Sincerely,

Jack Messman
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Novell, Inc.