Novell is offering a test version of its Open Enterprise Server (OES) platform, a blend of the company's proprietary networking software and open source technology that the company said promises to offer businesses greater flexibility with I.T. systems.

OES combines Novell's NetWare identity management product with SuSE Linux and offers common management, directory and upgrade utilities to handle both platforms. It comprises NetWare services and the NetWare kernel, SuSE Linux Server 9 Enterprise Edition services and Novell Nterprise Linux software.

Novell plans to ship the new product beginning early next year.

Desktop Tools Included

Additional features in the works include Novell Storage Services (NSS) on Linux, shared Novell iFolder capabilities between Windows and Linux clients, and common management tools (iManager) for NetWare and Linux. OES also offers the RPM standards-based management package for NetWare.

Novell contends that OES will reduce enterprise costs by enabling Linux to run business applications while providing network resource- and identity-management services. Customers can establish a foundation for a complete Linux-based server-to-desktop alternative to current enterprise offerings, the company said.

NetWare No Longer Stands Alone

NetWare will not be available as a separate operating system, but will be integrated with OES. Novell will continue to support both NetWare and Linux until customers' needs change. SuSE Linux Enterprise Server also will be offered as a stand-alone product.

While SuSE Linux Enterprise Server supports multiple chipsets and hardware architectures, OES is designed for the Intel-based x86 architecture. OES supports earlier combinations of NetWare and Novell eDirectory, such as NetWare 4.x and NDS 6.21, NetWare 5.x and NDS 7.62c or 8.58, and NetWare 6.x and eDirectory 8.7.0 or 8.7.1.


Source : YahooNews