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Novell on Nov. 30 announced its latest NetWare upgrade operating system, the Linux-powered Novell Open Enterprise Server 2.
Although OES 2 wont be out until early in the second quarter of 2007, it already has support commitments from Novells software partners. The list currently includes backup solution vendors CA, CommVault, Symantec, and Syncsort, along with anti-virus software vendors McAfee and Trend Micro.
OES, which will be based on Novells SLES (SUSE Linux Enterprise Server) 10, is designed to be a drop-in replacement for Novell NetWare servers, and a direct competitor to Microsofts Server 2003.
This next version, according to Novell, will complete the shift to workgroup services running completely on the Linux platform. Earlier versions included an optional NetWare kernel. OES 2 will make traditional NetWare workgroup services run on Linux as well or better than they do on NetWare or Windows, and will simplify the migration of those services to Linux. In addition, it will use the Xen virtualization capabilities in SLES to offer extended hardware support for traditional NetWare applications, Novell says.
As a result of Novells recent technology partnership with Microsoft, OES 2 will also include improved interoperability with Windows. Additionally, Novells ZENworks Virtual Machine Management will provide capabilities for managing Xen virtualized environments in OES.