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Novell, which has pegged its future on Linux and Java, on Monday used its annual BrainShare Europe event in Barcelona, Spain, to announce a series of product innovations that it says will move it closer to that vision.
Company executives said the firm is opening for beta testing its Novell Nterprise Linux Services, a bundle of file, print, messaging, directory and management services in an integrated package that runs and will be supported on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server distributions.
Novell is also moving ahead with product and technology integration since its acquisition last month of Ximian, Inc., and will be including management services from Ximian Red Carpet in Novell Nterprise Linux Services 1.0, which is due for delivery later this year.
At the event, Novell CEO and Chairman Jack Messman on Monday said the acquisition of Ximian marked an important step in the companys commitment to offer business solutions for all the leading platforms on the market.
“All the solutions were announcing give customers new choices on how they can run their businesses better, take advantage of the Web, and secure their environments. Were moving more of Novells rock-solid networking technology to Linux, supporting it along with Linux, and now integrating Ximian products to benefit customers immediately,” he said.
The initial version of Novell Nterprise Linux Services is comprised of a number of Novell network services integrated into a single business solution. These include management services via Novell Ximian Red Carpet, identity services via Novell eDirectory and DirXML, file services via Novell iFolder, printing services via iPrint, messaging services via NetMail, and a Virtual Office for end-user access and productivity via exteNd Director Standard Edition. Novell iManager also provides a browser-based, single point of administration for Nterprise Linux Services.
Novell Nterprise Linux Services 1.0, which will be accompanied by technical support, training and consulting services for Linux, is a key steppingstone to running all of Novells advanced network services for business on Linux, including the entire services stack in future versions of Novell NetWare, said Chris Stone, Novells vice chairman.
“Novell is in the business of delivering useful solutions that dont waste customers time and money, and Nterprise Linux Services is that kind of solution. More choice is the key. Whether Novell technology, open source or some combination, the right answer is whatevers best for the given customer,” he said.
Novell also announced the beta availability of Novell Nterprise Branch Office 2, a cross-platform-compatible soft appliance that lets organizations provide complete network services to their branch offices securely and inexpensively, without IT staff on site.
Novell also used BrainShare Europe to roll out new solutions for secure Web services, starting with the upcoming beta version of Novell exteNd 5, a J2EE development and deployment stack designed to help companies turn their existing business processes quickly and easily into Web services.
“In recent years, Novell hasnt been fertile ground for software and hardware companies looking to expand their markets. But were determined to change that. Were building with, and to, open standards. Were putting our money where our mouth is on open source,” Stone said.