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Novell Inc. announced on Monday a new initiative called the Porting and Migration Network to help customers and partners move existing applications to SUSE Linux.
Novell announced the program at its European BrainShare 2004 tradeshow in Barcelona, Spain.
Under the initiative, leading software and hardware vendors, including Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM, Intel Corp., Oracle Corp. and Scali Inc. will work with Novell help their software partners deploy their platforms and solutions on SUSE Linux, according to Novell Inc.
This isnt just a move for Novells old NetWare partners, according to Kevan Barney, Novells public relations senior manager.
“Its obviously available to NetWare software vendors and should be attractive to them, since it provides tools and help to port to an additional platform,” Barney said. “But this is also aimed at Windows software vendors, Unix software vendors, or vendors whod developed for other flavors of Linux but whod like run on SUSE Linux, too,” He said.
“Youll notice that IBM, HP, Oracle, Intel and Scali are all part of this initiative, and they wouldnt likely be involved if this were about just moving NetWare software vendors to Linux,” added Barney.
To kick start the initiative, Novell is establishing in Nuremberg Germany its first Porting and Migration Center, a dedicated lab facility to help developers and software partners make the move to Linux.
Novell already offers programming and migration services to software and technology partners through its Developer Services and PartnerNet programs. The Novell Porting and Migration Network is an additional offering designed to simplify the migration of software products to Linux.
“On the face of it, a wholesale migration to Linux is a large and complex task. However, the benefits that Linux offers to customers make it a critical offering for all vendors mid- and long-term growth strategies,” said Johan Rosius, vice president, alliances, Novell EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) in a prepared statement.
“The establishment of the Porting and Migration Network is a vital initiative in making sure that our partners and their customers migration to Linux is rapid, robust and simple,” Rosius said.
At least some of Novells partners are pleased with its Linux moves. Tim Finnegan, a Business Development manager for AlphaNumeric Systems Inc., a certified Novell Platinum partner in Raleigh, NC, said hes “Jazzed — Thrilled. This is great stuff, and a shrewd, well thought-out business series of moves on their part.”
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