BrainShare 2004: Understanding the Future Direction for NetWare and NetWare Services on Linux

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The session began with the usual oneNet pitch, and then went into the
discussion of what Open Enterprise Server is … or will be. The
speaker reviewed the Strategy that was being followed:

  • NetWare 6/6.5 – Emphasis on the Services
  • NetWare 6/6.5 – Open Source Technologies (AMP)
  • Novell Linux Services 1.0
  • Ximian and SuSE Acquisitions
  • OES Announcement

OES is the combined solution to: Protect your investment, Leverage your
infrastructure, Infuse agility to your environment, Manage costs,
Benefit from Open computing, and Keep your choices open.
This lead into some discussion of other advantages for the customer.

Some of the current GNU/Linux inhibitors were listed:

  • Fitness within current strategic plan
  • Service and support responsibility
  • Ease of useability and interoperability
  • Third-party applications and integrated solutions
  • Total cost of ownership considerations
  • Legacy applications

It was indicated that these were being addressed. One by one …
knocking them out. He then addressed a lot of “frequently asked
questions” …

What happens to NetWare and NetWare 7?
– Its going to keep moving forward.
What happens to Novell Linux Services?
– Customers will have support moving forward.
When will OES be available?
– This year.
What version of SuSE will come with OES?
{I missed the answer}
Can I use SLES?
– Yes.
Will SLES continue to be sold seperately?
– Yes.
Will OES be supported on Red Hat?
– Yes.
How will OES be priced?
– We’re working on that.

Man … he ripped through these so fast I almost couldn’t keep up! 😉

What enterprise services are in OES?

  • Open User Experience
  • Identity and Security
  • Enterprise Management
  • Business Continuence

Virtual Office is being promoted as a major component of their Open
User Experience. iFolder is also a big part of
this. I can see where these two products combined
begins to provide a Groove-like solution. They are saying that it
can work both server and client based. iPrint is also included in
this for printing. He also mentioned Seamless File Services
… mixing and matching client and server protocols.

eDirectory, of course, is the cornerstone of the Enterprise Identity
and Security pitch. Features of this are Enterprise Access
Control , Role-Based and Delegated Administration, Global Management
and Deployment.  iManager was talked about as the “console of choice” going forward.  They also indicated embracing CIM and WEBM from the DMTF. 
I’m surprised in a way … HP is doing much more exciting stuff via Web
Services that I believe are longer term solutions.  Maybe there is
some good integration between the efforts.  {Note to self: 
Go look into DMTF recent work …}  😉

Wow … he just talked about OpenWEBM and that it works on Caldera
Linux and UnixWare!  I’ll have to check into that also …

There was a review of the products and capabilities in the Storage and
Backup area, along with the Clustering capabilities.  I think they
said that 2 node clusters are free and included with NetWare … I
wonder if they are doing this for GNU/Linux also.

2004-second half will bring lots of new things … NetWare is getting a
Bash shell(!), RPM support, Python scripting, and the Red Carpet
agent.  Both kernels will get migration tools, Virtual Office
enhamcements, Workgroup iFolder, CIMOM instrumentation … GNU/Linux
will get NSS volume support, Clustering, NCP Server, and iPrint Client.

2005 will bring Shared iFolders, Cluster File System, Virtual Office
integration with iFolder and GroupWise, Business Clustering for
GNU/Linux, Hybrid Clustering (NetWare and Linux!), and more.

That wrapped it … a lot of interesting stuff to look forward to.

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