New Beginnings / New Opportunities
Del.icio.usMoments ago Novell and Microsoft made an announcement few would have predicted. Not our shareholders. Not our partners. Not our employees. Not the industry pundits. Not the Open Source community. And perhaps least of all – not our customers. Make no mistake, a few months ago, I would have taken the “under” if asked if a landmark deal between our two proud companies could get done that truly benefited the community that mattered most – the customers who use and rely on our mutual technologies.
I’m not saying for a moment the other stakeholders referenced above don’t matter. They do and the impact of today’s announcement on these parties will be discussed at length by my colleagues (Jeff Jaffe, Nat Friedman, Miguel de Icaza) and others inside and outside Novell and Microsoft. But it’s clear to me that the long term success of every single community mentioned is defined, shaped, impacted and influenced by the folks who write the checks. I suspect most of them / you are saying “It’s about time!”. As our CEO Ron Hovsepian stated, “Too often technology companies ask their customers to adapt to them. Today WE are adapting to our customers.”
Before I share my views on the customer perspective, a bit of background on how we got to this historic day.
A few months back, in an informal discussion about strategic alternatives, one of my colleagues suggested we ought to purse a deeper relationship with Microsoft. Frankly, I didn’t see the possibilities this individual did and pushed back on why it probably wouldn’t work and the potential negative reaction we would get. While I’ve only been at Novell three years, I’m keenly aware of the intense competition and history that exists between Novell and Microsoft. This competitive dimension, while it stirs emotional reactions both within and outside Novell, has not always served the best interests of our customers.
Customers have long understood that competition helps them — by lowering costs, driving innovation and providing choice. Open Source has taken this concept to a whole new level. One side-effect of decades of a competitive IT marketplace is the complexity of the typical customer’s environment. We’ve taken advantage of competitive choices and we’ve ended up with heterogeneous, often difficult to integrate solutions. Competition remains a healthy element in any market but lately customers have been demanding something different from their vendors: compatibility, interoperability and even cooperation. I’ve had numerous conversations with customers who are frankly tired of the bickering that goes on among technology companies. They just want companies to work together to solve their business problems. And this includes Novell and Microsoft.
So we picked up the phone, called our colleagues at Microsoft and asked “What if?”
- What if we collaborated on innovation that made our customer’s more productive?
- What if we made Linux and Windows easier to deploy and manage?
- What if we collaborated on solutions that allowed our customer the choice and flexibility to deploy the technologies most appropriate for their task?
- What if we made interoperability between the worlds of open source and Microsoft more meaningful?
- What if we reduced the concern about our respective patents on the use of our solutions?
- What if we took the customer perspective?
- What if we used the basis of our competition to cooperate?
Hmmmm…..
An interesting thing happened on the way to today. Our two companies decided that through:
- An extensive and constructive dialog
- Mutual respect
- A shared passion and respect for innovation
- Creative problem solving
- Focusing on the customer first
We can do the impossible…if not the improbable. So why am I now so passionate that this is a great deal for customers?
Well, to start with, because you’ve already told us so. Both our companies have spent a considerable amount of time working with clients and making sure that the elements of this deal made sense. We’ve both heard a resounding “Yes”. Some of those customers shared their support today in our press announcement and briefing. Additionally, this is not simply a “cooperative partnership” announcement between Novell and Microsoft. This announcement is backed up by several thoughtful and comprehensive business, technical and patent agreements that give this deal the substance and commitment customers can rely on for years to come.
It’s been an interesting couple of weeks for Linux announcements. I’m very proud of the bridge we are building with our partner Microsoft. Most of all, I’m proud that we we’re able to focus our energies on our shared passion for serving clients and in doing so help them lower costs, reduce complexity and mitigate risk.
Oh by the way, that colleague of mine who thought a conversation with Microsoft would make sense….he turned out to be right (he’s also my boss – I knew there was a good reason he was CEO).
John
November 2nd, 2006 at 5:27 pm
When will be the first SharePoint installed on a SLES Mainframe?
November 2nd, 2006 at 6:22 pm
It’s a shame. As much as I’d like to wish you success, time and time again we’ve seen Microsoft’s strategy of Embrace + Extend + Extinguish litter the technology highway with the roadkill that was once their competitors and yet still some well-intentioned decision-maker who is either blissfully unaware or willfully ignorant decides to give them a big ol’ hug. Then MS crushes them and that’s all she wrote. I really liked the SuSE Linux product and thought Novell had a bright future but the writing is on the wall as it has been so many times before. I am incredibly sad to see the company commit seppuku like this but it’s your responsibilty and your choice. It was nice while it lasted.
November 2nd, 2006 at 7:23 pm
[...] Nat Friedman works at Novell. (them dudes at Novell just signed an interesting agreement with Microsoft, by the way.) He works with Miguel de Icaza. They are friends. They are cute. But anyways, a while back they had a conversation on my blog, and Nat sent Cat some stuff in a box because I sent him an e-mail and they all got to talking, and so he got 3240892734892379 coolness points. (not that Miguel doesn’t get coolness points, he’s very awesome as well. ) [...]
November 2nd, 2006 at 8:51 pm
Well, it has been a nice long run with Novell.
Ever Dance with the Devil in the pale moonlight?
Doesn’t history tell you people anything? How many times does Novell have to be screwed by Microsoft before you learn that Steve Balmer and Microsoft’s plan is to grind Novell into the dust, any way they can!
EVERY and I do mean EVERY company that has done this kind of partnership, and I use the word VERY loosely, with Microsoft including Novell have come out on the dirty end of the stick.
How long do you think this “cooperation” will last before you start seeing SUSE and Novell installations suddenly turning into Microsoft installations?
Phone rings…..
“Hello Microsoft Corp, this is Steve”…
“Hi I am having some trouble with my SUSE installation”.
“Yeah, well there is no one here named SUSY, can I help you?”
“Uhhm, its S.U.S.E and I am having some trobule virtualizing Windows”
“Ohhh don’t bother, I will send you some MS 2003 and Vista Licenses, after that just run it on a good server and everything will be fine.”
“Ohh ok, well thanks”..
- Click –
Steve: “Well thats another one. Those guys at Novell sure are gullable schmuks”.
Thats how THIS is going to work, well unless you have some serious dirt on MS or you have Balmers Family Jewels on an anvil and your holding a 90lb sledge hammer.
November 2nd, 2006 at 9:51 pm
(As if Novell would post ANYTHING anymore that goes against the company line, but I’m posting anyway.)
The ONLY good thing that could possibly come out of any sort of business relationship with Microsoft is if somehow some of Microsoft’s marketing talent can rub off on Novell.
Otherwise, dancing with the Devil will kill Novell.
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:43 am
Well, this was unexpected. I still don’t understand exactly why this was felt to be necessary. Vista’s been in production for ages now, the date keeps getting pushed back and new security bugs keep popping up. If that’s the kind of quality that we can expect Microsoft to bring to the table, why not stick with what we have?
From my hazy memories I recall that several notable business partners of Microsoft’s got off very badly when Microsoft twisted the intention of their agreements. Not to mention the dispute with the Eurpean Union which I believe is still ongoing and the disturbing proof that recently popped up where Microsoft was allegedly promising to back SCO. I believe that nothing ever came of that, but that’s not a point in their favour.
Wasn’t one of the design goals of the new Vista file sharing protocol to make it harder to reverse engeneer? This is from Jeremy Allison’s interview on FLOSS weekly. Is this the kind of collaboration we can expect?
As a happy user of SUSE I feel compelled to ask what *exactly* can Novell gain from this that would outweigh the risks of partnering with Microsoft?
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:44 am
As a longtime SuSE user, buying boxed set after boxed set since the 6.0 days and recommending SuSE as the “cream of the crop” to everyone I could, I am extremely disappointed.
There is no Microsoft “partner” that lives very long. The line of dessicated corpses stretches off into the distance. You shouldn’t have announced this today. It should have been announced October 31 – Halloween.
I doubt that this message will be published, but you need to know that there are those of us out here that have stuck with Linux for more than a decade. You have betrayed the community. You will be shunned.
Goodbye.
–
BMO
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:05 am
Dear John,
I am quite baffled that Novell was able do talk MS into this. Congrats for that job, this will help the average sysadmin like me big time if it works out.
Good job
Denis
November 3rd, 2006 at 7:18 am
John
Congratulations on putting together such a broad ranging deal with Microsoft. The Open Document Format (ODF) initiative, virtualization efforts and patent cross licensing are great for Novell and the broader open source industry. The new Novell-Microsoft relationship will provide the interoperability that customers need to run their business. More importantly it will provide them the peace of mind they need in their purchasing decisions.
November 3rd, 2006 at 7:34 am
I am impressed and amazed by this announcement. It speaks volumes on the dynamic changes that have occurred in the software industry over the past few years. I just hope that we the customer see something truly come out of this. Too many times in the past Novell has made promises just to not follow through on those promises. This time Microsoft is also involved, and if nothing comes from this agreement both companies will undoubtedly see a negative impact. I hope Microsoft and Novell truly realize just how much is now at stake.
November 3rd, 2006 at 8:28 am
Well lets say good bye to Novell. Haven’t they learned anything in how Microsoft has dealt with other companies that they have partnered with. For those who have forgotten check out “Pirates of Silicon Valley” It is all spelled out right there. It’s been nice knowing you Novell.
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:58 am
Amen. Right CEO. Right CMO. The right people with the right commitments with the necessary passion…Watch us soar!
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:12 am
Dear Mr.Dragoon,
i work also in a Software Company and i’ve dedicated half of my life to the IT world. I’ve “lived” lots of OSes, and saw lots of technologies. What you have done it’s a simply agreement: someone gives, someone takes. First ask: which side is being taking in all this Novell? Second ask: is it sure about this side? Third ask: is it a long-term-well-considered decision? Being a Software Company the interest of the customer is something that usually is seen if forced to: it is possible to see it either in a good or a bad way of course depending on the company condition. I do think that the “kernel”
of all this is the Community: i do believe You are checking it in these moments, doesn’t seem all flowers and candies. Everything comes from it and returns to it coz the Community has, while the Companies want. Indipendently of Novell’s and Microsoft’s steps.
So if the step You two just has taken will show to be correct every side will gain, otherwise there will be to pay. Community will take itself off all this, Microsoft can, can Novell?
Best Regards,
Riccardo Pini
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:13 am
Congrats on giving SUSE Linux the little push it needed to start 2007! I have a feeling that ‘07 will be a fantastic year, and I am ectstatic that I am a VAR that supports MS and Novell products! Thanks for your efforts!
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:14 am
Sir:
I have been a huge supporter of Novell and Suse.
In many ways I have gone out on a limb to support Suse and now you do this deal with Microsoft.
– Please tell us what Microsoft gets out of this deal? Besides getting a bit of change from Novell its not clear how they profit other than getting a major Linux player to agree that Linux and open source has legal issues.
– Novell has agree to pay tribute to Microsoft for Intellectual Property that Linux contains. Can you tell us what things in Linux have infringed upon Microsoft’s IP? Also, how much of the license money I pay to Novell for SLES10 or SLED10 is headed to Microsoft for that IP?
– Besides agreeing with Microsoft that Linux has patent problems and impuning its code base please tell us what Novell gets out of this deal?
– Since you have now agreed with Microsoft that Linux has legal issues why should the open source community view Novell with anything but scorn?
All I can see is that Novell has helped spread FUD about Linux and patent issues, stupidy hurt or possibly destroyed Suse, and damaged Linux.
I have always remember something I heard from a Novell – In the long term no one has ever prospered by partnering with Microsoft. Sad that you have forgotten that little fact.
Novell has done itself a disservice, insulted the open source community, and hurt Linux by this act.
Michael W. Folsom
Albuquerque, NM 87106
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:50 pm
No matter how many deals Novell does with owners of IP, it can deal with Linux IP only on the terms of the GPL.So to that extent it can’t give away anything valuable that is in open source software. What Novell can do is facilitate the spreading of fear, uncertainty and doubt. Don’t dot that.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:50 pm
Hello Mr.Dragoon.
Espero que esta alinza de Socios entre Novell y Microsoft tenga un exito significativo a corto plazo, en cuanto a compatibilidad, portabilidad y escalabilidad; pohay cierta incertidumbre al Respecto Microsoft tiene fama de asocia desaparece como a pasado a lo largo de su Historia Cuidado. Ya que Novell y en particular SuSE Linux TIENEN UN POTENCIAL DEMASIADO ALTO.
November 4th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
This is a hugely misguided move by Novell. I’ve been a big
fan of SuSE Linux for many years now and am saddened by
the need to now remove it and change to another distribution.
Your agreement with Microsoft that there may be legal
issues with unspecified patents and Linux is irresponsible
and plays right into SCO’s hands.
I will certainly not give Novell any of my or my company’s
money if Novell is going to pay part of it Microsoft as
blood money.
Mike.
November 4th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
Mr. Dragoon,
I’ve been using Novell products since NetWare v2.12a, and am using SLED as I type this. I’ve stood by Novell for a long time. So I feel slightly justified when I ask: Are you guys CRAZY????????????????????
Let’s set aside accusations of betrayal of OSS/Linux ideals, adding fuel to the bonfire that is software patent insanity, or the fact that M$ has backstabbed Novell every chance it for over a decade. Are you and Ron and Tony and the rest of the Boardroom actually naive enough to think that this “agreement” can be a “win” for Novell in any way, shape or form??
As I read the FAQ and announcement, with the M$ logo (not Novell’s) prominent on the webcast, I was reminded of the movie _The_Empire_Strikes_Back_, specifically the scene just before Luke gets into his battle with Vader. He encounters Leia and the armed guards escorting her, and when she realizes it’s Luke, she screams “It’s a trap!” as she’s dragged away. He follows anyway, and ends up losing battle where his hand is chopped off.
*Everyone* who has ever climbed into bed with Redmond has been screwed: Spyglass, Stac, IBM, HP, Citrix, et. al. ad. nauseum. How can you think Novell is somehow immune? How can you think the end result will be different for Novell?
Remember the Microsoft-Sun “partnership” a few years ago? Seen any benefit for Sun in that arrangement? Really helped them, didn’t it?
“SLES coupons”? Don’t make me laugh. You can count on M$ sales reps to “forget” to offer them, and if M$ customers actually ask for them, you can count on the reps to have such a hard time “finding” them that if and when they actually give any to M$ customers, it’ll no longer matter – the customer will have lost interest.
“Federate” AD and eDirectory? Like Client Services for NetWare allowed NetWare/Windows “interoperability”. Like the stellar NetWare support in the “Microsoft Client for NetWare Networks” in Windows? Like the deliberate sabotage of the GroupWise client by killing MAPI? Like the carefully-architected changes to Windoze authentication that broke NDS for NT? Is that the “cooperation” you’re planning to leverage?
It seems hopelessly naive to think that Redmond will cease to fund shills and proxies (like SCO) to badmouth and undermine Novell and its products/technologies. It’s foolish beyond belief to believe that Redmond will actually adhere to the spirit of any agreement they sign with a competitor. They can employ more lawyers than Novell has total employees – does you really think Redmond fears a breach-of-contract suit? They’ll laugh when Novell finally wises up enough to file it.
A lot of people in the FOSS community regard Novell as having betrayed that community. Is that true, or did Novell ignore the endless litany of Micro$oft ex-partners who regretted their decision and went down that same path, destined for the same eventual results?
November 4th, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Oh, come to my parlour…
…said the spider to the fly.
November 4th, 2006 at 5:52 pm
Dear Dennis Deppe,
I’ve got some news for you: it will be a joy of “short term gain — long term pain” for you average sysadmin guys.
Look, Microsoft in general doesn’t do “partnerships” in order to *help* their partners. They do it in order to *crush* them. Rarely did such a temporary partner get out of the divorce without severe bruises reminding them of the battering they received. More often, a murder lawsuite would have had to follow if this were not a business relationship, but a human marriage…
And let’s be clear: Microsoft is not just after Novell here — they are out to kill Linux and Open Source in general. And by now even conceding to them in writing, that they have a valid case for their software patent claims against Linux, Novell are helping them to present their future cases before judges and courtrooms. The first cases will be against the poor guys happening to compete with Novell in the Linux and Open Source software market. When MS is done with them, only then it will be Novell’s turn…. (Remember, the deal is inked to only last 6 years, and MS will choose to not extend it if they think the time is ripe.)
Novell is aiding and abetting Microsoft’s plans.
One more thing. Let’s glance beyond an average sysadmin’s perspective. Let’s look at your employer’s future wellbeing. What will happen to your boss and his company, if you convince him to “bet the farm” on Novell/SUSE? Let’s assume, he trusts your suggestions, and goes along with a shared+mixed Microsoft/Novell software strategy. Let’s assume all goes well for the next six years.
Then comes 2012. Microsoft decides to not continue today’s hyped partnership. Consider, just for a short moment, the ramifications for your employer, if that partnership is divorced after 6 years. Meanwhile….
…your company has built its infrastructure around SUSE and Novell Enterprise servers, containing Microsoft “Intellectual Property” (software-patented!, officially acknowledged in writing by your Linux OS vendor!),
…your company has built its office process workflow around OpenOffice.org, using Ecma Office Open XML as its core file format,
…your company has built its “in-house use only” as well as its publically marketed software products around Mono,
Now, in 2012, all of a sudden,…
…you are told your protection from Microsoft patent claims has gone poof; all future SL, SLED or SLES upgrades and creation or modifications of documents in the Office Open XML format is in a legal limbo,
…likewise, my Microsoft patent protection governing my future use of Samba and Mono has imploded like the 3 WTC Towers (buildings 1,2 and 7) on 9/11,
…and at once, I realize I can only continue your Microsoft patent protection by switching immediately to MS Windows, MS Office, and MS .NET,
…having started in 2007 to build your IT infrastructure around SuSE, Novell OOo, Novell Mono, and Novell Samba has made you a victim of Microsoft vendor lock-in tactics. You’re now royally scroo-ed, and regret to ever have listened to your and Ballmer’s pied piper tunes ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_piper ).
I beg your pardon, I do not trust that new Grand Appeasement Plan elaborated by Microsoft/Novell… No way!
You do so, if you like. At your own risk!
Cheers,
Kurt
November 5th, 2006 at 11:45 am
My dear CEO of Novell.
It’s look like you are failed to earn money. And now you are bed with M$. So this is your choice we do not argue. And I believe you are understand our situation. GNU/Linux is our turf we have to defend it.
Please tell your new buddy Steve, if he want to compete OSS, they will have to wrote better code.Those speculation’s on Software patents are useless. FUD ing GNU/Linux never worked. Anger of Linux zealots rise again. We do not fear from his money, power or patents.
Also you may have to know; from now, entire community support for SuSE was start to declined. Every GNU/Linux zealot start bashing SuSE users in local mailing lists, web boards etc. Please consider yourselves in SCO position.
Also please send our regards to Mr. Icaza. His words are fuelling GNU/Zealots to drop GNOME for favor KDE. I hope this will show roar to desktop unification.
English was not my first language. I hope I can translate my words correctly.
With my regards.
Sancar “Delifisek” Saran
A GNU/Linux Zealot for Turkey.
November 6th, 2006 at 9:02 am
I am not sure this partnership is such a great idea. Given that MS has given Novell a double whammy first by taking market share away from NetWare (a product that I have used for years before I got into Linux), and then taking away sales of WordPerfect (another product I have used over the years), forcing Novell to sell WordPerfect to Corel.
What makes you think you can trust Microsoft now?
Remember, anything Microsoft does is for the benefit of Microsoft! This means that somewhere down the road, there is an agenda of some sort, and it is not pretty, and it certainly will not benefit consumers and businesses alike.
SuSE is a great product, and I can only hope that retail sales of the product will increase.
We NEED the competition around. It is good for our economy. It is good for your customers. Most of all, it is good for consumers and businesses alike.
November 6th, 2006 at 10:25 am
Dear CEO,
Sorry, English is not my native language, but hope You understand me well.
Within several years I and my software company were fans of Suse. But after this agreement…
I give you my honest word: within a month on all our and customers’ PC at minimal fee Suse will be deleted and replaced by other distro. I am a small director of a small company, but regarding this You can 100% trust me.
Goodbye,
Blad
November 7th, 2006 at 10:24 am
I moved to SUSE from Microsoft as a Windows98 replacement, because I was displeased with their business ethics as well as their attitude toward end users.
Several boxed sets later, and I’m finally completely Microsoft free, Only to findout that Novell has secretly been meeting with Microsoft.
Auf Wiedersehen Novell
November 7th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Is Novell insane, or just short-sighted?
As many have said, you’ve just bought into
Microsoft FUD, by implicitly agreeing that
OSS includes things covered by MS patents–
otherwise why would you need the agreement?
MS will now go after all the _other_
commercial Linux distros; good old divide
and conquer. Then when you’re the only
one left standing, the knives will come
out for you.
You can be sure I’ll not be using Suse or
any Novell product.
November 7th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
I was all ready to start recommending suse to newcomers to linux I just can’t now and do it with any morality.
why did make a deal with a criminal monopolist company? there was no need to do this – there is no need for interoperability . it is the proprietary lockin standards that microsoft forces down these companies throats that are the problem. open source standards are all out in the open for all to see – the same cannot be said for microsoft.
i wiped suse off all my machines and you will not be getting any more money from me. i will be taking my cne off my resume too. tell steve you new buddy that I will be recommending linux to companies I deal with over vista and they won’t be suse linux either – so if wants to sue me he has my email address.
by by suse – have fun with steve and bill you new friends.
November 7th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
This is a sad day.
I have long supported the excellent engineering contained in the Suse product and it was getting better and better.
The New Deal is very difficult to understand.
Now there is a back door validation of any Microsoft IP claims over Linux. At least this is what Microsoft will claim.
Dont think this will not be used against other Distributions.
I can almost hear the knives being sharpened in the backgroound.
The only fact in our favor is the fact that
Microsoft does not understand
Open Source and the meaning behind the GPL.
This deal will bring a new meaning to the importance of getting GPL v3 just right.
Is is also sad that Novel will have lost just about 100%
of sympathy and support from the GNU/Linux World.
I understand that the deal can be broken by Microsoft at
any time. (What sort of a deal is that?) If there is a similar clause for Novel then perhaps an early exercising of that “get out now” option would be a good idea.
Good luck Novel, try to keep at the dinner table and off the menu.
Phil Wilshire
November 8th, 2006 at 2:42 am
How very strange that so many/nearly all of the comments re: Novell climbing in to bed with Microsoft, have been negative. It reminds me of that Glorious Control Conundrum which exists in a Client Hooked/Hookered. A Prostitute and the paying John.
It would appear that Novell have been cast as the Hooker selling herself out to survive/make a Living.
The Reality though, is that the accomplished Hooker has landed a Sugar Daddy who likes to play with her Wares….the Open Source Codes which Run Virtualisation Environments. And the Hooker enjoys the Pleasure which she Controls….. at least, she does whenever she knows what Virtualisation is all about ……. the Creation of a Global Virtual Reality Environment which is for Real even though it be created Virtually and, for Reasons of Security, remains Virtual, for that Environment and ITs Structures/Business Models, which BetaTest themselves in the Virtual Environment [just as is being done here, now, with this String contribution] are destined to Create the Vistas for the Future.
It is Microsoft who are vulnerable, for their OS and its Core Codes are jealously guarded and protected, lest we disapprove of its Capitalist Imperialist rather than Socialist Imperialist objectives and the more they dispute the fact about hiding the Kernel Code [and you may like to consider that those two things may be one and the same], the more exposed they render themselves.
Microsoft have the problem, which has always been their problem/business model, which is that they are not innovators at all, and never have been. They are merely the money which buys innovation and novelty to repackage and make more money, for it is simply Money [an addictive invention which allows a powerful control]which they generate and not anything of other value. That is supplied by others. The paradox though, is that Virtualisation is not Real, it is a Construct in CyberSpace created by Intelligent Design, which is not Controlled by Money. IT is Controlled by Altruistic IT Programmers……. for the Advanced Artificial Intelligence Concepts/Algorithms which they use, do not work when applied for making Money but make Money whenever Applied to make Virtualisation work.
And as Information/MetaData is made more easily, globally accessible to those who would think for themselves rather than thinking that others are smarter than them and therefore it is best to follow the Status Quo Governance Models, it is inevitable that the whole Global System will be Changed ….. Virtually by Intelligent Designers ….CyberIntelAIgents…….and IT is being done Stealthily, simply by Sharing, Open Source, such as is the News that Virtualisation is a mature Technology which resists Corruption of ITs Codes by enjoying the Code which Creates IT for Real.
Just Imagine, IT is True that all you needs is Love? Well done, Novell. Now to see if you are a two bit sex trafficked clone of a Real Powerful Venus figure or the Real Thing with Microsoft dancing to ur Tango Tune….. IT takes at least Two to Tango.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbtoday/F2767103?thread=3614222
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbtoday/F2767105?thread=3618048
Be careful out there, IT is not Real in Virtualisation and Anything you fancy which does us Good, is Possible.
“I understand that the deal can be broken by Microsoft at
any time. (What sort of a deal is that?)”…… and that would indicate that Microsoft have lost the battle, methinks……… and the war.
The Quantum Internet Technologies that they seek in Virtualisation, Intelligently Design/Create Peace……so it would show them in colours/a vista they may not wish us to see, which is us back to where we started …is it not?
Hooked on Novell, the Accomplished Missionary, would satisfy any frustrated John or Bill or Steve, anything including S.U.S.E.[with apologies to Johnny Cash]
amans gotta do what amans gotta do, and boy, are some folk Lost In this NeuReal Space we have Created …..just for Fun and Games…… but for Reality2.
November 8th, 2006 at 9:21 am
You are complete morons over there! I watched the conference and Ron Hovsepian, which I think should step down right now, explicitly stated that the company comes first, then the community. Aha, so you take our work from our hands and sell it, and that isn’t enough but you go out and make deals with the devil. Remember, when you play with the devil, the devil doesn’t change, he changes you! You shoud take a note on how Red Hat respects its Fedora community project because they know that those are the people who deliver their product.
November 8th, 2006 at 9:23 am
oh yeah, I forgot to say… I ditched SUSE now, it’s all Fedora Core here
November 8th, 2006 at 10:30 am
How many influence will Microsoft get on Suse and Linux. That’s the question!
November 8th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Mr. Dragoon,
This deal over IP is suspicious to say the least.
How could any competent manager believe that alienating the open source community is a good thing for Novell’s SUSE product?
If you believe that there is Microsoft IP in Linux, the GPL places restrictions on what you can do regardless of any covenants you may enter into. A promise “not to sue” does not remove the offending IP nor does it license it for use.
The community believes that there are alterior motives in play here and with good reason. The justifications given for this deal just do not fit with the facts of your obligations under ther GPL (if you wish to continue distribution of SUSE). The community does not believe that there is Microsoft IP in Linux and if it did, the community would remove it. If Novell is aware of such IP in Linux and does not act to disclose or remove it from it’s SUSE product, then this is equivalent to intentionally putting such IP into Linux, which is forbidden by the GPL!
I’m afraid this deal will have the opposite of the stated desired effect. The cross-license will turn out to be nothing more than a cleaverly concieved FUD loan. You customers will recognize this and abandon Novell.
Novell owes the community a better explanation.
With Regards,
Dr.Oown
November 8th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Where is the publication on “www.microsoft.com”? Or already moved
November 8th, 2006 at 3:49 pm
This deal reads more as a feel good campaign than a significant change in Linux space or in Microsoft or Novell’s future direction.
Customers can feel good that Microsoft isn’t going to go SCO on them which probably wasn’t that likely anyways considering such lawsuits (a) could have failed, and (b) would have alienated customers which use Linux but also have a lot of Microsoft software (i.e. the bulk of Linux using companies).
The money being exchanged is probably a net zero once Microsoft resells Linux to customers, likely the same customers mentioned in articles as “asking for a deal” and who are already lined up to buy. In the short term Novell gets some cash, but over the long term it is probably a wash.
On the technical side the benefits from this deal have limited impact on open source software because Microsoft doesn’t need a deal with anyone to see open source software and to make their software compatible with it. There is nothing preventing Microsoft from submitting code which is free of patent claims to an open source project prior to this announcement. Any technical impact from the deal can only benefit the open source community or have no impact (i.e. the improvements could be made in closed source components which don’t use open source code which has no impact on open source).
In summary:
- customers that were worried about the legal ramifications of using Linux can be less concerned,
- short term financial benefit to Novell, and
- only a net zero or net positive impact to open source software can result.
The doom and gloom I read in some articles seems completely unwarranted. Microsoft still has no software that runs on Linux (other than inside a virtual machine) as far as I know, Novell is still on the same course, and open source software is still open to look at and improve. I fail to see who is losing something in this deal. Other than Microsoft’s admission that there are Microsoft customers that want to run Linux in some areas this news changes very little. Big news would be something like “Novell is now number one linux vendor”, “Microsoft buys Novell”, “Linux takes 25% of the desktop OS market”, or “Microsoft Aero desktop and Microsoft Office now run on a linux backend”.
November 9th, 2006 at 12:38 am
John Dragoon justifies this move as being in the interests of his customers: “I’m keenly aware of the intense competition and history that exists between Novell and Microsoft. This competitive dimension, while it stirs emotional reactions both within and outside Novell, has not always served the best interests of our customers.”
Perhaps that’s true for Novell in its long struggle with Microsoft. However, the issue before us at this time is SuSE, not Novell.
So, why do “his customers” buy SuSE? Historically, a large part of the motivation has been to be 100% Microsoft free.
A good example is the third largest city in Germany, Munich, which purchased SuSE over Windows in 2003 for its 14,000 workstations. This was despite the fact it cost more. Munich Mayor Christian Ude said this would ensure that the city would have greater IT independence, and it would also “set a clear signal for greater competition in the software market.”
Will Dragoon’s new deal provide greater IT independence for SuSE customers? How about greater competition in the software market? Is Dragoon really working in the best interests of SuSE customers?
SuSE has now become Microsoft’s inhouse Linux, a cabin boy for Captain Microsoft. It will be tuned to conform to Microsoft’s wishes, and will never be allowed to challenge Microsoft dominance. That should be obvious to anybody.
This deal is like Grandma hand delivering Little Red Riding Hood to the Wolf Family’s den. It will benefit Grandma (Dragoon and some Novell stockholders) and the Wolves (Microsoft). It will be a tragic blow for Linux in its bid to grow free of Microsoft influence.
November 9th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
Let us take a closer look at Novell’s FAQ…
“Novell makes no admission that its Linux and open source offerings infringe on any other parties’ patents.”
Now a closer look at Microsoft’s General Counsel Brad Smith…
“We addressed the proprietary issues through the net up-front payment. The open-source we addressed through the percentage of revenue.”
The percentage of revenue to which Brad Smith is talking here is Novell’s payment to M$ so that M$ will not sue any SUSE customers because of some patent infringements.
Wait. Didn’t we just read that no such infringements exist? If Novell is paying Microsoft a percentage of its revenue from sales of SUSE Linux as part of a covenant from Microsoft not to sue SUSE customers for patent infringement in open source code, then is this not a tacit admission that Novell’s Linux and open source offerings infringe on other parties’ patents, particularly Microsoft’s patents? How can one interpret this any other way? Why would Novell pay Microsoft not to sue its customers over patent infringements Novell says do not exist?
I see 2 answers to this…
1) There is no M$ patent infringement in SUSE and/or Linux. Novell is just spreading FUD here.
2) There *are* some patent infringements in Novell’s SUSE product and Novell is refusing to admit it in its FAQ
Lets us see what Section 7 of the GPL has to say about that
If, as a consequence of a court judgment or allegation of patent infringement or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues), conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or otherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not excuse you from the conditions of this License. If you cannot distribute so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this License and any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you may not distribute the Program at all. For example, if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the Program.
Or, in other words just like Eben Moglen, attorney of the FSF explains it
“If you make an agreement which requires you to pay a royalty to anybody for the right to distribute GPL software, you may not distribute it under the GPL.”
Obviously, the GPL is the reason why Novell must go on record with the assertion that neither Linux nor its other open source offerings infringe upon any Microsoft patents. To say otherwise would be to admit Novell is violating the GPL.
November 11th, 2006 at 7:48 am
I am far from a Microsoft fan, but I remain cautiously optimistic about the new deal.
Apple seems to be doing well after the 100 mil Microsoft put into them, hopefully this alliance will bear some similar fruit.
At the end of the day Novell doesn’t control Linux, just what they put on top of it so while MS might be able to deal damage to Novell – Linux should continue regardless. To dump SLES or SLED at this point I think is foolish.
We need to keep in mind that MS is under constant attack for antitrust issues – they need to keep Apple and Novell in the mix so they can say there is at least some competition in the market place. Let us not forget that Oracle is also a major MS competitor and they are embracing Linux. I’m betting that Steve and Co. are concerned that SQL server will lose market share to Oracle if the Oracle db runs on linux, but SQL won’t. I’m guessing that being able to run SQL server in some virtualized Windows machines probably wouldn’t be a bad thing – at the end of the day MS is still getting Windows/SQL revenue.
I’m loyal to Novell and I think the worst thing we can do is abandon them when they need revenue in order to become a force in the market place again.
Let’s face it MS has tons of money on hand they could just start purchasing the major Linux distributors and just let them die on the vine – but they don’t because they them in the market to protect themselves during the lawsuits. Ask yourself why MS hasn’t just purchased Novell outright – they have the cash and the board has made it clear that making money is their focus. Do you think the board would turn down a 10 billion dollar offer? Heck that’s 10 times what Novell has in the bank right now. The answer is that MS can’t do that without ending up in court again.
For now I plan on staying the course and see how things play out – I can always change my mind later – which is something Novell needs to keep in mind…
November 15th, 2006 at 4:02 am
I also work in IT and have been recommending SUSE Linux as a solid distribution for customers migrating from Windows. Like many others I will now advise them to avoid SUSE as the Novell/Microsoft deal demonstrates Novell’s insincerity in its dealings with the open source community, and its short-sightedness in terms of the effects of this bad faith on its future.
December 7th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
The purists and fanatics are in an uproar but the smart money says to take a wait and see attitude about the Microsoft – Novell agreement announced on November 2nd.
I’ve been installing NetWare since 1985 so I’m fully aware of Novell’s history and its dealings with Microsoft over the years.
The Microsoft – Novell agreement is a major victory for the Open Source Community in that Microsoft is admitting that Linux and Open Source are important enough that they need to work with them because their customers demand it.
Microsoft’s previous support for the SCO suit against IBM for Unix copyright violations has pretty much failed. So the old dictum “if you can’t beat them, join them” applies to the Microsoft – Novell agreement.
The announced agreement represents a large net cash flow from Microsoft to Novell over the coming years, but more importantly is Microsoft’s agreement to spend $60 million in marketing over 5 years in support of the agreement with another $34 million for personnel to do it.
Microsoft will now advise their customers who want to run Linux to use SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 from Novell. Microsoft can offer them a subscription coupon good for a year’s maintenance and support on Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise 10. Microsoft can distribute…sell or give away 70K of these subscription coupons per year for the next 5 years.
The 1998 Department of Justice anti-trust suit against Microsoft resulted in a guilty verdict. During the 4 years the trial lasted, Microsoft had to tread carefully and keep its foot off the throat of its OEM customers who were free to support Linux and Open Source software solutions on their systems.
The 2006 Microsoft – Novell agreement provides additional legal protection (if is actually needed) to individuals and so-called non-commercial Open Source developers. It is only a small leap to say that for all practical purposes commercial Open Source developers have nothing to fear as it is very unlikely that Microsoft will file suit against any of them when Novell, IBM and others are already on record as willing to go to bat to defend them.
This looks like a good agreement for Novell, their customers and the Open Source community. Time will tell whether the agreement will be successful and if new agreements will be forthcoming with Novell and other Open Source vendors.
December 9th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
[...] Microsoft and Novell lawyers did a very good job, as stated by Richard Stallman feedbacks, since thet respected the GPLv2 and, likely, the GPLv3 as well (see also my previous post GPLv3 ad personam). But they lacked of good communication, as shown clearly by their disagreements on agreement,and they had bad ideas, like offering a covenant for non commercial OS developers. I believe that the Intellectual Property frame was a must for Microsoft, but I’m interested in knowing the answers to the following questions (excerpt from a post of Novell’s Chief Marketing Officer): [...]
December 29th, 2006 at 1:44 pm
It’s simple – Novell is poised for a buy-out by IBM. Novell made more from Microsoft’s “deal” than they did from Linux sales. They’ve divested themselves of Netware, NetMail, and are Linux-only – something IBM desperately needs.
Most of Novell’s top-tier management is made up of ex-IBMers. IBM may have been making this a long-term goal. Wait for Novell to further develop SUSE and the expertise, then buy a more refined product. With the Microsoft deal, it makes it even easier for IBM to work with MS. Novell’s Directory-enabled products are also able to work with AD, which is also a plus for IBM, as it eliminates another barrier for their relationship with MS.
Think about it.
Novell reports that they made a mere $23 million last year – yet it increased its’ cash reserves by $200 million. This means that a company whose market cap is $2 billion has $1.5 billion in cash. Novell claims that its assets are worth $2.4 billion. Ripe for a takeover?
Why would Novell put $200 million into the bank while cutting marketing, R&D, etc? They can’t afford to support Netware any longer, but they’ve got billions?
It’s elementary – sell Novell to IBM. What could be more obvious?
IBM’s color is Blue, Novell’s is Red and Green. Microsoft’s is Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow. Coincidence? I think not.
Novell – an IBM subsidiary.
September 9th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.