Lead Off!

We hear it more and more: Linux and open source are changing the way IT works. It's also changing the way everyone works, whether they realize it or not. Linux is the workhorse behind the scenes on more servers worldwide than you can imagine, and the number is constantly growing. Because of this, we wanted a Special Edition of Novell Connection magazine to showcase the most relevant Novell product release of the year: Novell Open Enterprise Server.

This edition of Novell Connection provides detailed insight into Linux, open source and Open Enterprise Server and how you can put them to work in your enterprise. It'll also give you a glimpse of where Novell is heading.

Novell is now a major force in the Linux industry. With Open Enterprise Server, we're delivering on our Linux and open source promise—ahead of schedule—to give customers choice and flexibility. Now you can run all of the trusted network services from NetWare on either the NetWare or Linux platform—or let them coexist and benefit from both.

You can deploy and manage both platforms using common management tools. We've integrated management, monitoring and deployment capabilities into both platforms, so you now have the benefits of a thriving Linux platform. If you're a NetWare customer, this opens up a world of application opportunities that previously have not been available on NetWare.

By providing the choice and flexibility that Open Enterprise Server offers, we're delivering added value to our NetWare customers while opening up the option to new customers who want the benefits of an open source environment without sacrificing the services and support on which they rely.

Open Enterprise Server takes advantage of all the benefits that both commercial and open source software have to offer such as freedom, flexibility, reliability, scalability and security. At the same time, it doesn't limit your choices, hit you with high licensing fees or lock you in to a single vendor either.

You'll not only benefit from the combined knowledge of more than a million open source developers, but you'll also benefit from the Novell global support infrastructure, the most extensive one of any Linux vendor. Novell Premium Support, with its 20-year history, is the only program to offer comprehensive, enterprise-level support for your entire Linux environment–from servers to desktops.

You'll also gain access to the growing number of Novell Partners. Since we announced our intention to release the product, the Novell PartnerNet Program has added several hundred partners.

This issue will give you an overview of how open source software and Novell Open Enterprise Server can add value to Linux in your enterprise. We cover managing your servers, monitoring server health, resolving storage and clustering concerns, using the different applications that are included, as well as the different deployment options that are included. You'll also read about what developers can do with the product. Finally, we share a little of the profound momentum the product is enjoying in the industry.

Customers worldwide tell us that Linux is an important part of their IT infrastructure and that they are looking to Novell to help them leverage the benefits of this growing platform. Novell Open Enterprise Server makes Linux a viable choice for a trusted, well-engineered, high quality and extensible platform that meets the needs and demands of your IT environments now and in the future.

Novell is more committed than ever to deliver real value and we based this product solely on your needs and feedback. The customer participation and feedback during the entire process was astounding. Rolling everyone's efforts into a single release was a daunting task. But as you will see, it was worth the effort.

So ride the open source and Linux wave with us. Enjoy this release of Novell Open Enterprise Server. Put it to work.