Jeff Jaffe’s Blog

Last year, we launched OES 2. This product is important to our NetWare customer base, drives the growth of Linux, and is a proof-point of industrial strength virtualization using SLES and XEN. The product’s success has contributed to the business success achieved in fiscal 2008 by our Workgroup team. Our attention and focus have paid off. We have now launched a service pack for OES 2—one which adds considerable function.

OES 2 reprise

In two blog entries last year “Open Enterprise Server 2” and “General availability of Open Enterprise Server 2“, I elaborated on our objectives. First, to ensure continuity, longevity, and support for our NetWare customers. NetWare as an operating system can not keep up with all system demands such as device driver support—by virtualizing NetWare on Linux we have an alternative to increase the value of our customer’s investments in NetWare based solutions.

Beyond that, we boast many features:

• Greater interoperability with Microsoft; particularly around Active Directory and eDirectory
• NetWare-equivalent services available as pure Linux services
• Ecosystem support—by key partners—for functions such as backup and anti-virus
• Manageability
• Dynamic storage technology
• 64 bit processor
• Leveraging XEN open source virtualization technology
• Training programs to develop Linux skills for our customers.

And, as emphasized in my post, “General availability of Open Enterprise Server 2“, with a focus on quality and performance.

OES 2 SP 1—theme

OES 2 SP 1 is loaded with features, but a single word that highlights the major focus of this release is interoperability.

It make sense. Look at Novell’s core value proposition. We Make IT Work as One. We are the single company dedicated to making all customer IT environments work well together. For NetWare services to have maximum utility—they attach to the entire gamut of IT choices that customers have made.

It’s easy for me to “toot our horn” about interoperability. What do others say? We were gratified to have Joe Long, Microsoft’s General Manager of Identity and Security say—”With Novell Domain Services for Windows our joint customers will benefit from interoperability and cost-effective manageability in new and existing scenarios.”

OES 2 SP1—specifics

Novell has a partnership with Microsoft so we often emphasize Windows interoperability. But our capability in OES 2 SP1 goes beyond.

• AFP support and CIFS support provides enhancement for Apple and Microsoft clients.
• Our next version of iFolder has enhanced support for Linux and Mac clients. Additionally, we have new features such as support for groups and multiple iFolders.
• The centerpiece of this release, Domain Services for Windows. The ability for the OES server to manage users and group policies through the Microsoft Management Console.

Domain Services for Windows

This last capability is the big one which calls for additional perspective.

Domain Services for Windows provides sophisticated authorization and authentication in a Windows context. Windows users can access an OES 2 server using native Windows protocols. Additionally, with this capability, we have cross-authentication between Active Directory and Novell eDirectory.

Let’s talk about what this provides to Windows users. Simply, it allows users in a Windows desktop environment to take advantage of Novell back-end services and technology, without the need for a Novell Client on the desktop. Administrators have the option to perform certain file system and directory tasks, as well as centrally administer SAMBA shares. IT departments have fewer desktop images and one fewer component to manage on the desktop—equating to lower IT budgets.

With GroupWise 8 users improve productivity. Let me tell you how.

Consistent with Novell’s brand promise of Making IT Work as One, GroupWise 8 has major enhancements in interoperability. There is an exhilarating expansion of collaboration metaphors. We integrate social networking into GroupWise. And we simplify administration and security.

Let’s look under the covers.

Collaborating “With Others as One”

Despite a keen focus on the Linux desktop in GroupWise 7, some features were more advanced with a Windows environment. With GroupWise 8 we’ve fixed this inequity and cater equally to Linux users. Linux on the desktop is becoming increasingly common as hardware vendors offer more systems with Linux desktop preloaded.

GroupWise goes beyond Linux and Windows. The popular Mac client, and the Web access client have also been refurbished. Bottom line is that for Linux, Windows, Mac, and Web access clients, there are interoperability enhancements: multiple calendar management; multiple e-mail account management; tools for organization, search, and notification; and sophisticated tagging capabilities.

Interoperability is not limited to desktop. GroupWise servers run on a choice of operating environments and support multiple mobile endpoints. Taken together, we take interoperability to a new level.

Collaboration is more than email

We added collaboration paradigms (such as Web and IM) in the past, but recently – with social networking and unified communications taking off – the breadth of collaboration metaphors continues to expand. Typically, when a new paradigm emerges, customers initially want it standalone. Users explore the technology – but do not immediately deal with complex issues such as integration of disparate systems, security, and management. For example, we recently created Teaming + Conferencing as a standalone product.

As the capability matures there is a need to integrate. Users don’t want disaggregated solutions for mission critical situations. IT Managers cannot tolerate lapses in security.

Accordingly, GroupWise 8 broadens the sets of collaboration paradigms integrated into GroupWise. Users browse team workspaces directly from the GroupWise 8 folder tree, or add Teaming web panels to their Home View. They right-click on team folders to instantly launch an e-mail to everyone in the group. They subscribe to Teaming calendars and RSS feeds. And the GroupWise 8 address book will automatically populate links for any users with personal Teaming workspaces. With a single click, GroupWise users access these workspaces to see what their peers are doing.

Aside from this, GroupWise 8 integrates other collaboration metaphors that have reached maturity. Users add wikis, blogs, RSS feeds and Web pages to their Home View. They publish their calendars and busy search across multiple e-mail systems. They turn contacts into valuable business relationships.

Advanced server functionality and systems administration

I started with the GroupWise client because that is how users experience the product. But much of the “magic” – the functionality and rich user experience – is enabled at the back-end: Calendar enhancements, easier connectivity to the Internet, and interoperability enhancements require capability in the GroupWise server.

GroupWise 8 also has “install” improvements to make the overall experience of using GroupWise 8 superior to GroupWise 7 or competitors. GroupWise is the collaboration system-of-choice for openness, interoperability, enterprise quality, secure email, and collaboration.

Novell is investing in Workgroup solutions

We are proud of our GroupWise 8 release. Equally, we are investing more broadly in our Workgroup portfolio. Please see an earlier blog about our Teaming + Conferencing capability. And we are preparing for our next major investment to hit the market – OES 2 SP 1.