The Novell Bulletin System (NBS) is a Web-based database that allows partners to submit test results and manage their own bulletins. NBS can be accessed at Novell Bulletin System and requires a username and password. To obtain access to NBS contact your Novell Partner Engineering representative.
Once a submission enters NBS it proceeds through several stages. The different states that a submission goes through are summarized below. Refer to the following sections for additional details about each state. As a bulletin enters each state, an E-mail will be sent to the responsible parties.
The submission has been read into NBS. The partner is able to view the submission and modify the Product Description, some non-critical parts of the tested configuration, and company information. The partner explains any issues encountered during testing. The partner then moves the submission to the Review State.
Partner Engineering reviews the submission, and may edit any portion of the bulletin or request additional information from the partner. Partner Engineering then moves the submission to a Needs Response state or a Final Review state.
Partner Engineering has found problems with the submission that need to be resolved. The submission has been sent back to the partner for feedback. The partner provides the requested information then moves the submission back to a Review state.
Partner Engineering now reviews the summary for adherence to bulletin standards and makes corrections as needed. If more clarification is needed, the submission is moved back to the Review state, or, if approved, it is moved to the Final Customer Review state.
The submission has passed all phases of the certification process. This state allows partners to review the submission for any changes that Novell may have made (the partner cannot change any information on a submission in this state). This state also exists to allow partners to control bulletin release. The partner then releases the bulletin.
This is a temporary state that will last only a few minutes after the submission has been submitted for release.
The submission has been made into a bulletin, and the bulletin is on the web server. The web server will still need an hour for the new bulletin to appear on the search engine.
You submit the information into NBS, review the information and make any necessary modifications.
Open a Web browser and log in to Novell Bulletin System.
Read in the submission.
Click and browse for the ZIP file containing the submission files.
Click .
To change information click the link directly above the section containing the information to be changed.
Verify the product name is correct at the top of the summary.
Verify the Product Description is correct.
Verify the information in the Tested Configuration section is accurate.
Verify the information in the Supported Configuration section is accurate.
Verify the Config Notes are accurate. At a minimum the Config Notes section should indicate the client operating systems on which the print driver was successfully downloaded. This section may also indicate special circumstances or waivers concerning the product.
Verify the company information is correct.
When all information is correct, move the submission to the Review state.
Click at the top or bottom of the web page.
Enter comments, if any, in the field under .
Enter explanations (see Section 6.4, Providing Explanations for Test Failures).
Click at the top of the web page.
The submission will switch from the Open state to the Review state. Partner Engineering will review the submission and may ask for feedback.
Partner Engineering reviews the submission and moves it on to the next state.
If you receive an e-mail indicating that a submission is in a Needs Response state:
Open a Web browser and log in to Novell Bulletin System.
Select the submission under the column.
Click link on the top or bottom or the submission page.
Look in the section for correspondence from Partner Engineering.
Respond to the correspondence and resubmit for review.
The submission will switch from the Needs Response state to the Review state. Partner Engineering will review the submission and may ask for feedback.
Partner Engineering does a final check on all modifications or verifications.
You are responsible for releasing the final bulletin.
Go to the Novell Bulletin System.
Select the submission under the column.
Validate all information on the submission.
If the submission requires additional information or corrections:
Click on at the top or bottom of the web page.
Enter correspondence into the field.
Click .
The submission will switch from the Final Customer Review state back to the Review state.
To release the bulletin:
Click at the top or bottom of the web page.
Click .
The submission will switch from the Final Customer Review state to the Release Pending state.
Release Pending is a temporary state that should only last a few minutes while the web server updates its lists with the bulletin.
After a few minutes the submission will automatically switch from the Release Pending state to the Released state. Press F5 (Refresh) to update the browser with the new state.
The submission has now been assigned a bulletin number and the bulletin can be viewed at YES CERTIFIED Bulletin Search.