Contributions and Affiliations
Open standards are a collection of efforts toward a common goal of advancing the adoption of standards that permit interoperability and provide the customer with a choice. Today there are many organizations working on developing and promoting open standards. Among its members are companies, industry groups, government agencies, and individuals. Novell has been a leader and an active participant for years in the open standards efforts listed below.
Open Source Contributions
Novell actively gives back to the open source community, tracks and champions standards within OASIS, the W3C, and the Java Community Process. In these organizations Novell works closely to develop technologies such as UDDI, BPMI, J2EE, and others. Learn more about Novell's open source and standard affiliations.
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Get Involved
Here are a few of the many projects Novell is actively participating in:
Apache HTTP Server
The Apache HTTP Server Project is an effort to develop and maintain an open-source HTTP server for modern operating systems including UNIX and Windows NT. The goal of this project is to provide a secure, efficient and extensible server that provides HTTP services in sync with the current HTTP standards.
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Aperi
Formed in October 2005, Aperi - derived from the Latin word for "to open" - is an open source community of leading storage and software industry vendors working to give organizations greater flexibility in the way they manage their storage environments and improve their access to stored information—regardless of what storage hardware or software they are using. This project will be hosted by Eclipse.
Novell believes the Aperi project framework will help customers derive maximum value from their storage environment, as well as promote innovation of new storage platforms and tools. Novell intends to contribute to and use Aperi code and framework components in our own management products. Novell's focus and potential contributions to the Aperi project will be around the enablement of storage management at the operating system level (Linux).
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AppArmor
Included with SUSE Linux, AppArmor is an application security tool designed to provide an easy-to-use security framework for your applications. AppArmor proactively protects the operating system and applications from external or internal threats, even zero-day attacks, by enforcing good behavior and preventing even unknown application flaws from being exploited.
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Bandit
Bandit is a system of loosely-coupled components to provide consistent identity services. It implements open standard protocols and specifications such that identity services can be constructed, accessed, and integrated from multiple identity sources. The Bandit system supports many authentication methods and provides user-centric credential management. On this base of a common identity model, Bandit is building additional services needed for Role Based Access Control (RBAC) and for the emission of records to verify compliance with higher level policies.
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Banshee
With Banshee you can easily import, manage, and play selections from your music collection. Banshee allows you to import CDs, sync your music collection to an iPod, play music directly from an iPod, create playlists with songs from your library, and create audio and MP3 CDs from subsets of your library.
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BetterDesktop
Better Desktop is a project dedicated to sharing usability data with Linux developers. Over the past year, we have conducted many usability tests on different parts of the KDE and GNOME desktops. We created this site to serve as a place where developers can watch videos of these tests. Here you will find over 200 videos of people using Mozilla Firefox, Evolution, Open Office, Banshee, F-Spot and other applications.
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Blade.org
Blade.org is an open community dedicated to developing next-generation technologies for blade computing.
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Eclipse
Eclipse is an open source community whose projects are focused on providing a vendor-neutral open development platform and application frameworks for building software.
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Evolution
Evolution provides integrated mail, addressbook and calendaring functionality to users of the GNOME desktop.
GCC
GCC, the GNU Compiler Collection, includes front ends for C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, and Ada, as well as libraries for these languages (libstdc++, libgcj,...).
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Gnome
The GNOME project provides two things: The GNOME desktop environment, an intuitive and attractive desktop for users, and the GNOME development platform, an extensive framework for building applications that integrate into the rest of the desktop.
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gPhoto
gPhoto2 is a free, redistributable, ready to use set of digital camera software applications for Unix-like systems. It supports more than 600 cameras. gPhoto2 runs on a large range of UNIX-like operating system, including Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, etc. gPhoto is provided by major Linux distributions like Debian GNU/Linux, Gentoo, RedHat Linux, SUSE Linux, Mandriva, etc.
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Heartbeat (Linux-HA)
The Linux-HA project provides a high-availability (clustering) solution for Linux which promotes reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) through a community development effort. The most well-known component of the Linux-HA project is Heartbeat. Heartbeat sends heartbeat packets across the network (or serial ports) to the other instances of Heartbeat as a sort of keep-alive message.
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Higgins
Higgins is a framework that will enable users and enterprises to integrate identity, profile, and relationship information across multiple systems. Using context providers, existing and new systems such as directories, collaboration spaces, and communications technologies (e.g. Microsoft/IBM WS-*, LDAP, email, IM, etc.) can be plugged into the Higgins framework. Applications written to the Higgins API can virtually integrate the identity, profile, and relationship information across these heterogeneous systems.
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ICEcore
ICEcore is the first open source collaboration suite to unify team workspaces with real-time conferencing, and Novell is leveraging this project with the addition of enterprise-level features, testing, training and support to deliver Novell Teaming + Conferencing. The ICEcore project offers an alternative to proprietary software development — one that welcomes innovations from customers and partners. Contributors can submit product enhancements or customizations to the ICEcore project. Those innovations can then be shared with the open source community and incorporated into subsequent releases of Novell open collaboration products. In this way, new capabilities are developed more quickly, resulting in a more complete and cost-effective team productivity solution.
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iFolder
iFolder is a file sharing application for Linux, Windows, and Mac.
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JBoss JEMS
JBoss Enterprise Middleware Suite (JEMS) is an extensible and scalable suite of products for creating and deploying e-business applications. JEMS is the opensource platform for SOA
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KDE
KDE is a powerful Free Software graphical desktop environment for Linux and Unix workstations. It combines ease of use, contemporary functionality, and outstanding graphical design with the technological superiority of the Unix operating system.
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Linux Kernel
This is the primary site for the Linux kernel source, but it has much more than just Linux kernels.
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Mono
Mono is a platform for running and developing modern applications, based on the ECMA/ISO Standards. Mono can run existing programs targeting the .NET or Java frameworks.
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Mozilla
The mission of the Mozilla project is to preserve choice and innovation on the Internet. Mozilla.org is the producer and provider of the award-winning Firefox web browser and Thunderbird e-mail software, a software development tools provider, an open source community of developers and testers, and a partner for the technology industry.
MySQL
The world's most popular open source database.
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Novell Linux Instrumentation for Enterprises
This project represents a CIM/WBEM approach to instumenting the Linux platform. The goal is to provide OpenWBEM providers and utilities for the instumentation of devices, services.
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OMC
OMC (Open Management with CIM) is an open-source umbrella project that includes implementations of the Open Standards management profiles and specs defined by the DTMF (Distributed Management Task Force), and associated tools and utilities.
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Open Cluster Framework
Defines standard APIs for basic clustering functions, and creates and supports an open source development project which acts as the reference implementation for the OCF APIs.
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OpenLDAP
OpenLDAP Software is an open source implementation of the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol.
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OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org is both a multi-platform and multi-lingual office suite and an open-source project.
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OpenSLP
The OpenSLP project is an effort to develop an open-source implementation of Service Location Protocol suitable for commercial and non-commercial application.
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OpenSSL
The OpenSSL Project is a collaborative effort to develop a robust, commercial-grade, full-featured, and Open Source toolkit implementing the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL v2/v3) and Transport Layer Security (TLS v1) protocols as well as a full-strength general purpose cryptography library.
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openSUSE
The openSUSE project is a worldwide community program sponsored by Novell that promotes the use of Linux everywhere. The program provides anyone with free and easy access to the world's most usable Linux distribution, SUSE Linux.
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Openswan
Openswan is an implementation of IPsec for Linux. It supports kernels 2.0, 2.2, 2.4 and 2.6, and runs on many different platforms, including x86, x86_64, ia64, MIPS and ARM.
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OpenWBEM
OpenWBEM is an enterprise-grade open source implementation of WBEM, written in C++, suitable for commercial and non-commercial applications. It provides a foundation for development of management frameworks that overcome cross-platform barriers and empower true interoperability. Developers can use OpenWBEM as a management agent and WBEM framework to provide applications for configuration and change management, system health monitoring, and enterprise-wide management functionality.
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Perl
Perl is a high-level programming language. Perl's process, file, and text manipulation facilities make it particularly well-suited for tasks involving quick prototyping, system utilities, software tools, system management tasks, database access, graphical programming, networking, and world wide web programming.
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PHP
PHP is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for Web development and can be embedded into HTML.
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PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is a highly scalable, SQL compliant, open source object-relational database management system. With more than 15 years of development history, it is quickly becoming the de facto database for enterprise level open source solutions.
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Rysnc
rsync is an open source utility that provides fast incremental file transfer.
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Samba
Samba is an open source/free software suite that has, since 1992, provided file and print services to all manner of SMB/CIFS clients, including the numerous versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems.
SGL
SGL (Scene Graph Library) is a cross-platform, C++, scene graph API for real-time visualization (e.g., vis-sim, gaming, scientific modelling, GIS apps). It manages all the data needed to render a 3D scene using OpenGL.
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Tomcat
Apache Tomcat is the servlet container that is used in the official Reference Implementation for the Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies.
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Wine
Wine is a compatibility layer for running Windows programs. Wine does not require Microsoft Windows, as it is a completely free alternative implementation of the Windows API consisting of 100% non-Microsoft code, however Wine can optionally use native Windows DLLs if they are available.
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Xen
Xen is a virtual machine monitor for x86 that supports execution of multiple guest operating systems with unprecedented levels of performance and resource isolation. Xen is Open Source software, released under the terms of the GNU General Public License. We have a fully functional ports of Linux 2.4 and 2.6 running over Xen, and regularly use it for running demanding applications like MySQL, Apache and PostgreSQL. Any Linux distribution (RedHat, SuSE, Debian, Mandrake) should run unmodified over the ported OS.
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YaST
YaST, which was put under GPL in 2004, is the most powerful installation, configuration and administration tool in the Linux environment and is included in any SUSE Linux Enterprise or openSUSE system.
YaST safely guides you through the installation procedure. In many cases, a few clicks are all that is needed to install SUSE Linux based systems on your machine. YaST automatically detects the available hardware and submits proposals for resizing any existing Windows installation. With YaST you can configure the Internet connection, the graphical interface, and peripheral devices such as printers and scanners in no time. YaST is also a reliable helper for the user administration, security settings, and the installation of additional software.
YaST offers a high degree of modularity and allows you to add modules at any time. As it has been open sourced, third-party companies can develop YaST plug-ins that make it easier to administer their own applications.
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Industry Standards
- The Calendaring and Scheduling Consortium
The Consortium is focused on the interoperable exchange of calendaring and scheduling information between dissimilar programs, platforms, and technologies. The Consortium's mission is to promote general understanding of and provide mechanisms to allow interoperable calendaring and scheduling methodologies, tools and applications to enter the mainstream of computing. - The China Linux Standards Group
The vision of China Linux Standards Group is to research and release standards on Linux according to requirement and situation of Chinese Linux industry development, especially on Linux desktop OS, Linux server OS, Linux application and Linux user interface. - Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF)
The Distributed Management Task Force is the industry organization that is leading the development, adoption and unification of management standards and initiatives for desktop, enterprise and Internet environments (including CIM, WBEM, DMI, ASF, SMBIOS, DEN). Working with key technology vendors and affiliated standards groups, the DMTF is enabling a more integrated, cost-effective, and less crisis-driven approach to management through interoperable management solutions.
Novell Positions: Board Representative and Technical Committee Member - Eclipse
Eclipse is an open platform for tool integration built by an open community of tool providers. Operating under a open source paradigm, with a common public license that provides royalty free source code and world wide redistribution rights, the eclipse platform provides tool developers with ultimate flexibility and control over their software technology. - Fast
The Federation Against Software Theft was the world's first anti-piracy organization working to protect the intellectual property of software publishers. The Federation's activities continue to address the misuse,overuse and theft of software intellectual property. - Gnome
Novell continues to sponsor The GNOME project. Contributing to the development of the GNOME desktop environment, an intuitive and attractive desktop for users, and the GNOME development platform, an extensive framework for building applications that integrate into the rest of the desktop. - The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
The Internet Engineering Task Force is a large open international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet. - itSMF USA
itSMF USA is the United States chapter of the ITSMF international organization. Their mission is dedicated to the advancement of IT Service Management best practices through knowledge sharing, educational and networking opportunities. - Java Community Process (JCP)
The JCP holds the responsibility for the development of Java technology. As an open, inclusive organization of active members and non-member public input, it primarily guides the development and approval of Java technical specifications. The work of the Java Community under the JCPs procedures helps to ensure Java technology's standard of stability and cross-platform compatibility, enabling it to operate on hundreds of millions of devices, from desktop computers to consumer electronics to industrial robots.
Novell Positions: Participation in over 30 JSRs - KDE
As a Patron of KDE, Novell continues to contribute to the development of the Linux graphical desktop. - The Linux Foundation
The Linux Foundation is a nonprofit constortium dedicated to fostering the growth of Linux through standardization and technical collaboration. Novell's continued support and certification with the Linux Standard Base helps to ensure interoperability between applications and the Linux platform. The Linux Foundation also hosts a number efforts focused on solving key issues facing Linux including printing, accessibility, desktop interfaces and application packaging. - Liberty Alliance Project (LAP)
The vision of the Liberty Alliance is to enable a networked world in which individuals and businesses can more easily conduct transactions while protecting the privacy and security of vital identity information. To accomplish its vision, the Liberty Alliance will establish an open standard for federated network identity through open technical specifications.
Novell Positions: Management Board; Technical Contact; Co-chair Marketing Requirements; Architecture Expert Group - Oasis
OASIS is a not-for-profit, global consortium that drives the development, convergence and adoption of e-business standards. OASIS produces worldwide standards for security, Web services, XML conformance, business transactions, electronic publishing, topic maps and interoperability within and between marketplaces. - ODF Alliance
As documents and services are increasingly transformed from paper to electronic form, there is a growing problem that governments and their constituents may not be able to access, retrieve and use critical records, information and documents in the future. To enable the public sector to have greater control over and direct management of their own records, information and documents, the ODF Alliance seeks to promote and advance the use of OpenDocument Format (ODF). - OpenForum Europe
OpenForum Europe was set up to accelerate, broaden and strengthen the use of OSS including Linux, within business - importantly within the context of open verifiable standards. OFE has gained significant credibility and reputation by adopting a business led approach throughout, non evangelical, independent and one based on hard evidence. In particular it has encouraged procurement policies which involve making balanced 'strategic IT choices' between open source and closed source solutions aligned to proven technical and integration capability. - Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)
The SIIA has three distinct missions. First, it seeks to show the world that the software and digital information industry is the fastest growing industry sector and a major contributor to the global marketplace. Second, it protects the intellectual property of members, and advocates a legal and regulatory environment that benefits the entire industry. Finally, the SIIA empowers its member companies with knowledge by serving as a resource to them on a wide range of traditional and emerging subjects that affect their businesses.
Novell Positions: Software Division Board Representative - Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA)
The mission of the Storage Networking Industry Association is to ensure that storage networks become efficient, complete, and trusted solutions across the IT community. - The Open Group
The Open Group is an international vendor and technology-neutral consortium that is committed to delivering greater business efficiency by bringing together buyers and suppliers of information technology to lower the time, cost and risk associated with integrating new technology across the enterprise.
Novell Positions: Directory Interoperability Forum, Identity Managment Forum - Web Services Interoperability Organization (WS-I)
WS-I is an open industry organization chartered to promote Web services interoperability across platforms, operating systems, and programming languages. The organization works across the industry and standards organizations to respond to customer needs by providing guidance, best practices, and resources for developing Web services solutions.
Novell Positions: Sample Apps Working Group; Security Roadmap Working Group