Novell Introduces DCE Solution For UnixWare

Eases Integration of Client/Server Applications Into Enterprise Networks

DCE is a set of technologies defined by the Open Software Foundation (OSF) that enables the connection of heterogeneous systems. At the OSF DCE Developers Conference in Boston last August, Gradient announced its partnership with Novell to provide DCE support for UnixWare. Novell also previously announced it is working with Gradient on a UnixWare DCE gateway that will allow DCE clients to access NetWare servers through gateway software running on UnixWare. Today's announcement underscores Novell's endorsement of Gradient's SysV-DCE product for UnixWare.

With Gradient's SysV-DCE products, UnixWare can fully participate in DCE networks as client or server. Additionally, applications developed for DCE networks can be implemented on UnixWare platforms, now giving customers a greater choice in how they deploy their software. SysV-DCE for UnixWare will be especially attractive to large corporate customers who can use the product to transparently integrate UnixWare systems with their emerging DCE networks.

As the enterprise market continues its evolution to distributed computing networks incorporating DCE technology, Novell is positioned to meet that need. "Novell's relationship with Gradient illustrates our proactive strategy of leveraging industry partnerships in order to address a broad range of customer needs," said Don McGovern, vice president of Novell's UNIX Systems Group. "By partnering with Gradient, an established expert in the DCE arena, Novell is able to provide a robust DCE implementation on UnixWare that gives customers greater flexibility within their enterprise distributed computing environments."

"DCE is an emerging middleware standard whose acceptance is steadily growing," said Wendy Rauch, president of Emerging Technologies, Inc., an analyst firm based in Dix Hills, New York. "Novell is definitely doing the right thing by importing DCE to UnixWare, so UnixWare can play in heterogeneous, multivendor environments."

"Our goal is to provide seamless and secure integration of desktop systems into enterprise environments," said Len Halio, president and CEO of Gradient. "We're pleased to provide a product that will allow customers with DCE client systems to gain entry to UnixWare and NetWare environments, giving them complete integration of applications and services across the enterprise."

The SysV-DCE product recommended by Novell contains the DCE Executive (client) with two services running on top of it: Cell Directory Service (CDS) which makes the client location-independent, and Security Server, which provides homogeneous security for the DCE environment.

Pricing and Availability

Novell's UNIX Systems Group (USG) develops and markets the UnixWare family of computing solutions. UnixWare is a powerful, cost-effective UNIX operating system that runs on industry-standard hardware, ideal for deploying business-critical and database applications across the enterprise. It represents the newest generation of UNIX System V Release 4 technology, originally developed by UNIX System Laboratories. By combining unmatched applications availability, price/performance, scalability and network-readiness, UnixWare provides an application server businesses can trust.