Press Release

Novell's Systems Group Background& Summary

Introducing the Novell Systems Group

Novell is bringing together its two system software divisions to form the Systems Group. The new Systems Group combines the NetWare Systems Group (NSG) and UNIX Systems Group (USG).

The NetWare network operating system is the world's leading network operating system and the standard for connecting personal computer users to each other and across enterprise and wide-area networks. The UNIX System is the leading platform for downsizing of business-critical applications from large-scale systems to network servers.

Now having solidified NetWare 4 and UnixWare 2, Novell is taking the next logical step in the development of its network computing strategy. This strategy entails combining the best capabilities of NetWare and UnixWare in a single platform that meets the full range of customer needs for network computing. Novell has formed the new Systems Group to further focus our efforts on creating this single, unified network computing platform.

Technology Vision

Today's application servers are an interim step in the transition to pervasive computer networks and network applications. Client/server computing has meant one server and numerous clients. Next generation Novell network software products will define a single network system built across multiple servers that are managed and operated as one integrated solution. Customers standardizing on NetWare 4 and UnixWare 2 today will be on a direct path to future system offerings from Novell.

Novell will continue to develop and support its NetWare and UnixWare product lines, while offering new products that combine NetWare and UNIX services. The System Group will make initial new product and technology announcements over the next 90 days.

The group will provide the industry-leading server platform for pervasive computing. This distributed platform will change the role of servers, enabling them to work in concert as a single system. It will eliminate the boundaries between today's local and wide-area networks, connecting people with each other and the information they need, anytime, anyplace. The platform will be designed for ease of use, ease of management, and ease of application development. It will be open and flexible to support the customer's freedom to choose between systems hardware and applications. It will be modular and scalable to provide highly cost-effective solutions for installations of all sizes.

New Novell system offerings will provide backward compatibility for today's NetWare and UnixWare users, while supporting a new generation of distributed client-server applications. Distributed transparently across any number of network servers, the platform will present a single system image to users and administrators. Novell will increase the ability of distributed services such as NetWare Directory Services to support other operating systems on the network. Networks of inexpensive servers will deliver the power and fault-tolerance once limited to mainframes and specialized minicomputers, while providing users at work, on the road, or at home with immediate access to valuable information.

Applications Environment

The new network platform will support a new generation of distributed client-server applications tied to both the advanced network services of NetWare and the robust network application services of UNIX systems. In this environment, Novell will make NetWare's leading networking infrastructure and services fully available to UNIX applications. Application serving will be supported across multiple server platforms to become an integral part of the network, providing users with broader, faster more reliable access.

The new platform will also provide complete backward compatibility for today's NetWare and UNIX system applications. This includes support for UNIX line-of-business applications, database management systems, as well as groupware solutions, and desktop-based applications.

Ongoing NetWare and UnixWare OEM and Channel Support

The Systems Group will continue to develop and support the separate NetWare and UnixWare product lines. Novell will continue to make these products available to its reseller channel as individual products. Novell will also continue to license NetWare, UnixWare and also new systems software source code to OEMs.

Cross-Platform Licensing

The Systems Group will develop and market key distributed services for both Novell and non-Novell platforms, based on customer demand. Novell is following through on its commitments to provide NetWare Directory Services (NDS) for UnixWare and other select, high-volume UNIX platforms. Novell recently announced its intention to provide new versions of the TUXEDO System first for NetWare 4 and later for NT. In addition, NEST (Novell Embedded Systems Technology) continues to extend NetWare to a broad range of office and consumer devices that have traditionally been controlled by proprietary embedded operating systems.

Divisional Structure

The Systems Group has four divisions: the Operating Systems Division, Distributed Services Division, Extended Networks Division and Tools Division.

  • Operating System Division -- is responsible for core operating system development, including the evolution and integration of NetWare and UnixWare. The division is also responsible for NetWare Directory Services and integrated client support for leading desktop systems.
  • Distributed Services Division -- is responsible for developing the TUXEDO System, and for marketing TUXEDO, NDS and other key services such as data storage/retrieval and print management to suppliers of non-Novell platforms.
  • Extended Network Division -- is responsible for NEST (Novell Embedded Systems Technology) to enable office systems, process controls and consumer products to connect to NetWare networks.
  • Tools Division -- is chartered to provide developers with tools for creating applications that take advantage of the group's network computing platforms. AppWare developer tools come from this division.

Executive Team

Richard King, formerly head of NSG, is executive vice president and general manager of the new group . Mike DeFazio, formerly head of USG, is senior vice president for development in the Operating Systems Division. Toby Corey, formerly vice president of marketing for the NetWare Products Group, is the vice president marketing for the Operating Systems Division. Joe Menard is vice president and general manager of the Distributed Services Division. Darl McBride is vice president and general manager of the Extended Networks Division. Joe Firmage is vice president and general manager of the Tools Division.