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.
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