Novell Introduces Clustering Service for NetWare To Ensure Availability of Critical
Network Data
New Service Safeguards Customers From Network System Failures and Offers
Unmatched Scalability for Network Growth
NETWORLD+INTEROP, Atlanta, GA -- October 8, 1997 -- Novell, Inc.
today announced the first product derived from its Wolf Mountain clustering technology, code-
named Orion, which will give customers unparalleled scalability for network growth and
continuous access to network-based information and applications. The new service, which will
enter beta testing in the first half of 1998, will provide clustering capabilities for the next version
of NetWare®, code-named Moab. Orion represents the first milestone in Novell's plan to
deliver clustering solutions as part of its continuing leadership in high availability network
services.
Orion enables up to 16 multiprocessor servers, based on the Intel architecture, to work together
as a single system for easier network management and faster resource access. Novell's clustering
architecture dramatically reduces the network server as a point of failure on the network, giving
users the consistent access to applications and information required in industries such as medical,
financial and transportation that cannot afford network downtime.
"With the announcement of Orion, Novell is raising the ante for PC network clustering," said
John F. Slitz, Novell senior vice president of marketing. "This is an extremely significant network
service that will save organizations money by substantially reducing the cost associated with data
management and the lost productivity that occurs when users are unable to access mission critical
data and applications."
"Our organization has been using Novell's current clustering technology for some time," said Don
Ramsey, information technology architect for Children's Medical Center of Dallas, TX. "We have
a mission critical environment and Novell's SFT III solution is a key component in providing us
with high server availability. We are very pleased that Novell's upcoming clustering service will let
us move forward with a scalable, highly available solution, allowing us to continue providing
quality patient care."
Novell designed Orion to give its network customers uninterrupted access to data and
applications on the network. Orion shares centralized disk storage across multiple servers in a
cluster to ensure that if a server goes down, or is taken off-line for maintenance, network
resources will be made available immediately from a different server in the cluster. Orion scales up
to 16 nodes, allowing customers to expand their networks as needed by dynamically adding
servers to the cluster without service interruption. The technology will support both IP and IPX
protocols, giving network customers the freedom to choose which protocols they use now and in
the future.
Novell Clustering Direction
Novell's goal is to provide an extremely reliable networking solution for customers by enhancing
reliability of the operating system and ensuring continuous access to network data and
applications by allowing servers in a cluster to work as a single system. Today, Novell delivers a
proven, reliable server operating environment with extensive recovery capabilities, augmented
with hardware safeguards such as drive mirroring, duplexing and Hot-Plug PCI. Novell also
ensures a high degree of server availability through its SFT III solution and Novell partner
products such as the Vinca StandbyServer product family. With the release of Moab and Orion,
customers benefit from consistent access to network data and resources.
"The management capabilities included in Orion are a generation ahead of those defined in
Microsoft's forthcoming Cluster Server product (formerly Wolfpack 1.0)," said Jay Bretzmann,
vice president, world wide systems research for International Data Corporation (IDC). "The
technology also helps Novell appeal to customers requiring higher levels of system availability for
mission critical applications and data. IDC expects Orion, combined with the new Moab release,
will create new energy within this market, helping Novell attract development partners and new
customers."
Orion Creates New Market Opportunities for Partners
Novell is working on partnerships with both hardware and software vendors to develop cluster-
enabled solutions for Moab and other network platforms. Novell and its partners will ensure
customers can deploy clustering solution that best fits their specific networking needs. Companies
that Novell is partnering with include: Intel, Oracle, Cheyenne, Compaq, Dolphin, Fujitsu/ICL,
G2 Networks, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, ICL, Mitsubishi Electric, NetFRAME, Olivetti, Siemens
Nixdorf, Tandem and Unisys.
Product Availability
Orion will enter beta testing in the first half of 1998. The network service will be generally
available for purchase in the second half of the same year. Pricing for Orion has not yet been
determined. Customers with questions about Orion should visit the Novell Web site at
http://www.novell.com/products/clusters.
Founded in 1983, Novell (NASDAQ: NOVL) is the world's leading provider of network
software. The company offers a wide range of network solutions for distributed network,
Internet, intranet and small-business markets. Novell education and technical support programs
are the most comprehensive in the network computing industry. Information about Novell's
complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at
http://www.novell.com.
Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks and SFTIII is a trademark of Novell, Inc. All other
registered trademarks and trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
Media Contacts:
Jason Werner
Novell, Inc.
Phone: (801) 861-4009
Internet: jwerner@novell.com
Nan Stillinger
Cunningham Communication, Inc.
Phone: (650) 858-3772
Internet: nstillinger@ccipr.com
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