Z.E.N.works Enhances End-user Productivity and Reduces Costs While Increasing the Total Value of the Networked PC

PROVO, Utah — February 17, 1998 — Novell®, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) today announced Z.E.N.works™ (Zero Effort Networks for users), the first directory services-based desktop management tool that reduces the cost of owning networked PCs and makes using networks easier. Z.E.N.works leverages Novell's industry-leading NDS™ (Novell Directory Services™) functionality to make Windows-based desktops easier to use and manage without sacrificing power or flexibility.

Novell's Z.E.N.works provides policy-enabled software distribution, desktop management and workstation maintenance. It removes barriers to user productivity and allows the experts, network administrators, to leverage NDS to ensure that users can focus on their business, not their PC. With automated application delivery and repair, desktops customized for users needs and easy problem resolution, Z.E.N.works gives users all the power of the PC without the responsibility for making it work.

"Z.E.N.works is a major step toward the manageability and convenience people want from an NC (network computer) environment, without replacing their current PC and software investment," said Michael Simpson, director of marketing at Novell, Inc. "You could say we 'NC your PC' while also laying the groundwork with directory infrastructure for integrating the thin clients of the future."

Creating a Digital Persona

User productivity is often slowed when software applications are unavailable, printer or remote access is denied, or when technical assistance is delayed. NDS addresses these problems by creating a "digital persona" or digital user profile that includes workstation and network policies giving each user access to the tools and information they need in their digital world. Z.E.N.works further leverages the digital persona by allowing network users to roam from one PC to another while maintaining their familiar interface and always having the network resources they require readily available. Preferences such as menu choices, desktop configuration and printer drivers are associated with each individual's unique user profile rather than with specific workstations. Furthermore, network managers can easily distribute software as well as securely diagnose and solve all software-related problems without physically visiting each networked computer or disrupting users.

"With users at 40 different locations worldwide and an IT staff at only four or five of those locations, the remote control and self-healing apps features of Z.E.N.works are going to be very important to us," said Scott Webster, network analyst, Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd. "And since we are able to distribute applications throughout the network with Novell's Replication Services, Z.E.N.works will also let users who login from multiple locations access their particular, personalized applications from the nearest server. This means users get the applications they need quickly and easily without causing excessive WAN traffic."

Innovative Desktop Management via NDS

Z.E.N.works makes networks easier to use and manage in three important areas:

Application management and distribution
Users will no longer have to wait for network managers to go from desktop to desktop updating or installing new software. Instead, the application icon automatically appears on the desktop and users simply launch the new program. Additionally, since the directory understands an individual's unique profile, Z.E.N.works allows applications to be "mass-personalized" or configured for each individual user to include information such as SMTP e-mail addresses or other preferences.

Z.E.N.works is not only year 2000-compliant itself but is also a functional tool that can simplify the deployment of other vendors' year 2000 patches and updates. Additionally, Z.E.N.works offers a self- healing applications feature. Since dependencies for running an application are stored in NDS, if a user inadvertently deletes a critical file for running an application, Z.E.N.works determines the problem, fixes it immediately and the application is launched without costly user downtime.

Desktop management
Users maintain their "digital persona" even when connecting from another location or from another user's computer. Network managers are able to keep up to date with workstation hardware inventory and can view and configure any PC in the network (e.g., OS, memory, CPU, display settings, devices running, I/O ports in use, etc.), regardless of where it is located, since the information is stored in NDS.

An interface into NDS is also available for integration with any ODBC-compliant application or reporting tool so managers can generate various types of reports on information such as the number of PCs with 32 meg of RAM. Additionally, dynamic policies and procedures are automatically established and stored in NDS, making them easier to deploy and manage.

Desktop maintenance
Users no longer have to answer technical questions about user profile or hardware configuration to obtain help desk support. When a problem does occur, the user simply clicks on the Help Request icon and can call or automatically e-mail the appropriate support person. Workstation configuration is automatically available on the user's screen or is included in the e-mail along with relevant error messages, making resolution easy and quick. Network managers can also remotely troubleshoot the problem through a secure, easy-to-navigate remote control solution that does not get bogged down by network traffic.

Pricing and availability

Z.E.N.works is currently in a closed beta and will be in open beta by March 16. A CD-ROM of the open beta can be ordered from the World Wide Web at www.novell.com/products/zenworks for US $25. The open beta will also be available for download from that same web site as of the week of March 16. Pricing for ordering the beta from outside the United States can be determined by calling a local Novell sales office.

Z.E.N.works will ship through Novell's channel in the second quarter of 1998. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Pricing (MSRP) for the product is U.S. $39 per node.

Z.E.N.works will be free to ManageWise customers who have maintenance contracts with Novell. In addition, a Z.E.N.works Starter Pack will be available, free of charge for all NDS users, later this year. The Starter Pack includes all functionality currently available in Novell's Application Launcher (NAL) and Workstation Manager products. The full Z.E.N.works functionality must be purchased separately. Z.E.N.works supports users running Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and Windows NT operating systems. NDS is currently available on NetWare 4.x, UNIX and Windows NT platforms.

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, as well as the network computing industry's most comprehensive education and technical support programs. Information about Novell and its 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 of Novell, Inc. IntranetWare, Novell Directory Services, NDS, NWAdmin, Novell Application Launcher, NAL, Workstation Manager and ManageWise are trademarks of Novell, Inc. All other registered trademarks and trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

Press Contacts:
Katrina Larson
Novell, Inc.
Phone: (801) 861-5593
Internet: kalarson@novell.com

Rona Brodrick
Cunningham Communication, Inc.
Phone: (650) 858-3740
Internet: rbrodrick@ccipr.com