Novell Polishes NetWare 5 for Delivery
Several Thousand Customers Gear Up for Final Test of NetWare 5 Featuring Enhanced
Directory Services and New Flexible, Role-based Network Administration
PROVO, Utah -- April 21, 1998 -- Novell, Inc. today announced general
availability
of the third beta release of NetWare® 5, the world's most advanced network for
Internet-enabled
businesses. NetWare 5 Beta 3 sets a new standard for network directory flexibility and
management with
an enhanced version of NDS (Novell Directory Services) and the debut of
ConsoleOne, a
Java-based framework for consolidating and managing all network management utilities from a
single
graphical user interface. This final phase of beta testing furthers Novell's progress toward
delivering the
most intuitive and efficient intelligent network.
There are currently more than 122,000 people testing the second beta version of NetWare 5 with
many
more expected to sign up before its official launch. "Customer response to the first two beta
versions has
been overwhelmingly positive. Customers are pleased with the excellent performance,
scalability,
reliability and pure IP support in NetWare 5," said John Slitz, Novell senior vice president of
marketing.
"By offering NetWare 5 with an enhanced version of NDS and the ConsoleOne management
framework,
Novell is leading the charge to make network administration simple by empowering IT managers
with
tools to make the management of their networks mirror the structure of their organizations."
NDS Brings Management Flexibility
NetWare 5 Beta 3 ships with an enhanced version of NDS, the industry's leading directory
service, with
capabilities never before offered with any directory service. The new version of NDS allows for
more
flexibility and security in managing and administering the network, saving businesses
considerable time
and money. The enhanced version of NDS in NetWare 5 includes the following:
- Role-based management -- enables network managers to assign specific network
administration
tasks to individuals. For instance, the responsibility of assigning and administering passwords
can be
delegated to the first-level help desk staff member, providing an economical solution by freeing a
more
costly administrator's time. This efficient method of managing the network provides an
additional layer
of administrative flexibility and security.
- Support for the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol version 3 (LDAP v3) -- allows open
protocol access via LDAPv3, as well as unlimited scalability through NDS's advanced replication
and
management of back-end directory functions. Also, LDAP extensions will be supported for
interoperability with LDAP applications from Netscape and other vendors.
- Catalog services and simplified login -- makes it easier to create NDS-enabled applications,
improves directory access performance, and allows users to sign on from any computer in any
location
without requiring directory knowledge. Directory information stored in catalog or index format is
easily
customized for searching, sorting and reporting purposes. Distribution and replication of these
indexes
allows administrators to quickly access a "snap shot" of the complete network directory as
opposed to
performing a query across the entire network. NetWare 5 includes new "contextless login"
capabilities
that leverage the NDS catalog, allowing users to authenticate from any point on the network
simply by
typing their login name and password. Users are no longer required to know the location of their
user
object in the NDS tree.
- WAN traffic management -- provides efficient utilization of network bandwidth for
synchronizing
NDS information across WAN connections. With this new feature, network administrators
control
how and when servers exchange directory information across ISDN or slow dial-up links,
allowing
organizations to reduce telecommunication costs.
Simplified Management through ConsoleOne
As network management becomes increasingly complex with the addition of components from
various
vendors, the Internet, intranets and extranets, Novell is aiming to simplify administration and
management. The ConsoleOne management framework for NetWare 5 provides a central point
of
administration that can be accessed anywhere a Java Virtual Machine is present, including a
NetWare
server. This new framework allows developers to simply "snap-in" network and application
management
utilities without requiring them to develop the security and administration infrastructure. Several
of the
NetWare and NDS administration functions will be the first Novell offerings to utilize
ConsoleOne --
followed closely by Novell's ManageWise, Z.E.N.works, GroupWise and
the
Novell BorderManager product suite.
Additional NetWare 5 Features
Due to be delivered in mid-1998, NetWare 5 continues Novell's leadership as an Internet
company by
including the following new features and capabilities:
- The world's fastest Java Virtual Machine (JVM) for running server-based Java applications
and
services
- A free five-user license of Oracle8, the best-selling database technology from Oracle, Corp.
- Netscape FastTrack Server for NetWare and Netscape Communicator, enabling customers to
deploy
leading Web publishing solutions
- The Novell Upgrade Wizard for planning, modeling and automating the move from NetWare
3
servers to directory-based NetWare 5 networks
- Compatibility mode allowing customers to run current applications on their new IP-based
NetWare 5
networks
- A Domain Name Servers (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
management
utility ties network resources together into a single, trusted NDS-based system
- Support for industry and Internet standards including Java, JNDI (Java Naming and
Directory
Interface) CORBA/IIOP and Active X
"With NetWare 5 and NDS, organizations will find growing their network to be less time
consuming and
more cost-efficient," said Robert De Cardenas, network coordinator for the Florida Supreme
Court. "We
are adding many new users and objects into our network next month and will only have to
increase our IS
staff minimally because of the single point of administration and advanced integration features in
NDS.
We would have to add many more network administrators if we didn't have NetWare and
NDS."
Pricing and Availability
Starting April 27, customers can register for their copy of NetWare 5 Beta 3 through Novell's
open beta program. Customers will register for NetWare 5 Beta 3 on Novell's Web site at www.novell.com/netware5/ for a fee of $25 (US)
to cover materials, shipping and handling.
About Novell
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 GroupWise, ManageWise, NDS, Novell
BorderManager, Novell Directory Services, and Z.E.N.works are trademarks of Novell, Inc. All
other
registered trademarks and trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
Media Contacts:
Jason Werner
Novell, Inc.
Phone: (801) 228-7230
Internet: jwerner@novell.com
Danielle Epstein
Cunningham Communication, Inc.
Phone: (650) 858-3745
Internet: depstein@ccipr.com
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