Novell's Directory Service (NDS) and NetWare 5 Meet Business Needs Today for Smarter, More Manageable Networks

SAN FRANCISCO — September 14, 1998 — CIOs of the world's most forward-looking corporations and the top executives of the technology firms that serve them will arrive in San Francisco today with a message for the computer software industry and its customers: the time has come for directory-enabled networks.

This month's launch of Novell NetWare® 5 and surging interest in applications and networks made more secure and manageable by Novell's Directory Service® (NDS™) are the focus of the Open Networking CIO Forum sponsored here by Novell, Inc. at the historic Regency Theater. Novell also broadcast the event from its website to thousands of CIO participants worldwide and will conduct additional Novell CIO Forums this week at sites in Europe, Central and South America and Pacific Asia. In addition to NetWare 5 and NDS, these events spotlight directory-enabled third-party and Novell solutions including Novell's GroupWise® 5.5 e-mail and collaboration, ManageWise™ and Z.E.N.works™ network management and the BorderManager™ family of Internet services. Forbes Magazine Publisher Rich Kaarlgard is Master of Ceremonies for the day's keynote addresses, panel discussions and media briefings. The event includes keynotes from Novell Chairman and CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt, Compaq President and CEO Eckhard Pfeiffer, Intel Vice President and General Manager Pat Gelsinger and many others.

"We view today as a point of departure," said Schmidt. "Now starts here! You can catch the directory rocket now, or else be left years behind your competitors. The launch of NetWare 5 signals a new era in which customers will no longer wait for the advantages in cost, manageability and security that directory- enabled networks and applications make possible."

Today's event features participation from Information Technology (IT) executives from businesses and government agencies around the world now deploying NetWare 5 and NDS. These and thousands of other businesses are dramatically reducing the cost and complexity of managing applications and networks by deploying NDS in NetWare 5, Novell's pure Internet Protocol (IP) platform for Internet- enabled businesses.

The day's panel discussions, led by networking analysts from Aberdeen Group, International Data Corporation (IDC) and META Group, will cover such topics as using NDS to reduce network management and administration overhead for Microsoft NT Server and other application platforms, NetWare 5 as the best platform for securely integrating the Internet with corporate networks, directories as critical infrastructure for electronic commerce, directory-enabled desktop management and application deployment with Novell's Z.E.N.works solution.

Three themes pertaining to the advantages of NDS and the directory-enabled NetWare 5 platform will shape the day's discussions:

• Identity on the network established by NDS allow organizations to provide each employee with a digital identity, or persona, that determines access to resources, no matter where the user accesses the network. NetWare 5, NDS and directory-enabled applications give organizations the tools to create, manage and secure this identity.

• Location of resources on the network is a principal challenge for both users and the IT organizations who support them. NetWare 5 and NDS support new categories of applications that help users locate applications and services, buyers find sellers, partners find allies, and people everywhere find the information they need.

• Growth without Disruption is a major goal of CIOs, especially with the year 2000 approaching. Heterogeneous networks and open Internet standards protect customers' investments while maximizing flexibility of solutions and freedom of choice. In addition, Novell has designed and timed NetWare 5 to provide organizations with a Year 2000-ready solution.

About Novell

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, GroupWise, Novell Directory Services and NetWare are registered trademarks and BorderManger, NDS, ManageWise and Z.E.N.works are trademarks of Novell, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

Novell Press Contacts:
Julie Hatchett
Novell, Inc.
Phone: (801) 228-5073
Internet: jahatchett@novell.com

Denise Listol
Cunningham Communication, Inc.
Phone: (650) 858-3774
Internet: dlistol@ccipr.com