ISPs Differentiate Their Businesses, Meet Customer Needs with Solutions Based on Novell's Directory Service (NDS) and IP-Based NetWare 5

San Jose, CA, ISPCON — September 28, 1998 — The directory-enabled platform and applications that have powered the resurgence of Novell, Inc. are now bringing new solutions and business opportunities to one of the fastest growing segments of the information technology marketplace: Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Novell today showcased software solutions that use the power of Novell's Directory Service (NDS) and IP-based NetWare 5 platform to improve profit margins and expand and diversify value-added services for ISPs of every kind and size.

Directory-enabled Novell solutions allow ISPs to expand their offerings beyond simple access charges with next-generation value-added services, including Web caching and performance acceleration, software licensing, network management and security, virtual private network support, e-mail and collaboration, and much more. In a separate announcement, Novell today announced beta testing of BorderManager FastCache 3, the fastest, most scalable caching solution yet available to ISPs and business customers. Advances in caching technology and innovative caching services based on Novell solutions are the subject of an address scheduled here for Thursday, October 1 by Novell Chief Scientist Drew Major.

"The challenge for ISPs is shifting from providing access to delivering the value-added services that customers are demanding," said Adrian Viego, Novell's Chief Architect for Business Internet Services. "Directory-enabled Novell solutions like FastCache allow ISPs to flourish in this competitive environment by tailoring value-added services to meet customer needs. Novell's mission is to provide a software infrastructure that allows ISPs to differentiate their services, develop clear value propositions, and build long-range retention and growth strategies."

Novell's NetWare platform and compatible applications work together seamlessly, providing ISPs with turnkey solutions for basing value-added services. Novell's BorderManager product family provides ISPs and other businesses with a complete set of security services, including caching, firewall protection, virtual private networking, and authentication. ISPs are also basing services on other leading Novell solutions, including GroupWise messaging, ManageWise network management, and Z.E.N.works desktop management.

At the heart of these solutions is NDS, Novell's industry-leading directory service with over 400 supported applications and 40 million users. While providing infrastructure for value-added services, NDS makes them manageable and profitable for ISPs by making them available through a single customer signon. NDS allows ISPs to store all customer data in a single repository, no matter how many services the customer chooses. The result is a breakthrough in ease of use and efficiency that also makes it fast and easy for ISPs to customize their offerings.

In addition to proxy caching and performance acceleration, ISPs are using Novell solutions in such value- added services as:

• Application rental and metered software services, enabling ISPs to deliver software on demand to home and business users

• Business-class messaging and collaboration services based on Novell's GroupWise

• Highly-scalable open standards (POP, IMAP, SMTP, Webmail) messaging services

• Remote LAN access that incorporate RADIUS and RADIUS proxy for connecting mobile business users and branch sites into wide-area enterprise networks

• Remote technical support network and desktop management services, including outsourcing opportunities based on Novell's ManageWise network management and Z.E.N.works desktop management and software distribution solutions

• Virtual private networking for cost-effective, secure wide-area communication over the Internet

• Content filtering to limit access to inappropriate Internet sites within public schools, government agencies, and other organizations

• Managed firewall and other security services that give the right people access to information, while keeping the wrong people out

• High-performance Web services tightly integrated with NDS and Novell's NetWare 5 for optimum scalability, manageability, and security

• Certificate management required for many forms of electronic commerce

Solutions for Every Customer

Novell's directory-powered solutions enable ISPs to meet the requirements of virtually any category of business or home-based customer. Novell solutions are integral to the business-class Internet services of many of the world's largest telecommunications carriers, including AT&T, Germany's Deutsche Telekom, Japan's NT&T, and Singapore Telecom. Apex Global Internet Services (AGIS), a major Internet backbone provider with headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, is now evaluating Novell's caching technology as part of a pilot performance acceleration service. In addition, many regional and smaller ISPs are using Novell solutions as the basis for highly specific services targeted at businesses, including the huge installed base of Novell customers.

"We are excited by the power and scope of Novell's directory-enabled and IP-based Internet solutions," said Farooq Hussain, Executive Vice President for Global Multimedia and Data Services for AGIS. "Trials we're now conducting with Novell's caching technology demonstrate achievements in performance and manageability that can bring new value to both services providers and end users. We are currently discussing technology and marketing opportunities with Novell and look forward to a continued relationship that will deliver the value of directory-enabled services to our customers."

Another Novell partner, Canada's Maritime Tel &Tel (MT&T), uses directory-powered Novell solutions in Mpowered PC, a first-of-its-kind Internet service that gives home and business PC users access on demand to a virtual software library of educational, entertainment, and productivity titles. The service brings new choice and convenience to PC users, allowing them to "rent" software hourly, weekly, or yearly, depending on their needs.

"Novell offered the directory technology we needed to make Mpowered into a worldwide success," said Monty Sharma, MT&T Chief Technology Officer. "NDS allows us to serve every user with the software packages they need, while keeping track of usage through a unique billing interface. The technology needed for innovative new Internet services is here today. For services providers with the right imagination, there is no limit to success."

When EOS, Inc., a regional ISP in Illinois, first started using Novell's BorderManager FastCache, they found it out-performed every other vendor on cache delivery. This helped EOS to become more comfortable with Novell, gaining valuable technical knowledge on Novell's IP-based products.

"Our experience with FastCache made us so comfortable that we began selling Novell products," Anthony Hopp, president of EOS. "Now Novell products are an important part of our Internet services, as well as a growing source of revenue through direct product sales."

Puzzle Solutions, Inc. of San Jose, California is leveraging the complete range of Novell directory-enabled technologies to help small and medium-sized businesses. Puzzle Solutions provides a complete IT outsourcing service from desktop support to managed Internet access.

"What we do would simply not be possible without a high-function directory service," said Andrew Percy, president and CEO of Puzzle Solutions. "Combined with the enhanced services of Novell's BorderManager and GroupWise, we are able to deliver extraordinarily high-value services that give our customers real business advantage."

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, 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 as http://www.novell.com.

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

Press Contact:
Jonathan Cohen
Novell, Inc.
(408) 577-7268
jcohen@novell.com