Novell Selected as Official Technical Supplier to the Mild Seven Benetton Playlife Formula 1 Racing Team

London - 15 February 2000: Novell has announced a new agreement with Benetton Formula 1 Limited* to become the team's Official Technical Supplier. The agreement forms a major component of a three-year sponsorship contract. Building on the long-term relationship between the two companies, Novell will provide development and engineering expertise to enhance and support Benetton Formula 1's communications network based on Novell's suite of Net services software. The announcement follows the unveiling of Benetton Formula 1's challenger for the 2000 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Mild Seven* Benetton* Playlife* B200 car, at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona on the 17th January.

NetWare, Novell's directory- and Web-enabled server operating system, provides the network platform that connects Benetton Formula 1's 300 staff at its Technical Centre in the UK. Novell BorderManagerTM Enterprise Edition software enables secure, remote links between the Technical Centre, and race and test crews out on the track. This connection will allow Benetton Formula 1's engineers in the UK to access and analyse data feeds from over 120 sensors monitoring the team's cars during every Grand Prix race.

Technical Director of Benetton Formula 1, Pat Symonds said: "The B200 has been designed to use proven technology and methodologies with the aim of being consistently fast and reliable. We are delighted with Novell's support as the Official Technical Supplier to the Benetton Formula 1 team. The superior performance and reliability of our Novell network will be critical in making race winning decisions."

Space restrictions and limitations of communications links at trackside during Grand Prix races have presented special challenges to Novell's consultancy team. "With around 100 tons of cars, spares and equipment to transport, there is no room for racks of PCs and satellite communications equipment," explained Symonds. To ensure consistent communications at every Grand Prix venue, Novell developed the Internet-based solution to enable the Mild Seven Benetton Playlife trackside team to connect securely to their Technical Centre network from anywhere in the world via standard telephone connections.

To ensure systems are running at peak performance, wherever the team is located, Novell will provide worldwide 'Premium Service' technical support. Novell's specialist team of technical consultants will also provide development expertise to continue to improve speed and ease of communication of the Benetton Formula 1 network infrastructure.

Steve Brown, regional director, Novell, said: "In Formula One, the systems that support the team's decision-makers at trackside are critical to the car's performance. A high-performance network that provides seamless communications between the team members wherever they are in the world can make that difference. With Novell technology at the core of the team's communications infrastructure, Benetton Formula 1's drivers are guaranteed that their support crews can operate at maximum efficiency and effectiveness."

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL), is a leading provider of Net services software that delivers services to secure and power all types of networks - the Internet, intranets and extranets; wired to wireless, corporate and public - across leading operating systems. Novell's Net services software provides the foundation for one Net-a single global network that supports new applications and forms of business. Net Services software gives IT organisations a way to adapt and accelerate their transformation to ebusiness, simplify the management and control of all networks, create a secure foundation for doing business on the Net, and help deliver a consistent and high-quality experience to end users in all locations. Worldwide channel, consulting, education and technical support programs, along with strategic alliances, combine Novell Net services software with third-party products and services to form complete Net solutions.