BrainShare: Novell gets announcement-happy at trade show

By Laura Rohde
IDG News Service, 03/28/00

Networking software vendor Novell made the most of the first day of its 16th annual BrainShare user conference in Salt Lake City with numerous business-to-business e-commerce product announcements.

Specifically, Novell debuted a new architectural model for running its Net services software, codenamed DENIM - Directory-enabled Net Infrastructure Model. All of Novell's directory-enabled software products will be mapped against DENIM, and the architecture is designed to work with a variety of products and services from partner companies, Novell said in a statement.

The Net services software for content, portal and management services works over the Internet, intranets and extranets and is wired to wireless networks as well as to corporate and public networks. Furthermore, Novell said its Net services software product line would be cross-platform and based on open standards.

Novell will use BrainShare as an opportunity to demonstrate numerous new Net services software products for DENIM.

Other Novell announcements:

Novell has signed partnership agreements with Compaq, Oracle and Intel to develop products integrated with Novell's NetWare 5.1 business-to-business software package running on the DENIM software architecture. For example, Novell gave a demonstration of the Oracle8i database running on a NetWare 5.1 Intel-based server over a Compaq ProLiant 8500 computer, the networking software vendor said.

At BrainShare Novell also is set to demonstrate its Modesto technology, which is designed to work with Intel's upcoming Itanium processor, part of the IA-64 processor family. Specifically, Novell will show its Internet Caching System, NetWare Management Portal and Java Web server products.

Compaq, in Houston, can be reached at 281-370-0670 or www.compaq.com/. Oracle, in Redwood Shores, Calif., can be reached at 650-506-7000, or www.oracle.com/. Intel, in Santa Clara, can be reached at 408-987-8080 or www.intel.com/.

Novell's beta version of a wireless access version of its GroupWise product via AT&T's PocketNet will be made publicly available after April 3, Novell said. The GroupWise software, part of Novell's DENIM Net Portal Services package, offers messaging, calendaring and workflow software using the wireless AT&T IP network service. GroupWise's Web client, WebAccess, allows the wireless product to work across the most popular networks and platforms, Novell said.

The public beta will be available online at http://support.novell.com/beta/public. AT&T, in Basking Ridge, N.J., can be reached at 908-221-2000 or at www.att.com/.

Novell is also making the beta version of its DirXML technology publicly available. Part of the Novell DENIM architecture, DirXML allows corporate users to link and manage user profiles across a variety of platforms and networks. DirXML is expected to be made generally available by the third quarter of this year, Novell said.

Novell is demonstrating its three ZENWorks product bundles - for servers, desktops and networks - at the trade show with the mass-market release expected within the next 30 days, according to the company. ZENWorks allows for online discount ordering and licensing and is part of Novell's Net Management Services package.

Pricing includes $750 for ZENWorks for desktops and NetWare 5.1, which are bundled in a single server, five-user configuration. Additional user licenses start at $92. ZENWorks for servers, for desktops and ManageWise 2.7 are bundled together for $110 per user. ZENWorks for servers, desktops and for networks and ManageWise 2.7 will be available together for $150 per user.

The Novell Internet Messaging System will support the Solaris and Linux operating systems by the end of the second quarter, Novell said. Solaris and Linux versions of Novell's GroupWise instant messaging service will be available by year-end. Pricing will be announced upon release of the products, Novell said.

BrainShare runs until Friday. More information on the trade show can be found at http://www.novell.com/events/braintour.

Novell, in Provo, Utah, can be reached at 801-359-3079, or at www.novell.com/.