Novell in network services push

Novell is to make its network services available on all operating systems at the same time.

Chief technology officer Alan Nugent told vnunet.com that the move will increase customer confidence in rolling out Novell services.

"We are going to be much more aggressive about providing services on any platform that's reasonable," he said. "Netware is still important but Linux is emerging and Solaris, AIX and Windows are important.

"We need to be more consistent. It is not about saying release 1 is for Netware and 1.1 is for Linux. It can't be a timeline; it must be simultaneous availability on all platforms."

Nugent explained that the simultaneous release plan could be in place by late next year.

"Chief technology officers will feel more comfortable with keeping Netware because they know they can keep the same services they use today," he said.

"It's the services that are important to the customers. For customers that come under pressure to make changes to their infrastructure [by taking out Netware], if they want to use our services they can still do that.

"We have to focus on the 90 million Netware seats, but it's not the sole driver: it's one in a series. In the old days you had to buy Netware to get anything. Now we want to solve business problems."

In July Novell completed the acquisition of web services developer Silverstream Software.

Nugent explained that some Novell products, such as its portal server and DirXML technology, will be integrated with Silverstream products later next year.

Tony Lock, senior analyst at Bloor Research, indicated that simultaneous releases across operating systems is a step Novell had to take.

"It is plausible and a good thing," he said. "Novell is trying to become an infrastructure player. It has to convince people that it will support alternative platforms and that it will always be there, so this is a step it has to take."