Novell Ships Joint Linux, NetWare Server

Narrowly missing its February target release, Novell on Thursday announced that Open Enterprise Server has begun to ship. The server combines Novell's rewritten NetWare core with SuSE Linux Server 9, providing customers with a central console to manage a mixed environment of NetWare and Linux servers.

Open Enterprise Server rolls file, directory, print, management, and messaging services into a single package. The server is compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server distributions.

Novell has incorporated fault-tolerance tools and productivity software into the server, including iFolders and Virtual Office. The software also includes Novell's Nterprise Linux Services.

Approximately one year it purchased German Linux vendor SuSE, Novell opened a public beta of its Open Enterprise Server. Novell first held a private beta test in October 2004.

"Open Enterprise Server protects the prior investment that customers made in NetWare and extends to them the freedom and flexibility of Linux," said Jack Messman, Novell chairman and CEO. "Only Novell is offering software from both the open source and commercial spectrums to allow customers the flexibility of choice which provides them real economic value through lower costs."

Novell Open Enterprise Server pricing details can be found on the product's Web site. Novell is offering discounted upgrade pricing for customers who are migrating from competing platforms.