Novell has released an upgrade of its eDirectory - version 8.6 -
and plans a Web-based upgrade called Falcon in April.
This is the latest move in Novell's directory battle with
Microsoft's Windows 2000 Active Directory. Last year Novell offered
eDirectory free of charge to equipment manufacturers.
Version 8.6 offers persistent search, live continuous back-up and a
dynamic groups feature which allows groups to be created
automatically according to attributes relating to, for example,
roles in the business.
Last year analyst firm Giga Information Group found that 50% of
Windows 2000 implementors had not installed Active Directory, owing
to difficulties in migration. Novell's directory has a greater
market share than the Microsoft product, though the gap is
narrowing.
Many Active Directory implementations have foundered on the design
and migration of groups. Gary Barnett, an analyst at Ovum, said,
"Novell's eDirectory is in the top three of most-deployed
directories, and I would put it ahead of Active Directory. Novell
has the luxury of having its directory technology at the centre of
its strategy. Consequently, it does play more nicely.
"eDirectory is somewhat easier to implement but I am not sure how
many complaints from people with Active Directory troubles are from
those who have never had to implement a directory before. All
directory implementations are a complex matter, needing careful
design to ensure efficient replication across distributed
environments."
The forthcoming Falcon release will feature Web and wireless
management capabilities, with the directory supporting
browser-based interfaces and handheld devices. It will also support
Web services standards Soap and UDDI.
Improved data synchronisation
Novell has released
DirXML, a more flexible and powerful version of its data
synchronisation software. By using an XML pathway, DirXML can link
data stored in directories, applications and databases even if it
resides outside the firewall on a business partner's system.
Novell has also released DirXML Driver for SAP HR, which integrates
user identity information from the mySAP Human Resources
application, eDirectory and other enterprise software.
Linking HR applications, e-mail, databases and facilities access
eliminates the costly and time-consuming task of creating and
updating profiles individually.