PSA Peugeot Citroënis
to use Novell’s SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop solution on 20,000
PCs, and the supplier’s Linux software on 2,500
servers.
The deal is the latest Linux coup for
Novell, which
recently saw Microsoft sell on its Linux solutions to retail giant
Wal-Mart.
The carmaker is the second-biggest automobile supplier in Europe
and the deal comes as Novell steps up its effort to increase Linux
sales to offset a drop in business from its ageing Netware network
operating system.
An IT representative at the car firm said, “We found SUSE Linux
Enterprise Desktop to be well supported and extremely user
friendly.
“Novell's commitment to open source and close collaboration with
leading hardware and application vendors to ensure the support of
our IT requirements were key factors in our choice. In addition,
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop integrates seamlessly in our
Windows-based infrastructure,” the representative said.
Last year, Novell signed a peace pact with rival Microsoft which
saw both firms agree to develop joint solutions that could enable
Novell and Microsoft products to more easily work together, and
allow Microsoft to sell on Linux solutions.
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop includes three-dimensional desktop
graphics, integrated desktop search facilities, and a fully
compatible office productivity suite built around the Novell
edition of the open-source OpenOffice.org software.
Related article:
Novell unveils OpenSUSE Build Service for developers
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