Stage is set for Netware OS market fight-back
- Posted:
- 15:32 10 Nov 2003
- Topics:
- Operating Systems | Linux | Open Source Software | Software Companies
Novell embraced Linux at its annual BrainShare
conference in April, where Jack Messman, the company's chairman and
chief executive, presented Linux as a way to boost the take-up of
Novell's Netware operating system. Netware had lost market share as
users moved to the Microsoft Windows platform.
Messman told delegates that with the release of Netware 7.0, due in
2005, users would be able to migrate to a Linux kernel.
At the time, Messman provoked anger among open source adherents
when he said Novell would take the "immature" Linux operating
system and turn it into a "robust, reliable and scalable"
enterprise-class operating system.
In August, Novell announced it was acquiring Linux provider Ximian,
which had been working on Mono, the open-source version of
.net.
Following the announcement Gartner said Novell's strategy could put
it at odds with Microsoft, which would affect its users.
A brief history of Novell
1979: Novell Data Systems begins life as a
computer manufacturer and maker of disc operating systems.
1983: Novell introduces Netware, the first local
area network software based on file-server technology.
1994: Novell buys the rights to the Quattro Pro
spreadsheet and the Wordperfect word processor in a bid to offer an
alternative to Microsoft desktop software.
1996: Corel buys Wordperfect from Novell, as
Novell drops its desktop strategy to focus on the internet.
1998: The Netware 5 server operating system and
Novell Directory Services (NDS) starts shipping with native support
for online comms standard Internet Protocol.
2001: Novell acquires consulting firm Cambridge
Technology Partners in a bid to build its services business.
2002: Novell buys Silverstream Software, a
developer of web services-oriented application development
tools.
August 2003: Novell's buys Ximian and sponsors two
open source projects: Gnome for the desktop; and Mono, an open
source platform for running Microsoft .net applications.
November 2003
Novell announces plan to acquire Linux distributor SuSE.
