Novell Lets Loose The ‘Cobra’ 

Hoping to cash in on the

delayed delivery of Windows 2000, a major overhaul of Microsoft’s network OS Windows NT 4.0, network software provider Novell Inc recently began shipment of its own network OS NetWare 5.1. The

company’s executives say that the upgrade is intended to spur interest among the company’s sprawling installed base of server systems through extensive support for web-based technologies making it easier for third-party developers to build applications. Formerly code-named Cobra, Novell claims the OS will benefit customers, resellers and distributors by providing the latest technology for using open, web-based ebusiness applications and for network management. NetWare 5.1 provides customers with a single solution for key net technologies including Novell’s latest eDirectory to extend the reach of their existing computer networks across the net to employees, customers and supply-chain partners.

In addition there are 232 NetWare 5.1 compatible software applications, of which 52 are already certified as Novell ‘Yes, Tested and Approved’ and are ready to run on NetWare 5.1. The upgrade includes versions of IBM’s WebSphere application server 3.0, a five-user version of Oracle’s 8i database, NetWare’s Enterprise Web Server based on server technology from Netscape Communications and support for the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, among other features. Novell Directory Services (NDS) is also included in version 8.0 along with a browser-based administrative utility called the NetWare Management Portal. 

NetWare comes with applications that help end users address their business needs by combining a reliable, manageable and efficient networking platform with web-enabled application solutions based on open standards. These include: 

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  IBM WebSphere 3.0, Standard Edition: IBM WebSphere for NetWare is a Java-based application environment that combines web servers, database, Java Server Pages (JSPs), Java servlets and other Java standards to create a platform for creating and managing enterprise-class web applications. WebSphere uses the industry standard XML support for sharing information and data easily across groups or enterprises. It also includes built-in site analysis technology that helps to provide performance and usage information to maximize a company’s return on its website investment.
  
  
  
  

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  NetWare Enterprise Web Server 3.6: NetWare Enterprise Web Server is an open-standards, enterprise-strength web server that provides customers with built-in web publishing and web development capabilities. It provides companies with advanced web publishing capabilities through Web Publisher and offers full indexing and search functions. This reduces the total cost of managing and maintaining a website.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  With tight integration with NDS, NetWare Enterprise Web Server enables companies to manage websites at a much lower cost by providing easy administration of multiple servers simultaneously through cluster management and delegation of certain web server administrative tasks to others without giving them the authority to administer all aspects of the servers.
  
  
  
  
  

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  Java Virtual Machine (JVM): The JVM comprises several NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) programs that allow Java applications to run on a NetWare server–turning general Java applications into tailored commands. It enhances intranet applications and ecommerce sites by running servlets, JavaBeans, Java Server Pagers and other Java development components on the NetWare server.
  
  
  
  

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  Oracle8i: Oracle 8i for NetWare provides advanced tools for companies to manage data on websites, performance and scalability needed to support these sites and other web applications. It includes Oracle WebDB, a browser-based application development, deployment and management toolset that makes it easy and inexpensive to web enable a business. Oracle WebDB comes with tools necessary to build dynamic web applications and content-driven websites.
  
  
  
  

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  Office 2000 compatibility: NetWare 5.1 supports the WebDAV protocol and Office2000 web folders on NetWare file systems, allowing collaborative editing and web publishing on the NetWare OS.
  
  
  
  

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  NetWare FTP server: This server is a lightweight FTP server that integrates with NDS to provide users a fast and easy-to-manage server. It helps users download files from web-based URLs, publish information to the internet from a third-party authoring tool, or conduct B2B collaboration via the internet. NetWare FTP server is platform independent and can be easily installed.
  
  
  
  

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  NetWare web search server: NetWare Web Search searches 
  
  
  
  all of a company’s departmental web servers, consolidates the information and makes it available for an individual. The engine indexes different document types such as TID, manuals, developer notes, application notes, research notes, white papers and developer
  TIDS.
  
  
  
  
  

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  NetWare news server: Using the News Server, companies can conduct collaborative electronic discussions, create and maintain newsgroups over the internet or intranet. The server’s integration with NDS gives administrators the ability to easily define and add news groups, add new group members and install collaboration products.
  
  
  
  

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  NetWare multimedia server: The Multimedia Server enables companies with powerful multimedia tools that can be used for critical functions as streaming audio-video capabilities, network-based staff training and interactive customer support. The server supports the open-standards protocols of HTTP and Real Time Streaming Protocol and can play .rm, .ra, .wav, and .mpeg file formats.

Developer tools that are a part of the NetWare solution are:

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  IBM WebSphere Studio 3.0 Entry Edition: WebSphere Studio provides an easy-to-use toolset for creating, managing and debugging multi-platform web applications. This complete web development environment will also help NetWare users to exploit the capabilities of the WebSphere application server included in NetWare 5.1. In addition, users can also use their favorite content creation tools from within WebSphere Studio.
  
  
  
  

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  Java compliance: The Java-based network environment allows developers to write object-oriented, multi-threaded and dynamically linked applications using Java. NetWare’s Java environment saves development time and ensures compatibility across platforms extending the ‘Write Once, Run Anywhere’ promise from Java. Also included in NetWare 5.1 is the Symantec Just In Time Compiler, which improves the performance of Java-based applications.
  
  
  
  

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  CORBA: Common Object Request Broker Architecture coupled with Java enables developers to develop and integrate critical business applications in a multi-platform, open standards architecture. It gives developers the resources to target connectivity with Microsoft ActiveX applications and build distributed solutions using open standards architecture.
  
  
  
  

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  CLIB and cross platform developer libraries: NetWare 5.1 provides full CLIB and Cross-Platform Developer Libraries to ensure broad developer participation and opportunity.
  
  
  
  

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  Novell script pages: The OS supports such scripting tools as NDODB, JavaScript, UCX, ActiveX and
  
  NetBasic.
  
  
  
  

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  Enhanced loader support: The Loader Support infrastructure enables developers to use other compilers such as Borland C++ and Microsoft Visual Studio to create programs for the NetWare environment.
  
  
  
  

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  Open standards support: NetWare 5.1 supports open standards such as IP, LDAP, XML, ODBC, JDBC, JavaBeans, JDI, SSL, SAS and HTTP.
  
  
  
  

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  IP And IPX protocol compatibility mode: It also provides compatibility between IP and IPX protocols on the same network–a non-disruptive transition, based on customer’s needs and schedule. 
  
  
  
  

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  Novell Directory Services (NDS) 8: NDS offers the benefits of access to all network resources through a single login, a single point of network administration, a flexible and scalable directory schema, unequaled network security and a consistent cross-platform development environment. This significantly lowers the cost of managing and administering a network.
  
  
  
  

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  Netware management portal: The NetWare management portal lets administrators manage Novell Server versions 4x and 5x through a web browser on a client workstation. This new tool also provides for management from any location where a web browser is available. With NetWare management portal, administrators can mount and dismount volumes, access files on volumes and DOS partitions, manage server connections, configure SET parameters, monitor system resources, view server console screens, browse the NDS tree and NDS partitions and down or restart the server.
  
  
  
  

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  ZENworks starter pack: The Starter Pack helps in reducing cost and simplifying administration by automatically distributing and customizing software for each user. It ensures that users can roam from one network location to
  
  another while securely maintaining the users’ network rights and capabilities.
  
  
  
  

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  Novell distributed print services (NDPS): NDPS provides intelligent bi-directional communication between users, printers and administrators. It features an automatic download for plug-and-print installation of new devices. It lets users locate network printers and provides information such as printer capabilities, printer status and job status. It also offers administrators automatic printer discovery and configuration, which increases performance and reliability of network printing.

Domain name servers (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

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  (DHCP): DNS and DHCP tie network resources like applications, users and devices together into a single, trusted system. They allow for dynamic updates of host names based on changing IP addresses. They also reduce the time for administering IP names and addresses, while eliminating network problems associated with duplicate IP addresses.
  
  
  
  

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  WAN Policy Manager (WPM): The Policy Manager allows users to create policies for controlling NDS replication traffic over WAN links. It manages the cost and congestion of WAN traffic. WPM is based on NDS, allowing it to select and run administrator-supplied policies via a policy valuator that checks the policies and matches the input criteria to supplied policy. 
  
  
  
  

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  ConsoleOne: This common framework is internet-standards based and integrates Java applets and snap-ins, allowing developers to build network management solutions with a common look and feel. ConsoleOne provides administrators with flexible, role-based administration. 
  
  
  
  

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  NetWare Management Agents (NMA): Three Agents used to manage the NetWare OS via SNMP are included in NetWare 5.1. These agents, servinstr.nlm, hostmib.nlm and nwtrap.nlm, allow any SNMP-based console to use the open internet standard management protocol of SNMP to manage the NetWare OS. 
  
  
  
  

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  New back-up utility: This is a protocol-independent utility that adds multiple and repetitive scheduling, Windows 95-based GUI and autoloader support. It allows central management to back up jobs across the network. It also enables users to back up and restore vital data from the network.
  
  
  
  

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  Migration gateway: Links IP and IPX network segments. All routes and services from a pure IP segment of the network are communicated to the IPX side of the network and vice versa.

“NetWare 5.1 is a complete solution for a corporate website or intranet,” says Sean Sanders, Product Marketing Manager, Novell. “NetWare 5 turns a server-class PC into a performance internet server, providing connectivity not only among PCs, printers and mass storage devices but through the web including

the internet, company intranets and extranets.” The stakes are surely high, but will the users oblige?