We are still waiting for a decision on Novell-SCO to be made -- a decision which the public knows nothing about. For background on the latest, see [1, 2].

In the mean time, here are a few of the latest developments at Novell, to the exclusion of GNU/Linux news which earlier posts covered [1, 2].

Windows/Novell

Novell gets sort of snubbed in Indian banks. Novell ought to get used to it if it relies on Microsoft for marketing.

Deepak Maheshwari, Director, Corporate Affairs, Microsoft India, shares his thoughts with Neeraj Gandhi, on the recently introduced Microsoft Platform Security and Audit Handbook 2008.

[...]

What about Linux keeping in mind Microsoft’s tie-up with Novell?

Presently we are focusing on these three Microsoft platforms only.

Microsoft is likely to continue phasing Novell out while Novell's strategy is to rely on Microsoft. Not smart.

The school system currently uses Novell, which is an aging operating system. Novell also isn’t compatible with the Microsoft operating system that county government uses.

That's interoperability? Well, we digress.

Groupwise

The Gwava-Groupwise affair is not on the rocks, but mind the following:

Rather than creating direct integration with specific packages, Gwava puts all of its data into an SQL Server format that can be integrated by a supplier or enterprise as part of a custom solution. Unlike its other products, however, which interact directly with Novell GroupWise, Gwava's Retain for BES does not require GroupWise. "

On the other hand, GroupWise gets a lift from Messaging Architects.

M+Extranet 3.5 is an efficient and cost-effective solution for collaborating with non-GroupWise users, and instantly publishing GroupWise content on a company intranet site, client extranet site, or student portal. Content can be published as an HTML page, RSS feed, blog or podcast without the need for expensive web authoring tools or content duplication.

Mentioned last week was the following news, which Beta News gets to at the end. It seems like Beta News has found new affinity for Novell, especially because of Jacqueline Emigh. Bear in mind that Beta News is very Microsoft-oriented. It's worth keeping track of which publications give positive/negative publicly to whom. It explains favouritism and prejudice.

Despite its well known interoperability deal with Microsoft, Novell still sees Redmond as the big competitor to catch in the groupware, collaboration, and messaging arenas, where the SuSE Linux distributor has just released the new, multiplatform Novell Open Workgroup Suite (NOWS) with Novell Teaming.

Virtualisation

Not from a source that we like citing, but mind Novell's presence in SYS-CON's Virtualization Conference & Expo.

Novell's Stephen Pollack to Present at SYS-CON's Virtualization Conference & Expo, June 23-24, in New York City

We wrote about virtualisation at Novell some hours ago. Novell is with Microsoft and its affiliates. Even SYS-CON, especially with the presence of Maureen O'Gara, is not friend of FOSS. She's describing ODF as "Microsoft-hostile" at the moment, revealing her bias immediately. Her recent attacks on Stallman are not to be forgotten and they make SYS-CON seem like a tabloid, not just an annoying publication that floods Google New using spamming techniques.

Identity and Security Management

Forbes passed on the news about Hewlett-Packard's collaboration with Novell on identity and security management.

Hewlett-Packard Co. and Novell Inc. said Friday they will jointly offer migration services as part of an deal to migrate Hewlett-Packard identity center customers to Novell identity and security management products.

The press release is here.

As part of an agreement between the companies, HP and Novell will jointly offer migration services, HP will resell Novell identity and security management solutions and Novell will license HP Identity Center technology.

More from the British press appeared almost a week later.

HP has exited the world of identity management and handed over its Identity Center customers to Novell as part of an exclusive alliance.

Remember what we wrote earlier on about the H-P relationship with Microsoft (and with Novell). Like Novell, H-P is another Microsoft pawn that promotes OOXML. It's part of the cycle of nepotism and 'protection'.

Joe Wagner (of Novell) published an article that covers security.

Joe Wagner, senior vice president and general manager of Systems and Resource Management at Novell, explains the security implications of all those popular portable storage devices.

Looking at his mailbox, a reader of ours found this in the Global Novell Newsletter of May 2008:

"Security Threats Straight Ahead!

"Jim Ebzery, Sr. [...] discusses the realities of online security dangers and [...] addresses compliance issues, insider threats, identity theft, and privacy violations. Read the entire article online now"

He then added: "I thought security was about making Operating Systems that were secure from clicking on an URL or opening an email attachment."

Partnership with Genovate in India

Here is another new partnership for Novell. It's the first of its kind in this nation.

Genovate, a leading high-end technology company, has today announced that they have become Novell’s first platinum partner in India.

Genovate provides Business applications, software solutions and consulting as well as the best-of-breed value-added educational programs and quality training services in the Asia-Pacific region.

8 new centres are being created by Genovate, which met with Novell.

Genovate has also entered into a tie-up with infrastructure software and services company Novell to provide training in India. Genovate, with the partnership, would target both individuals and universities, he added.

Novell's Past People

Ray Noorda, a fierce enemy of Microsoft and one who could not trust Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer, is mentioned in this article about a donation/fund.

The largest limited partner in Canopy Ventures II is the family of legendary entrepreneur Ray Noorda, who founded Novell Inc. and was chief executive officer of the software company for 12 years until 1995.

More details here.

The early-stage venture fund, which is backed by the Noorda family of Novell fame, is investing in life sciences for the first time, and also expanding its investment along the Wasatch Front.

"There are plenty of good opportunities in medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and there's so much good technology and so many talented scientists affiliated with the University of Utah and BYU. Utah County was our backyard from the Novell days, but we're now looking forward to branching out to northern Utah," said Brandon Tidwell, another general partner with Canopy.

Since its establishment in 1995, Canopy has invested around $100 million in 13 technology companies in Utah, 10 of which are in Utah County. Canopy was founded by the late Ray Noorda, Novell's founder and former CEO.

Here is the story of one who departed from Novell's technologies on the face of it.

While I was working at Air New Zealand I assisted setting up a Novell network. I started thinking it was the way I wanted to go in terms of my career, so I bought my first computer and went from there. My first foray into IT was working in field sales in LA for a distributor of electronics called Hallmark Electronics. I started working with Kingston back then as they were one of the brands we had.

That's all for this week, as far as good or innocent news are concerned. ⬆