Bonum Certa Men Certa

Do-No-Evil Saturday - Part III: Almost Eventless Week for Novell

Abbreviated overview

IT WAS A QUIET WEEK. THERE WAS really nothing major, so let's dive right into the few isolated things that have happened with Novell (or things which relate to Novell).



Finance



Novell's next financial report is a month away.

Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) will issue a press release providing an overview of financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter and full fiscal year 2008 on Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 4pm ET.


Netware



Memories of better days at the sight of computing 'clouds'.

Local file servers appeared not long after the first personal computers, and they have gotten bigger and cheaper (many terabytes of disk space for $1,300-$2,000). Novell's NetWare created the local file server market, then it bungled its market lead and let Microsoft take over. Local file storage does a great job for a great price, but the world has changed.


eDirectory



This new press release only touches on eDirectory, but it's really about Edustructures and its product, SIFWorks.

-- Directory-based User and Group Management. The SIFWorks ZIS Enterprise Edition now fully integrates with directories such as Microsoft Active Directory, Novell eDirectory, Apple OpenDirectory, and other systems that support LDAP. Administrative users and groups can be designated in the directory and associated security restrictions assigned in the ZIS console.


Virtualisation



There was, surprisingly enough, almost nothing that fits here, except for this pass-by mention.

Dell opens a smarter path to virtualization



The company also announced an OEM solution from PlateSpin, a Novell company, including PlateSpin PowerConvert software that enables enterprises to optimize their data center by streaming server workloads over the network between physical servers, virtual hosts and image archives, it said.


Mail



Open-Xchange's SUSE roots return to light because the company has received some good funding at times when almost nobody can get any, let alone retain staff.

The OpenExchange groupware package was created by a German software company called Netline Information Services, and the company's software entered the mainstream (well, sort of) when German Linux distributor SUSE Linux created a special variant of its SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 operating system that tightly coupled SLES with OpenExchange. This software was dubbed SLOX and was only distributed in this manner.

In the fall of 2004, a year after Novell had acquired SUSE Linux, Netline took its software open source through the Open-Xchange project (somehow misplacing the capped E) under a GPL license. In June 2005, Netline moved to the suburbs outside of New York City and changed its name to Open-Xchange to match its product name. Since that time, Open-Exchange has launched another "appliance edition" of its software atop an obscure Linux distro called Univention Corporate Server 2.1 and has quadrupled its installed base to 8.4 million seats worldwide.


GroupWise makes an appearance because of Omni Technology Solutions. Novell and Omni seem rather close and even the previous post had them mentioned.

Omni Technology Solutions and Chicago-based CRM consultancy, Intelestream, are pleased to deliver Riva CRM Integration™ for Novell GroupWise. Riva enables Novell customers to enhance their existing GroupWise investment by delivering transparent, bi-directional, server-side integration for leading open-source CRMs, such as SugarCRM, info@hand and Bluefin. GroupWise customers faced with recession worries can leverage their existing investment in Novell technologies and benefit from open source solutions to cut costs and drive more value out of their existing technology investment.


More about this GroupWise item here.

The product allows Novell customers to enhance their existing GroupWise investment by integrating with open source CRMs, including SugarCRM™, info@hand™, and Bluefin™. The transparent, bi-directional, server-side integration offers GroupWise customers faced with recession worries the opportunity to benefit from open source solutions as a cost cutting measure.


Blackberry and GroupWise continue to appear in conjunction with one another because of compatibility. Here are a couple of new examples.

1. Research In Motion Makes Bold BlackBerry Move

It works with BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which enables advanced security and IT administration within IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise environments, as well as BlackBerry Professional Software for small businesses.


2. Update: BlackBerry Bold hits stores

Bold also works with the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, offering IT administration and security for Lotus Domino, Exchange and Novell GroupWise, as well as BlackBerry Professional, an application for smaller businesses. The Bold also supports the BlackBerry Internet Service, offering push-based e-mail for as many as 10 e-mail accounts.


Lastly, GWAVA's 'resurrection' in the media survives owing to another press release.

GWAVA, Novell's largest technology partner for GroupWise, announced today the latest version of Retain 1.6, the leading archiving tool for GroupWise administrators. This release comes at a time when courts are increasingly subpoenaing companies for their email records for compliance audits -- and many companies not being able to provide the information since they don't employ an archiving and retrieval solution.


This didn't have much effect on any notable publications. It rarely does.

Security



A couple of flaws were caught by the radar.

A security weakness has been identified in Novell Access Manager, which could be exploited by malicious users to bypass security restrictions. This issue is caused due to the application not properly terminating sessions established using the X509 authentication class, which could allow another user to take over the previous users session, using the same browser window, without being prompted to login again.


People



Senior ex-Novellers make some moves.

Trend Micro Names Cody Leser to Lead North America Channel Sales



[...]

Leser also was vice president of U.S. sales and operations at Novell Corporation, where he was responsible for all enterprise, mid and small business channel sales, government and healthcare.


Here's some prodding.

I was contacted recently by an old acquaintence, Alan Hall, formally from Novell and now with Solera Networks. Hmm. That didn’t come out right. Alan is someone I’ve known for a while. I’m not saying he’s old.


The following is probably the most major thing from the past week. Here is the press release about Novell's former CEO, who will be taking over DigitalBridge.

Robert J. Frankenberg, the former CEO of Novell Inc., has been appointed chairman of the board of DigitalBridge, an Orem company whose software allows information to be shared across computer systems.


This is also covered here.

Ex-Novell CEO to head Orem tech firm--Former Novell Chief Executive Robert Frankenberg was named chairman of the board of directors of DigitalBridge, an Orem-based information sharing solutions provider.


Partners



Sandlin boasts its Novell expertise. We never came across this company before though.

Sandlin has extensive knowledge of Microsoft and Novell networks, electronic messaging systems and network infrastructure providing a technical perspective to the areas of data acquisition, analysis and preservation.

[...]

Sandlin holds a bachelors of science degree in information technology, is Microsoft (MCSE), Cisco(CCNA) and Novell(CNE) certified and is a member of High Technology Crime Investigation Association. Prior to joining Servient he worked as a forensics examiner for Huron Consulting Group and was a manager with Baker Robbins & Company for thirteen years.


Marketing



Ross, a Novell employee, has uploaded another commercial to YouTube (a spoof).

Utah



Utah's new bus service attracts a comment from a Noveller, which shows up in the local press.

Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain residents will be getting express bus service to and from Salt Lake City after voting to approve a tax increase to join in Utah Transit Authority's coverage area.

[...]

"They have UTA van pool at work," said Abney, who works at Novell in Provo. "I guess they've organized a Saratoga Springs van pool."


This is very minor, but not much else has happened.

Audio



IDG appears to be producing lots of audio coverage now. It reads almost like a machine and it includes:



Miscellaneous



A new review at CNET covers Novell Managewise.

PowerNet Manager for Novell Managewise - ( v. 1.1 ) - complete package


Over at the Register, some unspecified Novell components -- whatever they are -- are being mentioned.

The system generates alerts of varying priority levels but is tuned so as not to generate a storm of notices that might easily be ignored. The technology - based on components from IBM, Novell and others - needs to be tuned to particular environments.


And there ends another quiet week. OpenSUSE probably enjoyed the most coverage this time around, particularly because of the board elections. ⬆

Recent Techrights' Posts

“Losing Huang Would Introduce a Lot of Uncertainty"
Huang won't last much longer
Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXXXV - The Brand (and Reputation)
"Russell Brand sentenced to 10 years and six months for rape and sexual assault"
Protestants at the EPO Fight On, Rising in Opposition to and Against Corruption, Also Against GAFAM
Don't say we didn't warn you...
When Some Footage Causes Your 'Company' to Lose Almost Half a Trillion Dollars in 'Value' in a Few Minutes Your Company is Fictionally Valued
stock slips 8% because the CEO cheats on the wife
 
Surreal Times
NVIDIA's shares fell 27% in 5 weeks
Links 10/11/2026: "Jensen Huang Could Face $81 Billion Divorce Bill" and "Nvidia Shareholders sue Jensen Huang"
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, November 09, 2026
IRC logs for Monday, November 09, 2026
Gemini Links 10/11/2026: Open Problem in Computer Science Due to Bloat and "Queueing Nine Hours for an iPhone"
Links for the day
GNU/Linux Rose to 6% as Laptop/Desktop Operating System in Azerbaijan
In the past two weeks the average measure as seen by Clownflare is 5.7%
Microsoft Will Pay $11,742 USD for Workers to Leave
11 lakh Indian Rupees
Since Records Began 18 Months Ago, statCounter Saw Chatbot Usage Falling Sharply
Chatbots are not becoming more popular and the commercial world is having second thoughts
Losing Their 'Faith' in Slop
Are leather jackets becoming a "signal" of "cheating on the wife"?
Boosters of Non-reciprocal Licensing Are Just Trying to Cancel Richard Stallman (RMS) and His Baby, GNU
If only they liked freedom as much as they love Microsoft (or Microsoft's GitHub, which is proprietary and unsafe)
Gemini Links 09/11/2026: Zephyr, Wireless Planet, and Old E-mail
Links for the day
IBM: From Illegal NDAs to Illegal Secret Settlements (Money in Exchange for Promise Not to Sue)
Insiders also explain why RAs may come weeks from now [...] IBM has marked 40,000 workers it wishes to get rid of
Links 09/11/2026: 'Humanitarian' Putin Knocks 600,000 Civilians Off the Grid, Eminem’s Publisher Sues Suno
Links for the day
Like Crooked Politicians, The Register MS is Selling "Dinners" (Access, Sponsors)
Talk about "hey hi".
The Register MS is Not Objective Regarding "AI", It's Paid by Pushers of the Pyramid Scheme (including Nvidia)
Some time soon we'll name some companies that pay millions to The Register MS in order to cement their role in the house of cards (while it lasts)
GAFAM Moribund
A lot of what we say about Microsoft in respect to debt is equally applicable to the rest of GAFAM
NVIDIA as a Scam Company Run by Scammers Who Fake Demand for Their Waste of Energy (Subsidising GPU Sales for Use Cases That Don't Exist)
First they targeted gamers, then fake 'currencies' (which turned out to be a bust), now it's slop (obfuscation of plagiarism using brute force and fusion) [...] We're quite glad that Huang publicly broadcasts how untrustworthy he is
Links 09/11/2026: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Cheats on Wife With A Suspected Chinese Spy, "400,000 Russians Killed in Battle Since 2022 Invasion"
Links for the day
Zero Tolerance for Slop
very few sites that dabbled in slop ended up well off (for it)
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, November 08, 2026
IRC logs for Sunday, November 08, 2026
Gemini Links 09/11/2026: "The Blue Wave Won't Save Us" and "Discoverability Is Only Solved If You Can Be Discovered"
Links for the day
IBM 'Robbery': No More Car Allowance in the UK, Severance Shredded, CEO Pay Up 51% in One Year While Thousands Laid Off in Secret
Why does a CEO reward himself so much when the company does so badly?
Digitalisation Is Not Inevitable or Unavoidable
Nor inescapable
Gemini Links 08/11/2026: "Back", Zot, and Information Overload
Links for the day
Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXXXIV - Why the Swatting Failed
After that we only ever heard from or spoke to cops when we invited them to our home to collect evidence
“Concerned Microsoft Workers” Say “Working at Microsoft Has Become Joyless and Demoralizing.” (That's What Microsoft Wants, More Will Leave That Way)
Many Microsoft employees are going to leave
The Register MS is Losing Hundreds of Thousands of Pounds a Year While Directors Pay Themselves Hundreds of Thousands of Pounds a Year in Dividends
they take money from slop pushers and have clearly compromised some journalistic standards in the process
GNU/Linux Measured at 7.4% in the UK This Weekend: Clownflare Radar
I hope that one day GNU/Linux will be everywhere here
Never a One-Person Project
Just because I'm the main "public face" of the site (who takes all the insults and SLAPPs) doesn't mean I deserve all the credit
“I Always Expect to Lose. I Fight Anyway, and Sometimes I Win.” — Richard Stallman
To change the world meaningfully people must think big
Stop Looking for News About "Layoffs", Layoffs Are Over (They've Been Rebranded)
To properly assess the status quo we need other yardsticks
Links 08/11/2026: Bosses Who Were Forcing Their Workers to Use Slop Change Mind, "Rapper RBX Files Ninth Circuit Appeal in Fraud-Focused Class Action Lawsuit Against Spotify"
Links for the day
Links 08/11/2026: Why Vikings Stayed in Iceland and "TikTok Accused Of Promoting Sex Industry To Young Girls"
Links for the day
Gemini Links 08/11/2026: "Before Sunrise" and LLM Scrapers Versus Self-Hosting (or Web in General)
Links for the day
Intercontinental Brigading - Part XXXXIII - Weaponising Cops in Another Continent (Europe), Knowing They Cannot Come to Your Home in America, While Threatening Women
This year it culminated in death threats
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, November 07, 2026
IRC logs for Saturday, November 07, 2026