Bonum Certa Men Certa

Do-No-Evil Saturday - Part III: Another Load of Novell News

Legal



Firefox made a lot of headlines over the past week 'thanks' to GNU/Linux. An issue came about in Ubuntu sites where people complained about the EULA, but OpenSUSE was not entirely isolated from this debate. In the following article, Zonker had his say.



For Novell's OpenSUSE, the EULA has been a temporary annoyance as well.

"I understand the shock that people might feel the first time they see an application popping up a EULA -- and I dearly hope it doesn't become a standard practice with OSS apps -- but in the general scope of things, I don't think it's an enormous burden on the user, since it's a one-time issue," Joe "Zonker" Brockmeier, Novell's openSUSE community manager, told InternetNews.com.


He blogged about it too :

As I said yesterday, I think the bulk of complaints were a bit off. Most people seemed to be complaining about the display of the license, rather than the EULA itself. Given the barrage of EULAs you see on Windows and Mac OS X, I’m not sure if this means that Windows and Mac users are overly complacent, or that Linux users are overly touchy. Maybe both.


Virtualisation



There were heaps of reports because of VMworld and Interop. Here are the key ones where Novell was involved.

Most recently it was this press release from Xenocode (also to be found here), which Novell bought a licence from.

Xenocode, a next-generation virtualization company, today announced the licensing of its best-in-class application virtualization technology to Novell. The recently announced Novell ZENworks Application Virtualization solution leverages Xenocode's virtualization technology to allow customers to deploy their applications inside a "virtual container" requiring no installation or configuration. Virtual application deployment eliminates application conflicts and compatibility problems on Windows desktops, allowing organizations to run legacy applications on Windows Vista and deploy multiple versions of applications side-by-side in isolated "sandboxes."

"We are especially excited about combining our leadership in virtualization technology with Novell's best-of-breed ZENworks management infrastructure platform," said Kenji Obata, Xenocode founder and CEO. "This licensing agreement provides a powerful, integrated solution for large organizations to assure instant availability of applications across all versions and desktop platforms."


Articles about this might arrive shortly. Maureen O'Gara wrote one, but it's better to ignore it.

Userful's latest announcement was mentioned last week, but articles about it continue to come. Here are 3 more of them:

1. Linux Product Insider - ”Free the Penguins” Virtualization in Schools Initiative

A valiant attempt to ungrip the Microsoft stranglehold on school PCs is the newly announced ”Free the Penguins” Virtualization in Schools Initiative from Omni Technology Solutions, Userful and Novell. The firms claim that “educational institutions looking for a low-cost, eco-friendly alternative to stand-alone Windows desktops can now deploy [the software for] their first 30-station computer lab or classroom free of charge”. Every university, college and school district in the world is eligible to receive a free 30-user Userful Multiplier virtualization software license, while the first 30 customers will also receive a free 30-user subscription to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell. Omni is the distributor of the free solution.


2. Schools get free PC virtualization and Novell SUSE

Two Canadian firms have donated up to three Linux-based Multiplier virtualization systems to any nonprofit school or university. Each Multiplier system lets up to 10 students apiece share a single computer. The first 30 requesting schools will also receive free SUSE software.


3. Calgary entrepreneur liberates desktops

Userful has grown to more than $1 million in annual sales (Griffin won't give an exact number) with 30,000 "computer seats" that pay monthly management fees of $10 to $100 per desktop per month to Userful or its partners.


Novell is also mentioned in this article about server virtualisation at Unisys.

The 7600R is also certified, of course, to support the VMware ESX Server 3.5 virtual machine hypervisor for carving up the server into sub-processor VMs, and customers can also use Microsoft's Hyper-V for Windows Server 2008 or the integrated Xen hypervisor inside Red Hat's Enterprise Linux Advanced Platform 5.2 or Novell's Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP2 to similarly carve up the box.


A press release from PlateSpin/Novell reveals another new product, which very few reports were published to describe.

PlateSpin ULC, a Novell€® company, today announced the availability of PlateSpin Forge(TM) version 2.0, an innovative hardware-based disaster recovery appliance that uses embedded VMware virtualization to protect most x86 server workloads.


 

The appliances, each delivered pre-configured with storage, management software and VMware virtualisation to support between 10 and 25 workloads, can be clustered under the control of management software for implementation in large enterprises if required. The latest version includes support for 64-bit Windows workloads.


It does raise some questions about Microsoft's benefit from this acquisition of PlateSpin by Novell.

rPath was mentioned last week because its strong new relationship with Novell may have affected its relationship with Microsoft. rPath does not neglect VMware though.

In addition, application providers will be able to leverage SUSE Linux Enterprise Server from Novell when building VMware Ready virtual appliances using rPath’s technology platform.


As we shall see in a moment, Novell and VMware are no foes, either. That's despite the Microsoft connection (Novell is serving Microsoft. There are still some articles hanging about which talk about Microsoft and Novell in Hyper-V.

Hyper-Vell



Marius Oiaga wrote:

Microsoft continues to bridge its proprietary Windows operating system with the open source Linux platform, simultaneously advancing its collaboration with Novell.


Here is another report about it.

Microsoft Corp. and Novell Inc. are announcing the availability of a joint virtualization solution optimized for customers running mixed-source environments. The joint offering includes SUSE Linux Enterprise Server from Novell configured and tested as an optimized guest operating system running on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, and is fully supported by both companies’ channel partners, including Dell Inc., which will test and validate this offering at the Microsoft and Novell joint Interoperability Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The offering provides customers with the first complete, fully supported and optimized virtualization solution to span Windows and Linux environments.


CBR pulled a fast one as well (mirrored here)

The companies also have partnerships in three other fields: Moonlight, accessibility, and a new SUSE Linux Enterprise Server management pack for Microsoft System Center product. In August, Microsoft expanded its interoperability relationship with Novell by agreeing to buy an incremental $100m worth of subscription certificates for Novell's Linux products.


Another one here:

This step will also give a new way to the ongoing partnership between Microsoft and Novell. In 2006, these two came together and signed a licensing deal which according to many was Microsoft's official acceptance of Linux.


"Official acceptance of Linux..." maybe an acceptance of Linux tax as the chosen approach rather.

Pam Derringer wrote:

While not giving relative performance benchmarks of Red Hat versus SUSE on Hyper-V, Rego said Hyper-V has no comparable integration components for Red Hat guests. Red Hat "could choose" to use some of the components, but its current move from Xen to a KVM-based hypervisor "will change things quite a bit," added Dorfman.

Tony Iams, an analyst at Rye Brook, N.Y.-based Ideas International Inc., said the significance of the announcement is that the virtualization adapters are now a reality.

"This is an encouraging sign that [Microsoft and Novell] are progressing and their relationship remains as strong as ever," Iams said. "They've delivered a crucial milestone."


From Trading Markets:

Microsoft and Novell have formed a partnership to provide a joint virtualization offering for clients running mixed-source environments.


And another similar report (eerily similar):

Microsoft and Novell announced the availability of a joint virtualization solution optimized for customers running mixed-source environments.


Ian Bruce wrote about this at Novell.com.

VMworld



Novell wrote about this event in its PR blog and Ken Hess was there covering it on behalf of Linux Magazine. At the beginning of VMworld:

Speaking of announcements, I suspect that Microsoft and Novell may make a big one at this conference throwing the limelight squarely on their partnership going forward. They announced last Thursday that they’re going to collaborate on a virtualization solution that involves running SuSE Linux on Microsoft’s Hyper-V server. And, there’s that perennial struggle between Microsoft and Citrix. I wonder when those two are going to give up this strained on-again, off-again relationship and just move in together.


Novell actually made a VMware-related announcement:

Novell today announced broad support for the VMware* Ready Program and for VMware Studio, with SUSE(R) Linux Enterprise now verified as VMware Ready and as a fully supported guest operating system.


This is also mentioned here.

VMware's situation seems rather tough and complicated due to bundling and FUD. The following article quotes a man who used to be part of Microsoft's slog. He is now a victim of the type of slog.

VMware Inc.'s new CEO Paul Maritz is familiar with Microsoft's marketing.

He was a top executive at Microsoft for many years, after all, and witnessed its rivalry through the 1990s with Novell Inc. He recalled that he had his team scheming of ways to put a Microsoft logo on the pillow slipcovers of attendees at a Novell event.

That rivalry didn't turn out too well for Novell, and now Microsoft is aiming its guns at VMware.


SAP



The 'SAP triangle' is being mentioned and shown here in the news.

Moiz Kohari, vice president of engineering, open platform solutions group at Novell, said in an e-mail interview: "We believe that awareness in Asia is already very high. Global adoption of Linux is reaching, if not already, at critical mass, and this naturally impacts Asia."

Boosting enterprise confidence in open source But the crucial trigger for enterprise adoption is interoperability. Citing Oracle's support for Linux, SAP's endorsement of Novell's Suse Linux distribution and Novell's partnership with Microsoft, Kohari said major software players have shown they are ready to support Linux in Asia, which will help boost customer confidence in taking up open source technologies.


It's all just a bunch of mutual and multi-mutual partners patting themselves (and each other) on the back, making reciprocal recommendations. Microsoft almost bought SAP a couple of years ago.

Security



Not many vulnerabilities or advisories came up. Here is just one.

People



After an abrupt departure of the former channel chief (she left after months on the job), another appointment is made. There is a lot of coverage about it. Here is the press release and an early short report.

Novell Inc (Nasdaq:NOVL) announced today (12 September) the appointment of Javier Colado as general manager, Partners, responsible for the management of Novell's partner and channel strategy world wide.


Another quickie:

Novell Inc. announced the appointment of Javier Colado to the new position of general manager, partners, effective immediately. Colado will be responsible for leading and managing channel and partner strategy worldwide, with a focus on accelerating Novell's channel transformation.


Reports from 'channel press' soon arrived because Novell is still an important part to those who depend on VARs. From CRN:

Novell has named Javier Colado, previously manager of the software company's Europe, Middle East and Africa operations, as its new channel chief, the company announced Friday.

Colado's appointment, effective last week, comes nearly six weeks after the sudden departure of vice president of global channel sales Pat Bernard who left, according to the company, "to pursue other interests." Colado will report to president and CEO Ron Hovsepian and will relocate from Spain to work in Novell's Waltham, Mass., headquarters.

Novell's channel management has undergone some turbulence during the last year. Bernard took the reins of the company's channel operations just last November when Novell's channel executive ranks underwent major changes including the departures of Steve Erdman, vice president and general manager of channels and alliances, and James Simzer, director of North America partner sales.


From Channel Insider:

Colado, who will be based in Novell’s Massachusetts headquarters, replaces Pat Bernard who left Novell in early August after less than a year with the company. Bernard's charter was to make Novell a more channel-centric company.


Another channel-oriented publication quoted Novell's CEO, to whom Colado will report:

“Javier has a tremendous track record of executing against strategic partner and channel initiatives,” said Hovsepian. “This new role is critical to Novell’s continued growth and success and Javier is the right leader to continue to drive our channel strategy, identify and recruit new partners, and champion our internal transformation.”


From echannelline.com, which is very Novell-friendly:

Colado has been with Novell since 2006, serving as Area General Manager and Vice President for Western Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining Novell, he held senior executive positions with McAfee and Lucent Technologies.


Joe Panettieri wrote:

Javier Colado, Novell’s new channel chief, faces some clear challenges. Many pundits say Colado has to strengthen Novell’s SUSE Linux partner ranks. But in reality, The VAR Guy believes, Colado has to build a bridge between vastly different software islands. Here’s why.

Sure, you know Novell has been gaining some momentum with SUSE Linux and the company has recruited more than 2,000 ISVs (independent software vendors) to back SUSE Linux. And that momentum will continue this week when Novell participates in Lenovo’s first server announcements at Interop.


Panettieri also submitted this to Seeking Alpha, which he hasn't done in a while (he runs his own media network):

Novell (NOVL) named Javier Colado to oversee the company's partner programs on September 12. Many pundits say Colado has to strengthen Novell’s SUSE Linux partner ranks. But in reality, I think Colado has to build a bridge between vastly different software islands.

Novell has recruited more than 2,000 ISVs (independent software vendors) to back SUSE Linux. And that momentum will continue this week when Novell participates in Lenovo’s (LNVGY.PK) first server announcements at the Interop trade show.


Also channel-related was the following article about PlateSpin's new strategy.

Workload management solutions vendor PlateSpin has revealed its new channel business model, which the company claims enriches financial rewards for partners. PlatesSpin, which is part of Novell, reckons that its new reseller programme focuses on growing partner sales and profits and offers one of the highest margins available in the industry today.


Lastly, a former Noveller is seen moving between companies.

Butterfield is managing partner of SageCreek partners, and previously served as group president at Symantec, and CEO of Altiris. Butterfield has also served at Vinca Corporation, Novell, and WordPerfect Corporation.


Marketing



Novell has begun reviewing itself.

Software company Novell is conducting a review for an agency to support its PR function in North America.

Ian Bruce, Novell's director of global PR, said the selected firm will primarily aid media relations for the company, which produces Linux, a rival to Microsoft's Windows operating platform.


This was covered also here. Is Novell looking for an identity?

The YouTube user known as "NovellVideo" (maybe a marketing guy) keeps pushing Novell adverts into YouTube. Here is "Kernel".



Ogg Theora



The Director of Electronic Marketing at Novell also had this video of her pushed onto YouTube.



Ogg Theora



That's all for today. Gosh, that was long.

Recent Techrights' Posts

IBM May Well Be Laying Off Over 13,500 and Up to 27,000 Staff This Week When It Says "Single-Digit Percentage of Our Global Workforce"
It's not yet possible to know how many people IBM gets rid of
Early Unverified Figures About Scale of Latest IBM Layoffs
the real scale of the RAs will remain elusive
How Techrights Search Works
Hopefully bots won't use it
Techrights Became a Lot More Productive as a Result of Attacks on It
By default, it's safe to assume anything on the Web is garbage, especially in social control media
Unverified Rumours: IBM Cuts Will Continue Another ~10 Days, Managers Will Invite Those Impacted for 1-on-1 Meetings
Right now IBM likes diversity because with adoption of low-paid demographies it gets to pay workers less for the same work
analytics.usa.gov: Vista 11 Scarcely Used, GNU/Linux Increasingly Dominant (Microsoft Loses "Goodwill", Depletes Cash Equivalents, and Debt Soars)
"Total current assets" fell by more than 2 billion dollars in the past 3 months
Not Only Mass Layoffs at IBM But Complete Shutdowns "Amid A.I. Boom"
apparently about 10,000 layoffs, not counting those who got pushed out by PIPs and other means
 
Slopwatch: linuxbsdos.com, Linux Journal, LinuxSecurity, Brian Fagioli, and WebProNews
Either Google doesn't care about the integrity of Google News or it deems slop to be acceptable
Gemini Links 05/11/2025: Affirmation, GnuPG, and While Loops
Links for the day
Links 05/11/2025: Economic Trouble in France and US Bombing All Over the World Without Declaration of War or Congress Approving
Links for the day
Red Hat Staff Also Impacted by Latest IBM Layoffs With Focus on North America and Software, Infrastructure
After the bluewashing never expect to see news about "Red Hat layoffs", just as "Tivoli layoffs" aren't to be expected
Coming Soon: Part 4 About the EPO's Substance Abuse (Breaking Laws to Fake 'Production' and Profiting From Unlawful Monopolies)
Notice how quiet the EPO's management has been lately
For the Record: We Never Named Staff of the Law Firm That's Attacking Us, Except the One the Firm is Named After!
Just to affirm and be sure, I've used our new search facility
Links 05/11/2025: Medicare Privatisation and "Breaker Box Economy"
Links for the day
Techrights Search Will Come Early
Maybe tomorrow
It Seems Like GNOME/IBM Don't Like Women and When Budget is Limited Only Women Take the Fall
Seems like a very patriarchal, GAFAM-controlled Foundation
"Last Day" as in "IBM Sacked Me" (Cruel Euphemisms)
"The entire design and research technical leadership at IBM was laid off in the past year, including this round"
Shadow Crew and Ads Disguised as Articles
That The Register MS runs articles that are paid-for fluff isn't unprecedented
Vista 11 "Market Share" Has Fallen This Month, Based on statCounter
The US government's own data shows the same thing this month
This is How Mainstream Media, Boosted or Parroted by Slopfarms, Spins IBM's Commercial Failure and Mass Layoffs as "AI"
Some say "software focus", but most just resort to buzzwords and blame-shifting hype
Resisting Misogynists
Rianne has already added close to 100,000 pages to this site
Starting November on a Strong Note
All in all, this month started well for us as we have good, accurate publications with considerable impact
Fake Retirements Help IBM Keep the Layoff Figures Down
Yesterday we read that it was quite cruel how IBM (or Red Hat) compelled staff to pretend to be happily leaving or "retiring" when the reality was, they had been pushed out with some "package"
Cocaine at the European Patent Office Now a Subject in YouTube, Media Will Revisit the Topic
"The Cocaine Patent Office" is no joking matter
Gemini Links 05/11/2025: "Wuthering Heights" and "Winter is Coming"
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, November 04, 2025
IRC logs for Tuesday, November 04, 2025
2 Days Until Site Anniversary Party, Search Likely to Launch Same Day
We're now just two days away from the nineteenth anniversary of the site
Richard Stallman's 2005 Article on Why Patents on Software Should be Denied
If patent law had been applied to novels in the 1880s, great books would not have been written. If the EU applies it to software, every computer user will be restricted, says Richard Stallman
"Last Day" at IBM and Red Hat as "Stealth Layoffs" (They Force People to Pretend It's Wilful)
So the real extent of the layoffs is being kept 'undercover'
Slopwatch: The WebProNews Slopfarm and the Serial Slopper
The Web is ill
Links 04/11/2025: Tensions Around Belarus Grow, Turkey’s Hype-inflation Continues
Links for the day
Corporate Media That Fails to Report Cocaine at EPO is Totally Failing to Report Mass Layoffs at IBM
How come nobody anywhere writes about this week's RAs?
Search @ Techrights: Almost There Now (Maybe an Anniversary Gift)
Just to be very clear, search would not be unprecedented at Techrights
At IBM, Layoffs Start at 1AM (at Night)
not a single English-speaking site covers the news about the layoffs
Links 04/11/2025: Google Cloud Account Engages in Censorship of the Innocent, arXiv Spammed by LLM Slop
Links for the day
EPO Cocaine Chronicles: Our Aim Will be to Ensure This Becomes a Mainstream Media Topic, Not a Suppressed Scandal (Which the German State Deems Embarrassing and Detrimental to Its Pan-European Patent Franchise)
At the EPO, and perhaps in German media as well, people "fall upwards" (they get rewarded for bad things)
Envy Makes People Do Self-Harming Things (and Harm to Others)
Online communities that can be deemed successful are built around trust, mutual respect, and collective accomplishment
Static Site Generators (SSGs) Made Techrights Better, Faster, Easier to Manage
Consider adopting SSGs if you still use a CMS such as WordPress
But he Was Born in Manchester! (Origin Stories)
Borussia Dortmund does not exist!
What Julian Darley Wrote About the Stallman Talk Regarding "AI" in Oxford (2025)
From LinkedIn (Microsoft)
GNU/Linux is American, Not Finnish
It started in Boston, not in Helsinki
'Hacker' 'News' Makes Dumb Assertions Against Smart People
A logical fallacy
We Turned Down Every Settlement Offer Because Truths Aren't Determined in Bank Accounts
Without free press, there won't be free society
"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." -Galileo Galilei
This site is educational
Why I'm Always Proud of the Site I've Devoted My Life to
As a graffiti around the corner from our home says, "be a better person"
Standing Up or Standing for What's True But Inconvenient
Bad actors need to be called out
Many People Have Said That They "Leave" IBM in Recent Days (Ahead of Mass Layoffs)
So the real extent of layoffs is greater than what's publicly stated (there are silent layoffs) [...] Whatever IBM says about the scope, scale, or magnitude of the "RAs", it doesn't tell the full story
Media Coverage Regarding IBM is Vapourware and LLM Slop
With slop images, too
statCounter Says GNU/Linux Rose to 4% in the Russian Federation
Adoption of Vista 11 has been embarrassingly weak
Corruption is Not a Joke
we'll try to limit our use of humour to avoid misunderstandings or misinterpretations
The Slopfarm WebProNews is Overwhelming "linux" Results in Google News
Google News is slop
The Fall of IBM: What Happened?
Just like the EPO continues riding some old reputation acquired in the 1970s IBM relies on old myths like, "nobody gets fired for buying IBM."
IBM's CEO Already Has the Excuse for the Latest Wave of Mass Layoffs
Only days ago the CEO told a bunch of nonsense
Links 04/11/2025: Conflicts, Politics, and IPv6 at Home
Links for the day
Gemini Links 04/11/2025: Entering WiFi Passwords and Programming Rambles
Links for the day
Arch Linux Seems Like the New Debian
Arch users (btw!) are growing in relative and absolute share
Analytics From US Government Affirm a Trend: Microsoft's "Market Share" in Search is Falling
the data set is large
Holding Institutions Such as the EPO Accountable Through Public Information
Speaking truth to power is never easy
Techrights Will Contact German Media About the EPO's Substance Abuse
This scandal won't "go to waste"
EPO Staff Losing Holidays, as Usual, as the Office Increases Profits by Illegally Granting Invalid Patents While Reducing Salaries
How much more can the staff endure and generally tolerate?
Free Software Does Not Always Speak for Itself, It Needs Advocates
Legal matters that relate to sharing of code will be discussed
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, November 03, 2025
IRC logs for Monday, November 03, 2025
The Register MS Continues Looking for Money in Promotion of the "AI" Ponzi Scheme
That The Register MS participates in this deceit rather than tackle/debunk it says a lot about The Register MS
IBM Layoffs in "Software", This Likely Impacts Red Hat as Well
Many people say "software" people are impacted
Escaping Proprietary Software, Not Just Escaping Microsoft
To take control of your life adopt GNU/Linux
A Lot of Fake News About Microsoft Headcount (Also: Microsoft's Debt Rose by About 24 Billion Dollars in Past 12 Months)
If you see some headline about Microsoft's CEO making claims about hirings, look away
Techrights Turns 19 in Three Days
It would be nice to meet for a chat
Akira Urushibata on How Grokipedia Fails to Work
The Grokipedia article gives the wrong character for the "Ko" on "Koan"
Links 03/11/2025: Data Breaches, Wars, and Digital Censorship
Links for the day
Gemini Links 03/11/2025: Poetry, Old Androids and Small Shells
Links for the day
The Rumour Was True, Mass Layoffs at IBM Today
How widespread the layoffs are (or how they're disguised, e.g. PIPs) is hard to assess
Links 03/11/2025: Internet Anniversary
Links for the day
Two Years of Uptime
Reboots are seldom involuntary
Richard Stallman is Giving Another Talk in Less Than a Fortnight
in two weeks' time (13 days from now)
Windows Falls Below 20% in the UK
Many people choose to leave Windows altogether
Microsoft's Search Business Falls to Lowest Point in 2 Years, Based on statCounter
what can Microsoft sell other than shares in Microsoft?
Evidence Regarding Layoffs at Red Hat
Seems like IBM layoffs
Microsoft: Our "Goodwill" Value Grew More Than Tenfold Since 2011
Hallmark of pseudo-economics
GNU/Linux as a Boarding Pass
being mostly analogue is still feasible
Links 03/11/2025: Lack of Trust in LLMs and Windows TCO at Jaguar
Links for the day
Gemini Links 03/11/2025: Books in October and Change
Links for the day
Mozilla Firefox Won't Survive and Many Sites Don't Work With It (Compatibility Abandoned)
The Web has become monocultural
Debian is Non-Free
Devuan might be worth looking into
Slopwatch: Brian Fagioli and LinuxSecurity
This is a real problem and most certainly a big problem because when people try to find real information about security and GNU/Linux they instead read "word salads" made by bots
Four Reasons to Party With Us in Four Days, Celebrating the Four Freedoms
Today we expect to be back to a more-or-less regular publication pace
Links 03/11/2025: The "Smartphone Panopticon" and Belarus' Hybrid Attacks on EU Intensify
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, November 02, 2025
IRC logs for Sunday, November 02, 2025