A LEOPARD CAN never change its spots, just as Novell cannot depart from proprietary (non-Free) software and cannot take GNU/Linux seriously. Some months ago we saw Novell releasing Open Office for Windows but not for GNU/Linux and as we showed just hours ago, Novell is not so serious about GNU/Linux anymore. Its main objective at the moment seems to be contamination of this operating system with Microsoft's software/intellectual monopolies.

Novell announces it acquired the technology assets of Fortefi Ltd., a provider of compliance and privileged user management solutions. Novell also acquired a perpetual source code license to ActivIdentity's industry-leading single sign-on solution, SecureLogin, which had been previously available to customers through an OEM agreement as Novell€® SecureLogin. The two deals cement Novell’s leadership position in bringing together identity, access and security management technologies to help customers reduce cost, complexity and risk while proving compliance with industry regulations.

Novell primarily gets public credit (or recrimination) for its Linux business, but on Thursday Novell reminded the world that it's more than just a Linux vendor, acquiring the assets of technology assets of Fortefi Ltd. and a perpetual source code license to ActivIdentity's single sign-on solution.

The first is the acquisition of the technology assets of compliance and user management vendor Fortefi, which Novell plans to use as the basis for the upcoming release of Novell Privileged User Manager in the second quarter of 2009.

The Waltham, Mass.-based open source IT management software firm (Nasdaq: NOVL) said the deals are designed to raise Novell’s profile in identity, access and security management software.

Novell acquired the technology assets of Somerset, UK-based Fortefi, a provider of compliance and ‘privileged user management solutions'. Essentially, Novell is getting two Fortefi products, namely Command Control and Compliance Auditor.

Although the product has been available until now through an OEM agreement as Novell SecureLogin, the new deal will enable better integration of SecureLogin with Novell’s identity management solutions and faster addition of Novell customer requirements into future iterations of the product, said the firm.

“We’re excited about adding Fortefi’s privileged user management solutions to our portfolio and bringing SecureLogin technology, development, and support in-house,” said Jim Ebzery, senior vice president and general manager of identity and security at Novell.

Novell Privileged User Manager is due in the first quarter and will include a Compliance Auditor and various Command Control agents. It will provide granular access control and auditing of super-user accounts across HP UNIX, Solaris and Microsoft Windows 2000, 2003 and XP platforms.