Another one bites the dust

Back in the day, when Ethernet was only 10 mbps and Arcnet was all the rage for NetWare networks, Network Computing was THE magazine to read. All of the big names in NetWare wrote for the mag at one time or another and none of it was fluff - it was always relevant. Sadly, NC is no more. At least the paper copy won't hit my mailbox every month any longer.

In these days of instant news, instant analysis and instant gratification, the monthly magazine - especially the monthly tech magazine - no longer seems relevant. Just another dinosaur headed for the tar pit. But we should pause and remember. We should remember the pioneering efforts of those who went before.

NC lingers on in an abbreviated on-line version, some of it's regular features have moved to Information Week, but it won't be the same. Still, it's to the credit of editor Art Wittmann and his crew that they held out this long in the face of the decimation of the technology press. Au revoir, NC, arriverderci, auf weidersehen.

down.

NetWare goes virtual

Well, it's finally happened. NetWare is now virtual and Linux based. According to a story in The INQUIRER, Open Enterprise Server (OES) 2 was released yesterday "...has the NetWare operating system kernel, NetWare 6.5 SP7, running on top of the Xen hypervisor."

To say that NetWare is now merely a shadow of its former self is both trite, and true.

NLM Inventory Tool 4.0

Just released on the Cool Solutions site is NLM Inventory Tool 4.0, "a process to import the server Config.txt file data using Microsoft Word and Microsoft Access 2000."

Something to add to your toolkit to help you better manage the server environment. Just another fine tool from Chris Premo.

More memories

The rolling backpack sold on eBay, so here's the next item I'm offering up: it's an advertising premium, a Novell NetWare Clock from the late 90's.

Now wouldn't that look nice in your server room?

Sweet memories

From time to time I'll be offering up at eBay some bits of pieces of memories of our favorite Network Operating System - some real


Right now, there's a genuine BrainShare rolling Compu-Backpack , but it won't be there for long!

Vote early and often!

Tech Republic is running a poll: "Are you running any classic Novell products on your network?" Here's your chance to let the world know that NetWare is your choice!

Novell less rubbishy

Novell just released financial results for its fiscal third quarter which ended July 31, and the news isn't all bad. As reported by Timothy Prickett Morgan at IT Jungle:

"the fact that NetWare sales are not plummeting, as they have been doing for many years, is probably equally significant and worthy of some attention."

The company managed to reduce it's net loss by over $3 million (from $6.5 million to 'only' $3.4 million). Morgan seemed almost giddy as he said:

"If aggregate NetWare and OES sales declines continue to shrink, as they have done in the past two quarters, and if Linux sales continue to grow, as they have particularly since Novell's distribution deal with Microsoft, then Novell could actually end up being a profitable company again..."

Just think what could happen if the company actually spent a couple of bucks marketing NetWare/OES...