New AdRem Server Manager 6.0 for NetWare and OES

Just released is AdRem Server Manager 6.0, which supports Novell OES/Linux and NetWare line products providing server monitoring and maintenance for networks based on both platforms.

For more information on AdRem Server Manager please visit the AdRem web site.

Free Training

At Brainshare yesterday, Novell announced free NetWare-to-Linux training for resellers, according to Computer Reseller News. But it's actually available to anyone.

The final transition

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols reports in eWeek that Novell is now touting the release of OES 2, which adds 64-bit Xen-based virtualization, dynamic storage support, and Windows domain support, and(oh yeah) marks the final transition from Novell NetWare to SLES (SUSE Linux Enterprise Server).

Sell Novell

Standard & Poor's has just downgraded Novell's stock from SELL to STRONG SELL. In the bulletin they say:

"We forecast sharp declines in Novell's legacy businesses will more than offset our projected 50% growth in Linux Platform Products revenue. In addition, we believe cost-saving initiatives for the second half of fiscal 2007 (ending October) will adversely affect sales."

Windows cheaper than Linux says Novell customer

In a press release issued yesterday by Novell, UK-based banking concern HSBC was featured, including this quote from Matthew O’Neill, group head of Distributed Systems for HSBC Global IT Operations: "Some will be surprised to learn that our Windows environment has a lower total cost of ownership than our current Linux environment."

Quite a few folks in the open source community are upset.

Still, the point is that by consolidating to SuSE Linux, in conjunction with the existing Windows servers, the company can save money. Still, it is quite an admission for the once-darling of the open source movement. Where did Chris Stone go?

Novell Quarterly Report

Novell has just released it's preliminary financial results for its first fiscal quarter which ended Jan. 31, 2007. As could be expected, revenue from NetWare and OES is down - and down 18%. What was unexpected, though, was that revenue from Identity products was also down, 7% down to the $24 million level. And even though the company boasted of an increase in Linux-related revenue (up 46%), it only amounted to $15 million. With those figures it's no wonder that the company reported a loss of $20 million.

The company's Chief Financial Officer, Dana Russell, indicated that Novell was counting on Microsoft selling (or giving away) SuSE Linux certificates to engender a profit by year's end.

It's a sad day when Novell has to count on Microsoft's success to even show a profit.