Novell to be a linux catalyst?

I discussed Novell a little in my blog entry on Sun's Mad Hatter project below, but along with their acquisition, Novell has announced a bold new strategy revolving around linux.

In a nutshell, they plan to attack the server and desktop. The server side of their strategy is currently the most clear:

• Unbundle the file, print, office, directory services, application services from Netware and serve them from a linux platform
• Offer clients the choice of a Netware or linux kernal inside their Novell server
• Remove the dependancy on the Novell login client and open up directory authentication to java etc.
I think this strategy makes a lot of sense - Novell has long had best of breed directory and file/print services. In ten years neither Microsoft nor Unix vendors have come close. But Netware is even more proprietary and closed than Windows (if that is possible), and on occasion has trouble playing in mixed environments. A move to base these services on linux is a masterstroke - and if some of Novell's genius for simple stability is brought to the linux core, then all the better.

Their approach to the desktop is less clear. Novell has no track record as a desktop company - their few forays (like GroupWise) are great products - but far from run away successes. Partly because they are a bit quirky, which you can get away with on a server but not a client, and partly because your CIO is unlikely to have heard of them.

Novell's recent acquisition of Ximian points to their desire to be a force in the open source desktop world, as does the recent statement of CEO Jack Messman:

Desktop Linux is seen by many in this industry as the next big thing. Novell intends to be a catalyst in this development

Novell does have the potential to break the back of the Exchange/Outlook juggernaut with Ximian Evolution and it's office productivity servers. Ximian red carpet also gives it the foundation of good desktop distro support.

It will be very interesting to see what comes of this - Novell with Ximian rock the services and productivity side of the equation - Sun have StarOffice... let's get ready to rumble!

References:

• Novell eyes role of Linux champion [vmunet.com]
• Novell details Linux plan [vmunet.com]
• ximian.com
• novell.com