Novell seen as pushing users in Microsoft's direction

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON NOVELL NETWARE TIPS
07/12/05
Today's focus: Novell seen as pushing users in Microsoft's
direction

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* One reader's view of Novell and its push toward Linux
* Links related to Novell NetWare Tips
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: Novell seen as pushing users in Microsoft's
direction

By Dave Kearns

Besides these newsletters, I also write a column for the print
edition of Network World called "Wired Windows." In that column
a couple of weeks ago, I reported on my experience at Converge
'05, a user conference put on by Courion for customers of its
identity management software (see editorial link below).

The column was headlined "User project should send up red flags
at Novell," and in it I told of two different user presentations
at the conference, from two different enterprises. Both
indicated they had problems with Novell products, but in reality
it seems it wasn't a problem with NetWare or eDirectory, but in
the understanding of how those products worked and a lack of
experience with them on the part of the current IT staffs at the
two Courion customer sites.

In response to that column, I got the following e-mail from a
reader. It nails the problem Novell is currently facing in
trying to move people from NetWare to Open Enterprise Server
(OES) and Linux. Here's what the reader had to say:

"I am a CNE 3,4,5,6 and I have really believed in Novell's
technology. As we all know, the techs of the world have not
decided which technology a business uses but the managers have
picked what's best. This for the most part has led us to
Microsoft, not that there's anything wrong with that. Even as I
continue to learn the Microsoft way, I still support my old
reliable NetWare servers (some have 100% uptime for years). Our
company is decommissioning the NetWare servers, and soon we will
be an all-Microsoft shop. This same thing has or seems to be
happening at most other companies.

"Novell is in the process of becoming a Linux company, and they
want me to jump on the bandwagon. They want me to be able to use
the NetWare features that I'm used to and just learn Linux but
keep using the NetWare-type features. The problem I have with
this is that I now have to learn a completely different type of
[operating system]. Since all our workstations and other servers
are Microsoft, I have a lot of Microsoft skills (I'm an MCSE
2000 and I'm working on my 2003 certification), so it's far
easier for me and the company to transition to Windows Server
2003 and Active Directory than to have everyone learn Linux.

"The bottom line is Novell seems to be pushing myself and other
NetWare Techs in the direction of Microsoft. Some day I would
like to learn Linux as well, but in order to keep my job I need
to become stronger on my Microsoft skills."

And that's the nub of the problem: NetWare is going away and for
many of us, the choice is between something we know (Windows)
and something we don't (Linux). Even if we'd prefer Linux, our
organizations need to keep working at top productivity, which
almost dictates that we go with what we already know while
trying to find the time to learn something new.

OES seems to be the best path Novell can take as it blends the
old (NetWare services and utilities) with the new (SuSE Linux
core) in a way that allows us to keep going with what we know
while we move to something new. But the "big boys," the ones who
make the decisions and sign the checks - do they see it that
way? Tell me about your experiences with convincing upper
management to go to OES. Tell me which arguments worked, and
which didn't, and we'll share them (anonymously) so everyone can
benefit.

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

User project should send up red flags at Novell
06/27/05
http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2005/062705kearns.html
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Dave Kearns

Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's
written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print
"Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be
found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>.

Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows
Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management.
Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these

respective addresses: <mailto:windows@vquill.com>,
<mailto:netware@vquill.com>, <mailto:identity@vquill.com>.

Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books,
manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing,
technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill
provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at
<mailto:info@vquill.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Oracle
Grid Glossary

Grid computing is a vehicle to extend the life of existing
assets, not to end the life of existing infrastructure assets.
The Oracle Grid runs applications faster than the fastest
mainframe. You can adopt Oracle Grid technologies with minimal
investment, zero disruption, and fast ROI. Learn more about the
specialized set of terms and acronyms that define Grid
technologies with this comprehensive glossary. Download the
Oracle Grid Glossary now!
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=108322
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Novell NetWare Tips newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/netware/index.html

Novell news page:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/financial/novell.html
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Here's a ten step guide you can follow to curb the spyware
problem:
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnovell3054>
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