Novell Inc is hoping to speed its path towards an evaluated B2-level trusted secure Unix implementation by working with Unix security expert Harris Computer Systems Corp. The formal evaluation process has to be done through the US National Computer Security Center and takes a notoriously long time to complete. Novell is still in the process of pushing through an evaluation of System V Release 4.1 Enhanced Security, first released back in 1991, and running on a long defunct system, the unloved AT&T Corp 3B2. Harris says it will build on this existing evaluation, and accelerate evaluation of its own Secure/Power Unix product, which is based on Unix System V.4.2 MP, running on its own PowerPC-based Night Hawks. Once evaluated, this work will be fed back to Novell and offered by both Harris and Novell in future UnixWare products. It is currently unclear whether or not this relates simply to PowerPC systems (Novell is currently working on a PowerPC implementation – CI No 2,551) or will also benefit UnixWare running on iAPX-86-based systems: security conformance is tied to individually-evaluated hardware systems. Novell claims that UnixWare 2.0 already meets five out of six requirements for B2 security, but meeting requirements is not the same as holding a formal evaluation. Harris hopes the deal will add to its secure software revenues and distribution channels. Secure/Power Unix is also available on IBM Corp RS/6000s and the Compagnie des Machines Bull SA Escala systems.
