IBM Personal Computers Europe and Novell Europe have announced a partnership under which IBM is to sell its PS/2 desktop range pre-configured as NetWare clients, and its PS/2 Server range together with NetWare in one package. This is to be branded as NetWare from IBM. Also announced is the NetWare from IBM Integration Guide, which is intended to help users with server planning and implementation as well as other issues, and IBM’s version of the NetWare SFT System Fault Tolerance III system, which is based on two mirrored PS/2 servers connected by high-speed Mirrored Server Link Adaptors. The pre-configured NetWare clients are intended to offer a turnkey system fulfilling what both companies see as an industry trend. The agreement between the two also covers service and support, which is to be through IBM Network Competence Centres around Europe. While the partnership initially covers the European market, the companies say that it will be extended to other areas in the future, including the US and the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, IBM says it intends to start offering Novell software on its PS/ValuePoint range, starting with peer-to-peer configurations, and later extending to client-server systems.
