Sticking to previously-announced schedules, Novell said Monday the new version of its network operating system, NetWare 5.0, will ship no later than September 20. John Slitz, the Provo, Utah networking company’s senior VP, marketing told a press conference that the new software, formerly code-named Moab, would usher in a new era of networking. He said NetWare 5.0 was a year 2000- ready, native IP (Internet Protocol) operating system which would use network bandwidth more efficiently, simplify protocol management and work two and halves times faster than anything else. The operating system also includes an enhanced version of NDS (Novell Directory Services), including support for LDAP version 3.0, the latest standard enabling different directories to interoperate. Slitz said: Directory technology is going to change the way everything occurs on the web and in the internet world…..we’re bringing down the barrier between the internet and corporate networks. A NetWare server with a five-user license will retail for $1,195 with the option of additional 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500-user packs. The software also comes bundled with a Java virtual machine for running server-based applications and services written in Java, a five-user license of Oracle’s Oracle8 database, and Netscape’s Fast Track Server, the company said. When asked how Novell would position NetWare 5.0 against rival Microsoft’s Windows NT software Slitz said, We’re not comparing this product with NT, that’s a general product but this is specialist. NetWare does too many things that are different. He added that Novell expected the new operating system to be a very big part of how we’re going to grow our business.
