As expected, Novell Inc is expanding NetWare’s software distribution capabilities. Yes, it’s another ‘integrated platform’, this time dubbed as its Electronic Software Distribution strategy. The first product to appear is Network Navigator DOS-LAN Distributor v2.0, developed by the Novell division in Boulder, Colorado that was formerly Annatek Inc. As such, the software builds on the kind of facilities that Novell launched with its automatic distribution of DR-DOS, providing a means for controlled distribution, installation and maintenance of applications and data across heterogeneous networks and host-based environments. The ex-Annatek developers have worked to make their product NetWare-specific, and Version 2 pokes around inside Novell’s bindery so that Navigator v2.0 can be installed automatically in NetWare clients by using information contained in the bindery. It also uses the bindery to create distribution lists and lists of users authorised to use Network Navigator to send software and data. On the other hand, the company is keen to promote the software as being open and says that it supports any environment that provides file support for MS-DOS and Windows. Also, it interfaces with other Network Navigator products that run under MVS, VM, OS/2 or in the Tandem Computers Inc Guardian 90 environment. The product offers automatic distribution of data and software from a central point to multiple destinations, coupled with automatic installation once it reaches its destination. End-users are not involved in the process at all. On top of this, Novell has a flexible scheduling utility so installation can go ahead automatically during the small hours. In the US the Network Navigator DOS-LAN Distributor v2.0 is from $1,000 for a five-node version to $50,000 for 1,000-node licence.
