Gearing up to build momentum where Microsoft Corp seems to have stalled with its embedded Microsoft At Work initiative, Novell Inc is now shipping a tool kit for its Novell Embedded Systems Technology, known as Nest, designed to enable manufacturers to connect electronic devices such as printers, copiers and television set-top boxes to NetWare (CI No 2,598). The took kit is currently being beta-tested by mainly photocopier and printer manufacturers, which are using it to provide network management over a local area network. Lexmark International Inc is using the kit to integrate its printer management utilities with NetWare Directory Services, enabling NetWare users to request print services from any networked printer by name regardless of the server to which it is connected. But applications are likely to expand beyond remote printer management. Novell is currently talking to car manufacturers to connect the processors within cars to diagnostic equipment using the Novell Embedded Systems network so drivers can diagnose problems with their vehicles. The company says it is destined not to face the same problems Microsoft At Work has experienced since its technology uses less memory, does not rely on a single operating system and is processor-independent. Version 1.0 of the toolkit includes source code, documentation, training, test tools and support and is shipping now at $50,000.
