Novell Inc has given small businesses without an information technology department the opportunity to benefit from Internet and intranet technology with the launch of IntranetWare for Small Business. Beta tested under the code name Kayak (CI No 3,068), the package is a diminutive version of Novell’s Intranetware aimed at single-site firms with between five and 25 users who generally do not have the luxury of extensive IT resources, Novell said. The cut down Intranetware does not have capabilities such as multiprotocol routing for example, but Novell says small businesses will rarely require dedicated lines for external network services. The company claims the Novell Easy Administration Tool makes the package easy and quick to install by guiding non-technical users through the installation process. It also helps with adding new users and setting up printers on the network and the package is easily upgradable to fully-fledged IntranetWare, when required. As well as new networks, Novell says existing Netware 2.x and 3.x users, which account for 60% of the company’s installed base, would benefit from the new package, and it also sees opportunities in upgrades for peer-to-peer networks. Personal Netware won’t be replaced by the new arrival, said Novell, nor would there be any conflict between the two. Personal Netware serves a distinct peer-to-peer market that still exists, the company insisted.
Industry backing
The package already has backing from some server manufacturers. Elonex Plc’s low end 166mhz Pentium based file and printer server, Kayak, will be loaded only with Intranetware for Small Businesss. Compaq Computer Corp has included configuration capability into its up-graded SmartStart 3.20 and Dell Computer Corp and Ing C Olivetti & Co SpA have plans to install it on local network servers. Novell is also partnering with software vendors, including UK accounting package firm Sage Group Plc. IntranetWare for Small Business will ship world-wide on February 14, at $900 for a server plus five-user license and $65 for a one-user add-on license. Upgrades cost $500 for a server plus five connections and $800 for a ten-user connection. Prices for upgrading to full blown IntranetWare are not yet available.
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