Novell Inc has now announced how it intends to organise the Novell Network Registry. Customers can register their organisation names or apply to the Registry for a unique set of IPX addresses – or both. Registration fees are from $100, depending on the number of IPX addresses required. The fee covers the costs of processing requests and maintaining the database. No special software is required and the Registry is an optional service. NetWare will continue to operate with independently assigned names and addresses. Once a suitably-sized range of IPX addresses is assigned, the network administrator allocates those numbers according to local need and individual network numbers are assigned to servers, routers and network segments. The top level organisation name is allocated by the Registry and the network administrator then manages the names of departments, users and servers in the enterprise. The naming structure is hierarchical, helping share the administrative workload. The latest version of DataClub version 3.0 – has just been announced by Novell, which acquired the technology when it bought International Business Software Inc a year ago. Version 3.0 enables Macintoshes on a DataClub network to contribute unused disk storage space to the network, creating virtual file server technology. Version 3.0 also helps with network management by relocating and balancing files. Any Macintosh can be designated to back up the network.
