Novell offers directory support to Linux
Novell has released eDirectory, its first Directory Services support for Linux, which expands the software product across another Unix-based operating system.
Novell has released eDirectory, its first Directory Services support for Linux, which expands the software product across another Unix-based operating system.
Peter Joseph, corporate strategist at Novell UK, said the vendor unveiled NDS eDirectory and NDS Corporate Edition for Linux so that channel partners could simply and securely manage Linux users and groups across the internet.
"The release of eDirectory across all major platforms simplifies e-business for the channel partner as they can integrate and manage cross-platform networks," he said.
Novell recently announced NDS eDirectory support for Microsoft Windows 2000 as it joined a list already including Sun Microsystems' Solaris, Windows NT and versions 4 and 5 of Novell's own NetWare operating systems.
Support for Compaq's Tru64 Unix-based operating system is expected later this year.
Novell has made no secret of its plans to make its business less reliant on NetWare. Although Joseph was keen to point out that demand for its operating system was increasing, Novell has already announced that it would release elements of its NetWare software code to the public as a means to a gain wider audience among developers. Linux companies such as Caldera Systems, Evergreen Internet, Red Hat, Sendmail, TurboLinux and Bowstreet have announced plans to support Novell's latest offering.
David Clare, executive vice-president at Evergreen Internet, said Novell's eDirectory for Linux "extends the reach of a consistent and powerful directory service infrastructure across all the platforms we run on".
NDS eDirectory licences cost $2 (£1.28) each, while Corporate Edition licences are $26 per user. Independent software vendors and programmers can get a free 100-user licence copy of eDirectory to help them develop NDS-enabled applications. Users running LDAP products can get one-for-one matching NDS eDirectory user licences for NDS eDirectory for free.
Company sources said other Novell packages, including office groupware and email package GroupWise 6.0, would appear on Linux before the end of the year. Victor Kokarum, chief executive of Advanced Communications Sciences, hinted that a client-free directory environment could happen.
"You could provide whatever operating system you're running with directory services without some type of client if the core of NDS was still there," he said.