Novell returns to a narrower vision

Networks Vendor acknowledges limitations and tightens focus.

Novell conceded last week that it cannot be a fully fledged. applications server environment, particularly for Java.

At its annual conference, Brainshare Europe 98, the vendor said that rather than gunning for Microsoft, it has sharpened its focus on specific technologies.

Novell is planning to develop intelligent applications servers to run specialist applications - a departure from its intentions when Chris Stone, joint founder of the Object Management Group, joined Novell's executive team last year. The applications include file and print, network management and network directories, as opposed to general-purpose platforms - 'which one competitor is trying to do,' Stone remarked.

Novell is concentrating on four main areas - network services and collaboration using NetWare Directory Services (NDS) and Groupwise; intranets and the internet; Java development tools; and desktop management using NDS and the recently announced Zero Effort Networking products.

Stone's comments aroused speculation that Novell will develop a different network operating system, but he said he was looking at the current situation rather than planning for the future.

He plans to continue wooing software developers, focusing more on applications that suit Novell's background and strengths.

Stone said he wanted to make as many application programming interfaces and source codes available on the Novell Web site as possible, to encourage mass development and uptake.

'By the end of the year, our goal is to have a single developers' kit,' said Stone. The number of developers working on Novell products has increased by 70 per cent to 23,000 in the past year.

Stone admitted Novell's attempt to give away basic NDS free to developers has been derailed. '(We will continue to work with partners to provide NDS in IBM and will provide it on other platforms via partners. We are focused on putting NDS on NT,' he said.