Novell Extends NDS Directory Services With XML Support

Computergram International, July 13, 1999

Novell Inc, as expected, demonstrated its first meta-directory technology yesterday at the Burton Group's Catalyst 99 Conference in California. DirXML, which uses standard XML as its foundation, extends the capabilities of Novell's Directory Services to link and manage all the places where business and network information is stored, including software applications, network operating systems, databases and network devices. It brings the data together, says Novell, but also keeps control of the information with the individual departments that own the data.

Most metadata work to date has concentrated on the namespace consolidation area for things such as email gateways. Novell says it's more interested in connecting up the data. Novell says that by using DirXML, companies will be able to store business data in their directories so that customers, partners and suppliers to access parts of it, as defined by the security rights defined in the directory. That makes it easier to automate current business processes, and could encourage the development of a new breed of directory-enabled e-business applications, Novell hopes. It is part of the firm's Virtual Replica efforts, Novell's tag line for describing business data available for reuse, and works with the replication engine within NDS.

Partners supporting the launch yesterday included Bow Street Software Inc, Bulletproof Corp, Compaq Computer Corp, enCommerce Inc, Entrust Technologies Inc, Haht Software, Intracus Ltd, Isocor Inc, Netegrity Inc, NetPro Computing Inc, Oblix Inc and Unimax Systems Corp.

Last week Microsoft acquired Zoomit Corp for its Via metadirectory product (CI No 3,700), but Novell says the Zoomit technology doesn't support replication, is proprietary rather than standards-based, supports only Microsoft operating systems, and also isn't available yet. But Novell itself isn't quite ready either, with a beta version of DirXML due out in the fourth quarter, and a final release early in 2000. It expects the technology to come as part of NDS itself, but hasn't worked out packaging or pricing details yet. Early versions will support NetWare 5 and Windows NT operating systems, with Sun Solaris and Linux versions to follow.