Novell delivers NetWare 4.1 — Important milestone in building infrastructure for pervasive computing

Business Wire, Dec 12, 1994

OREM, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 1994--Novell Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL) Monday announced it has begun shipping NetWare 4.1, the world's most advanced network operating system and a key component in building the infrastructure necessary for pervasive computing (see related NetWare 4.1 product announcement).

As computing resources move to cost-effective and flexible networks and as it becomes increasingly important for public and private networks to work in concert, networks need to be easier to manage and use, NetWare 4.1 and its integrated network services, in particular its NetWare Directory Services (NDS), meet that need.

For people to connect with each other and the information they need anytime, anywhere, there must be a distributed network directory that can manage user access, diverse network services, resources and applications from a central point. NetWare 4's industry-standard NetWare Directory Services (NDS) provides that single point of control to administrators and simplifies network access and navigation for users by integrating the directory with the network operating system.

With NDS and NetWare 4, network administrators can integrate all essential network services and combine diverse directories for network users, telephone, e-mail and voicemail into a common directory that can be updated and managed from a single point. NDS provides users with a single login to the network and its services and simplified, secure access to all network information wherever it resides.

NetWare 4's integrated multiprotocol routing and network management supports the world's most popular networking standards and management systems, and simplifies the building and management of networks of all sizes and types. When combined with NetWare's superior security, messaging, file and print capabilities, users are assured not only that networks of different computers can be connected, but also that information is securely and efficiently routed and accessible.

Customers also need greater levels of reliability as networks proliferate and business critical resources move to networks. Novell has brought large system fault tolerant capabilities to Intel-based servers through NetWare SFT III, which delivers unsurpassed reliability with mirrored server technology integrated directly into the network operating system.

NetWare 4 and its directory will be the delivery mechanism for products and services offered over NetWare Connect Services, a global business-to-business and business-to-customer public data network that will be offered in partnership with AT&T and other telecommunications providers.

NetWare Connect Services will usher in an era of electronic commerce on a secure commercial information highway. Just as customers have come to expect and rely on the convenience and ease of a universal dial tone, NetWare Connect Services will soon provide a universal data tone that is secure, reliable and available worldwide.

Pervasive computing will enable the number of connected users to increase to 1 billion by the end of the decade and broaden the types of devices that can be networked. Novell's NetWare Embedded Systems Technology (NEST) will make all types of devices including personal digital assistants (PDAs), office equipment, telephones, computer peripherals and settop boxes receptive clients to the NetWare 4 network and its services. It will enable these devices to be managed through the directory and its graphical interface, and will expand the network and its usefulness in our lives.

Both small business and non-technical users will enjoy the benefits of the power, productivity and simplicity of a NetWare 4 network and the services it provides. Network applications built on Novell's network services and integrated with NDS will make network access easy and transparent for users enabling them to retrieve, sort and organize information in more meaningful ways.

The first examples of network applications will soon be available. Novell GroupWise, a groupware productivity application that includes e-mail, calendaring and scheduling, task management and workflow, will be tightly integrated with NetWare 4's native administration tools and NDS. Novell's first network-enriched suite of applications, PerfectOffice 3.0, will soon be shipping.

The business of Novell Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL) is connecting people to other people and the information they need, enabling them to act on it anytime, anyplace. Novell is the world's leading network software provider. The company's products provide the distributed infrastructure, network services, advanced network access and network applications required to make networked information and pervasive computing an integral part of everyone's daily life.

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Note: NetWare is a registered trademark and NetWare Directory Services, GroupWise, NetWare MHS, NetWare MultiProtocol Router, NetSync, NetWare Management System, NetWare SFT III, NetWare Link Services Protocol, Yes, It Runs With NetWare, and Yes, Tested and Approved are trademarks of Novell Inc. All other marks belong to their respective organizations.