Novell To Offer Secure Access To Windows Apps Over Internet Via Integration With Citrix

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Sept 14, 1998

Thin Client Management Using NDS, Z.E.N.

Expected To Reduce Net Administration Costs

Novell Inc. has announced a directory-based solution for Citrix Systems Inc.'s thin client networking model that would allow companies to access and manage applications locally, remotely and across the Internet.

Novell and Citrix worked closely together to enable Citrix WinFrame and MetaFrame to integrate with Novell Directory Services (NDS) and Z.E.N. works, Novell's directory-based desktop management tool. The resulting solution "significantly lowers network management costs," the two firms say, providing users with secure access to personalized Windows applications via NDS over the Internet or local network from any PC, network computer (NC), "dumb terminal" or thin client that can run an Internet browser. Z.E.N.works is also compatible with Windows NT server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition.

Novell says using Z.E.N.works with thin clients increases end-user productivity by providing network users with a personalized desktop no matter where they are in the network. The solution was demonstrated recently at Thinergy '98 by Novell and Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), a Novell Enterprise Consulting Partner (ECP) and Citrix Gold Reseller. ACS, experts in implementing desktop solutions using Novell and Citrix products, worked closely with Novell to make the integration of NDS and Z.E.N.works with WinFrame and MetaFrame possible.

"We are excited to see Novell extending all the benefits that NDS and Z.E.N.works bring to networked PCs to customers using thin clients," says Barry Davis, director of the Citrix Business Alliance program. "Our end-users will be able to access their own familiar computer interface and resources from any point on the network with a consistent look and feel."

"By integrating with the leading thin client solutions provider, Citrix, Novell is extending the intelligence of NDS from PCs to NCs and thin clients, enhancing its lead as the industry's most advanced directory," says Michael Simpson, Novell's director of marketing. "For the first time, customers get a consistent, user-based view from across the Internet, remote dial-up and the local network by leveraging NDS to manage their users and applications."

By the end of September, Novell says companies with NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition and MetaFrame can get the necessary updated Novell client for NT (version 4.5) via download from the web (http://www.novell.com/download) free of charge. The client will also ship with NetWare 5 by September 20th, and later in Z.E.N.works 1.1. Customers with Citrix WinFrame will also be able to download Novell's updated client for NT as well as the necessary pre-requisite software from Citrix in the same time frame.