NOVELL'S SYSTEMS GROUP BACKGROUND & SUMMARY

Introducing the Novell Systems Group

Novell is bringing together its two system software divisions to form the
Systems Group. The new Systems Group combines the NetWare Systems Group
(NSG) and UNIX Systems Group (USG).

The NetWare network operating system is the world's leading network
operating system and the standard for connecting personal computer users
to each other and across enterprise and wide-area networks. The UNIX
System is the leading platform for downsizing of business-critical
applications from large-scale systems to network servers.

Now having solidified NetWare 4 and UnixWare 2, Novell is taking the next
logical step in the development of its network computing strategy. This
strategy entails combining the best capabilities of NetWare and UnixWare
in a single platform that meets the full range of customer needs for
network computing. Novell has formed the new Systems Group to further
focus our efforts on creating this single, unified network computing
platform.

TECHNOLOGY VISION

Today's application servers are an interim step in the transition to
pervasive computer networks and network applications. Client/server
computing has meant one server and numerous clients. Next generation
Novell network software products will define a single network system built
across multiple servers that are managed and operated as one integrated
solution. Customers standardizing on NetWare 4 and UnixWare 2 today will
be on a direct path to future system offerings from Novell.

Novell will continue to develop and support its NetWare and UnixWare
product lines, while offering new products that combine NetWare and UNIX
services. The System Group will make initial new product and technology
announcements over the next 90 days.

The group will provide the industry-leading server platform for pervasive
computing. This distributed platform will change the role of servers,
enabling them to work in concert as a single system. It will eliminate the
boundaries between today's local and wide-area networks, connecting people
with each other and the information they need, anytime, anyplace. The
platform will be designed for ease of use, ease of management, and ease of
application development. It will be open and flexible to support the
customer's freedom to choose between systems hardware and applications. It
will be modular and scalable to provide highly cost-effective solutions
for installations of all sizes.

New Novell system offerings will provide backward compatibility for today's
NetWare and UnixWare users, while supporting a new generation of
distributed client-server applications. Distributed transparently across
any number of network servers, the platform will present a single system
image to users and administrators. Novell will increase the ability of
distributed services such as NetWare Directory Services to support other
operating systems on the network. Networks of inexpensive servers will
deliver the power and fault-tolerance once limited to mainframes and
specialized minicomputers, while providing users at work, on the road, or
at home with immediate access to valuable information.

APPLICATIONS ENVIRONMENT

The new network platform will support a new generation of distributed
client-server applications tied to both the advanced network services of
NetWare and the robust network application services of UNIX systems. In
this environment, Novell will make NetWare's leading networking
infrastructure and services fully available to UNIX applications.
Application serving will be supported across multiple server platforms to
become an integral part of the network, providing users with broader,
faster more reliable access.

The new platform will also provide complete backward compatibility for
today's NetWare and UNIX system applications. This includes support for
UNIX line-of-business applications, database management systems, as well
as groupware solutions, and desktop-based applications.

ONGOING NETWARE AND UNIXWARE OEM AND CHANNEL SUPPORT

The Systems Group will continue to develop and support the separate NetWare
and UnixWare product lines. Novell will continue to make these products
available to its reseller channel as individual products. Novell will also
continue to license NetWare, UnixWare and also new systems software source
code to OEMs.

CROSS-PLATFORM LICENSING

The Systems Group will develop and market key distributed services for both
Novell and non-Novell platforms, based on customer demand. Novell is
following through on its commitments to provide NetWare Directory Services
(NDS) for UnixWare and other select, high-volume UNIX platforms. Novell
recently announced its intention to provide new versions of the TUXEDO
System first for NetWare 4 and later for NT. In addition, NEST (Novell
Embedded Systems Technology) continues to extend NetWare to a broad range
of office and consumer devices that have traditionally been controlled by
proprietary embedded operating systems.

DIVISIONAL STRUCTURE

The Systems Group has four divisions: the Operating Systems Division,
Distributed Services Division, Extended Networks Division and Tools
Division.

Operating System Division -- is responsible for core operating system
development, including the evolution and integration of NetWare and
UnixWare. The division is also responsible for NetWare Directory Services
and integrated client support for leading desktop systems.

Distributed Services Division -- is responsible for developing the TUXEDO
System, and for marketing TUXEDO, NDS and other key services such as data
storage/retrieval and print management to suppliers of non-Novell
platforms.

Extended Network Division -- is responsible for NEST (Novell Embedded
Systems Technology) to enable office systems, process controls and
consumer products to connect to NetWare networks.

Tools Division -- is chartered to provide developers with tools for
creating applications that take advantage of the group's network computing
platforms. AppWare developer tools come from this division.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Richard King, formerly head of NSG, is executive vice president and general
manager of the new group . Mike DeFazio, formerly head of USG, is senior
vice president for development in the Operating Systems Division. Toby
Corey, formerly vice president of marketing for the NetWare Products
Group, is the vice president marketing for the Operating Systems Division.
Joe Menard is vice president and general manager of the Distributed
Services Division. Darl McBride is vice president and general manager of
the Extended Networks Division. Joe Firmage is vice president and general
manager of the Tools Division.

 ============================================================
 From the  'New Product News'  Electronic News Service on....
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) & Delphi (GO COMPUTING PRODUCT)
 ============================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the 
 company or author mentioned. For additional details, please 
 contact them directly at the address/phone number indicated.
 All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
 ============================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  U.S.A.
 Email: RBakerPC (AOL/Delphi), rbakerpc@delphi.com (Internet)
 ============================================================
