I've been reading up on Novell Open Enterprise Server and it sure looks like on cool OS to me. I've been using NetWare for a lot of years and is looking forward to using the same amazing software on a linux box.

For those of you that haven't used NetWare it has an amazing file system, good administration tools, and of course my favorite Directory service.

It's soon on public beta and even though (afaik) it's not GPL I will definately give it a try.

Is there anyone else who is going to check it out?

/m

I'm definately interested. How exactly is it going to be done? Are the Netware apps and stuff going to run on SLES, or what?

Most of the services Novell have (groupwise, Zenworks, edirectory etc..) is already platform independent. The main thing Im interested in is the Novell Filesystem and volume handling.

I have been playing with the Beta and it is very nice. The server itself looks just like a Suse 9 server (assuming you install the suse version, i imagine the netware version looks just like netware). It just installs the eDirectory services and other items from novell. Once it is all installed you can administer it from a beefed up iManager browser. I have had a bit of trouble installing new volumes, but I may just need more time to figure things out. All in all I think this is a product that could really take off. It gives you the best of both worlds, as you can run a Novell network, but still be able to use the advantages of Linux!

I'm downloading Novell OES right now and look forward to testing it.
I have read the specs and it looks truly impressive.

Its is going to be a thrilling ride to see what happens in the OS scene now that Novell is on the bandwagon again. Novell has always produced great stuff. Not as "user friendly" as the MS counterpart but really powerful. The one area where Windows kicked ass was on the app server arena. They have done a GREAT job in helping developers to produce software, let there be no doubt about that, and Novell has.. Well, not helped developers the way they could have. It is on this arena Novell has a serious opportunity now, I mean how much Linux software is there and how fast is it growing? Warpspeed!

Must be tough to be number one (MS), they have only one direction to travel. The sharks smell blood in the water and they are all coming with their lawyers to get a piece of the meat. Moby Dick, anyone?

Do I like it that MS is getting sued for everything but the tsunami in Asia? Not one bit. I believe in sound competition and sometimes Coopetition. Excellence and a kick-ass mentality is not a bad thing. Look at where Bill and the rest of MS has taken their company. I wish I had some of their drive.

Do I like it that Linux is a really strong challenger? Absolutely. This is what this business needs!
Do I like that Novell is back? I Love It!

/m

I agree. All I want is good competition so that we have plenty to choose from. That has been the problem with Microsoft. They squash competition and hinder innovation. I am hopeful now, that people will finally start to realize that and that microsoft will be forced to change their strategy from kill and squash to innovation. If we can get big companies like Novell, IBM, HP, and Sun to start providing that competition to MS then we will all be the better for it.

I have not loaded the beta yet, but. I am just about ready to take the novell CLE ( Certified Linux Engineer ) test.
I am a master CNE now.

the shipping OES will contain Novell 6.5 sp3 and SELS 9 with updates.

the file system is also one of the things I want. also clustering. OES will be able to run a mixed cluster of netware ond SUSE !!! very interisting.

I am also a Master CNE/Master CNI and will be taking the exam/practicum during this spring some time.
Good luck on your test!!

Pleased to meet you. They say it is a hard test.
I am going to a class next week that Novell has put together for partners. It is for the CLP which is a good lead in to the CLE. I am taking the CLE on Jan 29 th.
I don't know if I will be ready. But it was my last opportunity to use the free voucher Novell sent me. I want to pass but if I'm not ready I will at least see how it is.
I usually don't schedule until I'm ready, I've never failed a test.... Hope it's not the first one.

Good for you! You might as well try..
I have failed several tests during the course of my career. First test to fail was on IIS4 back in the NT4 days. It's not a big issue. My employer pays for my tests so.. ;-)

A colleague of mine went up against the CDE practicum. Ha said he had never seen so many errors in any NDS ever. He lost his cool and failed the test. Half of the difficulty is just sheer preasure and nervousness. If you can keep your cool and remember the steps then this like any test is a breeze.

Nowadays I rarely feel nervous taking a test, been there so many times before. I only get the jitters when the screen says "Calculating Score...". LPI101 made my nervous though. I had no Idea what to expect and as you might have guessed I failed, 5 points short, on my first try.

You feel confident about linux? I just passed LPI 101 this week and I'm taking 102 in three weeks.
I have just started studying for the 102. I have a Novell Suse box setup so I can practice, and a good book to read.
Once Im LPI level one its level two and then CLP/CLE.

I'd be thankful for any pointers to what your instructor pointed out to be important. I have all the courseware (and have had some use from it during my LPI studies).

Good luck. I'm sure you'll make it!!

Thanks,
My only concern is that I have to schedule the test without the time to do my usual prep.
I have no concern at all on the netware parts. I just hope all the linux command line stuff comes to mind when I need it.
I didn't take the CDE, Novell flew a dozen of us to provo for a private class and gave us free tests, but.
I was so disapointed in it that I did not want the cert.
The problem I saw was not with NDS problems, that is where I excel. The problem is that eDirectory was current when the CDE came along and when we got a look at it all the NDS was on the recman database. Well that was just no leading edge, it gets worse. They wanted to include Active Directory, but there facts were incorrect, mostly dut to microsoft changing things. so there facts actually were old and no longer valid. The third part of the CDE was dirXml. At that time it was half baked. It probably did work on the test but it was screwed up in the class, developers had to come in to help fix it.
That was a real dark time for Novell. I have not seen anything so poor from them before or since.
The CDE is going away, it was designed to bring in money.. This does not detract from anyone who did the work and passed the test, There was just no return on the investment for me.....
Time is the currency of our modern time.
I'm hoping the CLP kicks ass !!!

Couldn't agree more. I personally saw CDE as a marketing stunt. All this about the "full service directory". You map out all the pros of eDirectory and you compare the other big directorys against the map.

I did the study part, just never bothered to do the tests, just like you. But it was a good practicum.

I'm sure CLP/CLE will be good if Novell starts to market it and folks like you and me keep talking about it. LPI was an underdog compared to Linux+, but that has changed now. LPI is gaining momentum but it is really only RHCE that has reputation in the Linux market. I hope we (CNE's etc) and Novell together can change that.

I have had a bit of a setback. I want to prioritize Linux learning now but instead I have to do Microsoft classes for at least the rest of january. (I sometimes wish I was an independent consultant)

/m

THis is a great site. I really llike the software they use.
this reminds of the old Netware OS news group I used to follow.

I have some CBT from my boss, never installed the because they are windows 2003 MCSE cert stuff.
I do have MCSE, but I will not build a winow network and will probably not update my cert for at least 1.5 or 2 years.

If Novell grows as it looks, I'll probably be able to keep installing servers.

Hello
as i see here at this thread everyone knows about netware and novell stuff ..
i'm really interested to install this system at home
netware/fedora-C3/Xp/2000pro
i got some CDz but really verey frustrated with them couldn't know from where to start
all i found is a suse Image + some Novell CDz exe files then do what i don't know
so , what i need exactly is how to start with a simple documentation
i already got some but talking about netware 5 and the CDz i've is 6.5
or should i use the enterprise suse version....
Thanks

Ziox,
It is a little difficult to understand what you want to install, perhaps you could clarify.

If you want to install Open Enterprise Server. Here is a link.
A good thing about Novell is that there is a lot of documentation on their site and it is often good and most often complete. The link below is the jumping off page for OES.
if you pick the start page you will get lab guides, installation instructions and more.

Regards,
Richard

http://www.novell.com/documentation/oes/index.html

other product documentation is at http://www.novell.com/documentation