Jim,
Novell has been working with Intel on NetWare support for Merced for over two years, and with HP and SCO on advanced network services for the new 64-bit Unix systems.
Moab will run on Merced, as will most previous versions of NetWare. The Merced CPU will run any software that runs on a Pentium. There will be a later version of IntranetWare designed for more 64-bit operations. I don't have any inside info, but I would imagine there won't be a "special" Merced version of IntranetWare.
You'll probably buy a single version which will run on any CPU from a 386 to Merced. Just as NetWare does now, if it finds it's running on a more advanced CPU, it automatically takes advantage of the features of that CPU for higher performance.
Similarly, Orion won't require a Merced CPU, but will take advantage of it if it is available. This means you could have a mixed cluster containing CPUs all the way from a 486 to a Merced, running as a single system.
Here's quotes from a few Novell press releases on Merced support:
7/22/96
The two companies are moving forward with an agreement first announced in September, 1995 to make Novell Directory Services (NDS) and other Novell services available in the next release of HP/UX and on a compatible 64-bit UNIX System for Intel Corporation's P7 or "Merced" architecture that HP is co-developing with The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc. (SCO). Novell network services on these UNIX platforms will protect customer investments and support flexibility and freedom of choice by providing a common framework for network access, administration, and management across heterogeneous networks.
3/25/97
Throughout 1997 and beyond, Novell will continue development of the Wolf Mountain project. Wolf Mountain is the code name for a project to develop technologies which enable advanced clustering, 64- bit/Merced support, and advanced file system support. These technologies will be integrated into future Novell products according to customer needs and as they become available. Novell continues to offer SFTIII to address customer needs for high availability and fault tolerance.
10/8/97
In addition to its clustering initiative, which will bring high-availability capabilities once limited to large-scale systems to cost- effective Intel platforms, Novell plans to support Intel's 64-bit Merced architecture with future server operating systems. |
