More news.... Novell Announces Directory-Based Application Launcher
Novell Announces Directory-Based Application Launcher (04/22/97)
By Jeff Sweat, InformationWeek
OREM, Utah -- Novell announced Monday directory-based application distribution software that it will deliver free to keep its hold on Novell Directory Services users.
Expected to ship next month, Novell Application Launcher 2.0 (NAL) adds software distribution capabilities managed by Novell's flagship NDS directory technology. The new version incorporates such features as complete file handling for the physical movement of files, a scheduler for timed distribution, and both pull and push software updates.
While other companies have created software distribution products, such as Microsoft's Systems Management Server, Novell said NAL's integration with NDS makes the installation far simpler. "Managing the deployment of the application to 1,000 users [with NAL] is no tougher than administering deployment to one user," said Lori Kendall, NAL product manager.
NDS matches up the user rights and profiles contained in the directory with the applications those profiles would require, and can install those applications without any prompt from the user. Because the installation is based in the directory tree rather than the server, an application can be distributed to an entire unit or organization, across a number of servers. If a user logs in at another location, even in another country, Kendall said, NAL can automatically give that user all his applications. If a file is damaged or deleted by an end user, NDS will compare the damaged version with the application object profile -- called a snappShot -- and then replace it with a complete version.
NAL ships as a software client for all Windows platforms, NetWare or IntranetWare; the only server piece needed is NDS. Novell will ship the product for free within three weeks as part of a larger company strategy to gain ubiquity, similar to CEO Eric Schmidt's Java strategy when he was at Sun Microsystems in Mountain View, Calif. "I want this product to go into the hands of someone who's now bought another solution and because of this, will reevaluate Novell Directory Services," Kendall said. "Our mission is to get out there fast, and get out there wide."
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Another new product release...but is this enough?
EKS
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