Tuesday September 1, 2:51 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Novell, Inc.
Novell Dramatically Cuts Network Ownership Costs
With NDS for NT 2.0
Novell Improves Cross-Platform Administration With Powerful Directory Solution For
Companies With Corporate and Branch Office Networks
PROVO, Utah, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVEL - news) today reaffirmed its commitment to
providing products that will lower the total cost of network ownership, announcing beta availability of the next version of NDS
for NT(TM). Based on Novell Directory Services(R) (NDS(TM)), Novell's industry-leading directory technology, NDS for
NT 2.0 extends beyond the corporate office and enables geographically-dispersed companies to manage NT branch office
networks more efficiently. End users benefit from faster, more reliable single log-in through the introduction of an NDS
database replica on local NT Servers.
NDS for NT 2.0 is at the heart of Novell's effort to improve overall manageability of heterogeneous enterprise networks.
Building on the success of NDS for NT version one, which began shipping in December 1997, Version 2.0 further reduces the
costs and complexities of managing mixed NetWare(R) and Microsoft NT Server environments. Customers can now run
NDS-integrated applications in NT branch environments, while taking advantage of NDS to manage access to NT Server
applications integrated with domains as well.
''NDS has been widely adopted in corporate networks and has been proven to be the industry's best at reducing cost and
complexity -- which has always been Novell's strength,'' said Michael Simpson, director of marketing, Novell. ''NDS for NT
2.0 delivers a major milestone by providing the foundation for other directory-based solutions that many customers are anxious
to implement today in NT branch locations, like Z.E.N.works desktop application management.''
Improved Service for Branch Office Users
In companies with branch offices that deploy NDS for NT 2.0, end users realize increased speed and reliability when accessing
network resources. NDS for NT 2.0 extends the manageability of NDS to branch offices by allowing an NDS replica to reside
directly on local NT Servers. Remote offices no longer need to manage NT domain trust relationships for most deployments to
realize the benefits of NT applications. Because branch office users can leverage a local NDS replica, they are able to access
network resources without communication across a WAN link to their corporate headquarters or larger site for authentication.
This added benefit in NDS for NT 2.0 will decrease management costs stemming from repairing delayed or failed access to the
network and it will save end-users' time during the log-in process.
''We are implementing NDS for NT as we roll out NetWare 5 because it eases administrative overhead, manages both
platforms with a single tool and it eliminates the complexity of domain and trust management,'' said Jeff Miller, senior network
engineer of Chicago Mercantile Exchange. ''With NDS for NT we will be able to manage NT domains with the same reliability
and scalability of NDS on NetWare servers.''
New Product Simplifies User Administration
From its inception, NDS for NT has helped give companies the freedom to design an efficient network architecture that
includes both NetWare and NT Servers. NDS for NT greatly simplifies ongoing network management by enabling
administrators to make NetWare and NT part of the same enterprise network with single sign-on for users and single point
administration for network managers. This results in significantly lower management costs because time spent administering a
mixed environment is dramatically reduced.
The next generation of NDS for NT dramatically simplifies management of mixed NetWare and NT networks and improves
network scalability and performance with new and enhanced attributes:
* NDS Applications in the Branch Office -- NDS for NT enables NDS-based
applications that run on NT Server to use a local NDS database. Only
minor modifications, if any, are required. Examples include Z.E.N.works,
BorderManager Authentication Services (RADIUS) and GroupWise for NT.
* Set Up and Manage File Shares -- NT tools are now integrated so the file
hares can be created and administered from one utility interface,
Novell's NWAdmin(TM).
* Password Synchronization -- Version 2.0 of NDS for NT gives the network
administrators the ability to ensure that NDS and NT passwords stay
consistent during password changes.
* Single Point of Administration -- With NDS for NT, network
administrators only administer one set of network objects because the
domain information is stored only in NDS and there is no duplicate data
store.
* Choice of Management Utilities -- NDS for NT offers flexibility,
enabling administrators to manage their users and groups with Novell's
NWAdmin and/or Microsoft's User Manager.
* Freedom From Managing Domain Trust Relationships -- This product reduces
management time by alleviating the need to manage complex domain trust
relationships in most deployments to link multiple resources between
domains.
* Application Support -- NDS for NT fully supports and simplifies the
deployment of any application that requires an NT Server or domain.
ManageWise SNMP agent for NT, which monitors an NT Server from the corporate office, is an additional add-on possibility.
NDS for NT 2.0 not only supports currently available versions of NetWare and NT, but NDS for NT 2.0 is also compatible
with the upcoming NetWare 5 which will be available by September 20, 1998. Future versions of the product will support
Microsoft NT Server 5.0 and Active Directory when available.
Pricing and Availability
The beta version of NDS for NT 2.0 is available immediately and can be downloaded free of charge from the World Wide
Web at support.novell.com. NDS for NT 2.0 is expected to ship in the fourth quarter of 1998 and
pricing will be announced at that time. Customers with questions about NDS for NT may visit Novell's Web site at
novell.com for more information.
About NDS for NT
NDS for NT is the directory service that utilizes the power of Novell's proven directory technology to simplify NT Server and
application deployment in mixed NetWare/NT enterprise environments. It provides better administration through a single,
common point, eliminating the complexity and cost of domains. NDS for NT reduces companies' network management costs,
provides users with single log-on to all resources wherever they are located on the network, and provides familiar single-point
administration for all NT and Novell users and resources. The market-proven and powerful structure of NDS streamlines
common administrative tasks to minimize network management time and expense.
About Novell
Founded in 1983, Novell is the world's leading provider of network software. The company offers a wide range of network
solutions for distributed network, Internet, intranet and small-business markets. Novell education and technical support
programs are the most comprehensive in the network computing industry. Information about Novell's complete range of
products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at novell.com.
NOTE: Novell, NetWare and Novell Directory Services are registered trademarks and NDS and NWAdmin are trademarks
of Novell, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holder.
SOURCE: Novell, Inc. |
