"The biggest challenge facing IT departments today is how to meet growing business needs with shrinking budgets," said Jeff Jaffe, executive vice president and chief technology officer for Novell. "To meet that challenge, Novell brings SUSE Linux Enterprise Server together with tightly integrated, proven networking services in Novell Open Enterprise Server. Of special note, our current NetWare customers can choose to run NetWare in para-virtualised mode on Linux to take full advantage of the latest hardware, while maintaining their current NetWare environment and preferences as they move to Linux. This Linux-based solution unites interoperability and high availability with proven services in an open, secure environment."

In addition to NetWare virtualisation, Open Enterprise Server 2 features Dynamic Storage Technology that uses customer-defined policies to recognise active and stale data and automatically shift it to the appropriate storage device as the data's status changes. Putting active data on high-end storage devices for quick access and inactive or stale data on tape or other low-cost devices enables better use of expensive storage hardware, streamlines backup of critical data, improves disaster preparedness and reduces administrative costs.

Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 is now available as a stand-alone product and will be available as part of the Novell Open Workgroup Suite within 30 days. Product pricing and additional information can be found at www.novell.com/oes.

Until Feb. 1, Novell is providing a free instructor-led seminar featuring hands-on product experience to introduce new, existing and prospective Open Enterprise Server customers to new features and installation best practices of Open Enterprise Server 2. For more information and to find available classes, visit http://www.novell.com/training/courseware/ts_proj_info.jsp?pid=21062.