From: brian@SJF.Novell.COM (Brian Meek)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.misc,comp.sys.novell
Subject: Re: Novell to buy USL !?
Date: 28 Dec 92 06:41:41 GMT
Organization: Novell, Inc.

There's been a lot of negative reaction to this news and I certainly don't 
wish to fan the flames...  I understand where many of the concerns are 
coming from, but I would like to see a bit less public speculation (based 
primarily on emotions) and a bit more openness.  After all, isn't UNIX 
typically associated with "open systems"?  How about some display of 
"open minds" from those UNIX users out here crying about the pending demise 
of our beloved operating system (ummm... I use the phrase "our beloved 
operating system" collectively here :-).

Novell's activities with respect to the UNIX networking market to date 
have been upon two distinctly different paths, which cause wonder where 
many of the fears I'm hearing are coming from.

On one hand, Novell has made real efforts to adopt and *promote* more 
"traditional" UNIX networking technologies based upon TCP/IP standards (how 
many of you have managed to avoid the "Novell Does UNIX" seminars that have 
been happening all over the globe?).  These seminars discuss how Novell 
implements TCP/IP, NFS, et al... and in doing so, offers access to NetWare 
resources from existing UNIX systems, and access to UNIX systems from 
NetWare clients without adding one_single_line of Novell-written code to 
UNIX systems.  Instead, NetWare clients and servers are equipped with 
TCP/IP-based networking technology so they can fit right into a preexisting 
UNIX networking setup.

On the other hand, Novell also provides support for UNIX connectivity by 
adding the server-side of the NetWare Core Protocols to UNIX as system 
software.  This technology is offered through various OEM vendors (that 
essentially comprise the who's-who of UNIX suppliers) via a program called 
"NetWare for UNIX" (previously known as "Portable NetWare").  UnixWare, a 
flavor of SVR4, is now shipping from Univel with the client-side of the 
NetWare Core Protocols bundled in.  Believe it or not, many clear-thinking 
NetWare users like the idea of using UNIX with built-in NetWare savvy 
(perhaps in conjunction with TCP/IP, perhaps not...), and they're willing 
to pay for it. 

"Freedom of Choice" has been a slogan at Novell for years...  and I believe 
our approach to UNIX has been right in line here.  I can't (and don't) 
speak for the company as a whole, but from within Novell around the general 
vicinity of my office, UNIX is seen as a crucial ingredient to distributed 
data-processing with a set of attributes quite different from those of 
(native) NetWare.  We advocate the application of both UNIX and NetWare 
together in such a way as their respective strengths merit, and don't see 
the two operating systems as competitive so much as complimentary when 
properly applied.

Given Novell's history of providing customers with choices about how 
they utilize UNIX in networking, it's difficult to predict what "strategic  
pressure" Novell will exert upon the UNIX market from within the driver's  
seat (assuming the acquisition is approved by those who are in a position   
to approve it).  So until additional official statements are made regarding  
future plans, why not take the statements within the press release at face  
value?  

Thanks,
-- brian
___________________________________________________________________________
Brian Meek                      Novell, Inc. -- Desktop Systems Group
                                Internet mail:  brian@Novell.COM
Newsgroups: comp.unix.misc