The vision surprisingly de-emphasizes the strategic importance of NetWare, the network operating system upon which Novell once built a dominant position in the network industry. One Net continues Novell's evolution into a provider of network services and products that bridge the gap between corporate networks and the Internet. Fresh from 10 consecutive profitable quarters, Novell is eager to join disparate networks with a manageable, secure framework that exists irrespective of firewalls, operating systems, hardware, device type or geography. The company says it will only introduce products and services that do not differentiate between the Internet and corporate networks.
Novell customers say they are ready to adapt to the changes.
This new strategy will force administrators to step up to the plate. It's forcing the NetWare administrator to be a Web guy. One analyst says the shift in direction makes sense for Novell. Novell's partners will play a critical role in determining the company's fortunes going forward, says another customer. The company started with native support for IP, and now they are opening up the directory.