Novell supports Linux

Novell has announced delivery of its networking software on Linux later this year and distribution deals with leading hardware providers. By the end of 2003, Provo, a Utah-based company, plans to ship Novell Nterprise Linux Services.

Novell Nterprise Linux Services is a bundle of software that performs services like printing and file-sharing on Linux network servers. It is a collection of some of Novell's networking software that's written to run on the Red Hat and SuSE distributions of Linux, according to the company.

As part of the Linux push, Novell has penned deals with HP, IBM and Dell Computer to distribute Nterprise Linux Services on their respective hardware servers. HP will be first out of the gate with a test, or beta, version of the software bundled on its ProLiant servers in July. IBM and Dell will follow later in the year.

Nterprise Linux Services is a key component in the company's strategy to cash in on the growing popularity of the open-source software. The company is also looking to offset the shrinking base of companies that use its NetWare OS.