[KLUG Members] Novell and Linux

[Tony Gettig]

On Wed, 2003-05-07 at 18:53, Adam Tauno Williams wrote:
> > I've been off the list for a couple of weeks. That pesky parenting
> > thing. Yeah, cloned myself again. That makes 7 little network engineers
> > to raise. Sorry if this topic has been covered already, but here's my
> > $.02 anyway. :)
> 
> Yes, I've made several attempts to contact someone at Novell's Detroit
> office about presenting to KLUG what exactly all this means.  So far
> I've gotten no responses.  If you know of somebody...
> 

Hey, I just happen to be going to their Southfield office for a seminar
tomorrow! I don't know of someone right now, but maybe I will meet them
tomorrow. :) I'll let you know if I come up with anything.

> > So the question in my mind is this: if it looks like Linux, smells like
> > Linux, and tastes like Linux, why wouldn't I just run Linux and avoid
> > the licensing hassle? 
> 
> Comfort factor,  which may work, but I wonder for how long.  

Bingo! Man, you called that one well!

> 
> My users, groups, mail routing, DNS, DHCP, and some other trivial things
> are already in a directory - without Novell.  Add on some *REALLY* nice
> front end tools (which Linux/DA still lacks) and the value proposition
> of NDS starts to look pretty thin.
> 

I have to differ with you on this point. Though they can't seem to
figure out whether NWAdmin, ConsoleOne, or iManage is the tool of the
day, Novell does have quite a few tools for administration of their
directory services. The tools can manage all the objects you mentioned,
even with NDS running on a Linux box. What they *don't* have yet is
integration with a Linux filesystem to enforce ACL's. I'll bet that is
in NetWare 7 though. The Linux directory services (OpenLDAP) tools have
evolved to maturity MUCH more rapidly than the NDS tools did.

> > My gut feeling is that the NetWare OS will be
> > around but considerably less relevant. Their big push will be their
> > eDirectory on Linux. Managing the information of thousands of objects
> > (users, workstations, printers, volumes, filesystem ACL's, etc.) is
> > pretty darned slick with their directory. Their cash lifeline will be
> > their directory, not their OS. 
> 
> But can they hold off two beachheads?  OpenLDAP on the Linux side and
> ADS on the Windows side.

Doubtful. I'm sure they are hoping for OpenLDAP converts, but that
certainly isn't going to happen in droves. Maybe a few, but not likely. 

> 
> > And THAT is where we all know Linux is headed...operating system
> > domination. But not in the sense that we attribute to the empire of Bill
> > the Gates. Maybe "domination" isn't the best choice of a word. How about
> > "operating system freedom" instead? I know many people said this a few
> > years ago, but the next few years are going to be very interesting to
> > watch as Linux grows...even more!
> 
> It is.  About 18 months ago I was a bit pessimistic about the future of
> Linux, gave it maybe one chance in three.  Today I give it two out of
> three,  the recent progress has really been amazing (after the lull
> immediately following the Internet economy "collapse").
> 

Looking forward, there are two reasons I keep my CNE current: 1) I
worked too hard to pass all those exams and don't want to do it again,
and 2) it's a competitive advantage on my resume. Otherwise, for getting
*real work* done, sysadmin types (especially Novell sysadmins!) need to
get Linux skills to be competitive. What's funny to me is that as I have
purposed to hone my Linux expertise, I find less use for NetWare and M$
in my everyday work. Seriously...mail, web, and file services, and yes,
even my desktop. 

Speaking of the economy, it's funny how a couple of million dollar
shortfall in budget can suddenly get certain institutions in Michigan to
take Linux a little more seriously. :)

Tony Gettig