Novell loads Linux into HP, IBM

Iishwar Daas Nair

UTAH: From the point of view of reaching out to the market, Novell’s relationships with independent software vendors and independent hardware vendors would be revitalized, revealed Novell Inc., Chairman and CEO, Jack Messman. Vindicating this statement, the company Novell announced two partnerships that could turn out be key in its overall plan of expanding the SuSE Linux footprint into the enterprise.

Significantly, Novell expanded its commercial agreement with IBM, which enables IBM to ship or pre-load SuSE Linux Enterprise Server with the entire range of IBM’s servers comprising iSeries, pSeries, xSeries, zSeries and eServer BladeCenter systems. Previously, IBM had this agreement directly with SuSE. The agreement gives Novell a new channel for market access through IBM.

IBM on its part has been promoting Linux through its relationships with both SuSE and Red Hat and has been a major force in moving Linux into the higher end of the enterprise market. Said Jim Stallings, General Manager-Linux, IBM, "We have embarked on a 40-city road show promoting Linux and one of the things that we have been demonstrating is NT to Linux migration. Similarly we are also planning a Exchange to GroupWise (Novell’s groupware brand) migration."

Novell’s partnership with HP too has been expanded to cover select HP Compaq client systems. HP has already hit a sweet spot in selling Linux-based systems. According to IDC, in 2003, HP led the market in revenues and shipments for x86 and Itanium-based Linux servers. Even in Q4, HP’s market share for x86 and Itanium-based Linux servers in unit shipments stood at 27 per cent and 42 per cent respectively. Novell can now look at getting a piece of this action in expanding the Linux market.

Novell’s agreement builds upon HP’s existing certification of Novell SuSE Linux across HP Proliant and Integrity servers, storage, software, and services. With the agreement Novell SuSE Linux will become HP’s standard Linux distribution across its business desktop and notebook PCs in North America immediately and the other geographies to be soon added. Previously HP had also provided a Linux indemnity program for qualified customers similar to Novell offering an indemnity program in January. The indemnity programs give a measure of legal protection to Linux customers. Though the indemnity programs offered by HP and Novell differ in their content, it is reported that they are complementary and not conflicting.

Novell had earlier announced a new, comprehensive partner program that will bring under one umbrella the company’s products, solutions and technology and training partner relationships. Upon the SuSE acquisition in November, Novell has inherited 560 global partners that belonged to SuSE and these would get added to Novell’s partner network. The new partner program and the alliances with HP and IBM are instrumental for the success of Novell’s market expansion from its expanded product offerings in the NetWare and Linux areas.

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