Novell inks another Net deal
Novell, which partnered with Netscape last week, cuts yet another deal, this time with database market leader Oracle.
The agreement calls for the companies to integrate Oracle's Web Application Server software with Novell's IntranetWare server software and the Novell Directory Services (NDS) technology.
The deal is intended to solidify Novell's nascent Internet strategy by establishing tight integration with Oracle's market-leading database software. Oracle, meanwhile, is angling for an additional ally in its battle against Microsoft for control of Web software standards.
Novell is making deals fast and furiously. Last week the company announced a joint venture with Netscape Communications. The companies pledged to integrate Novell's IntranetWare and NDS software with Netscape's SuiteSpot Internet server family and announced a new jointly owned company called Novonyx.
Novell and Oracle said in a joint statement today that they hope to influence network computing trends and establish NDS as "the de facto standard directory service for Internet and intranet applications."
Oracle will also create a Novell products division to focus on technology integration, sales, marketing, education, and support for joint offerings. The company will also endorse NDS as an open infrastructure that will let administrators manage resources across different networks from a single location.
Novell will distribute Oracle's Web Application Server with its IntranetWare operating systems, in a move that Oracle hopes will lend Novell's user base a Java-enabled software transactional Web server and middleware package.
The two companies will jointly integrate their offerings and plan to expand IntranetWare to add Java development tools and options. They also plan to run a developer program.
The companies will offer a peek at the technology integration at Novell's annual BrainShare '97 conference taking place this week in Salt Lake City. Additional details on product integration are posted to the Oracle site and the Novell Web site.