Search

Novell, the former undisputed leader in proprietary networking software, is banking on Linux and open source to rescue its business from years of decline. Where once it seemed fated for obscurity, Novell is determined to regain its former status by transforming itself into one of the industry's leading open source vendors. Novell first aligned itself with the open source community when it launched its collaborative development site in early 2003. But it was not until Novell purchased open source desktop software vendor Ximian in August 2003 that the company's new direction began to solidify in the public eye. Then in January 2004, Novell acquired SuSE, the leading Linux vendor in Europe and the number 2 player worldwide, after Red Hat. But even though it seems to be holding all the right cards, Novell faces tough odds. Tough competition from Microsoft and dwindling support from third-party developers have caused Novell's once loyal base to look elsewhere for infrastructure needs. Unless it can win back the loyalty of the industry, Novell's Linux-centric message could fall on deaf ears. Novell's fortunes were not always so dire. At one time, its name was synonymous with personal computer networking. INSET: The End of the Line for NetWare?.

This article deals with the emerging open source model in the enterprise world. The rewards facing those willing to lead information technology into new open source territories includes a broad support community, greater flexibility, and more control over critical technologies. In addition, a strong community typically continues even if individual contributors pull out, making dependence less risky than on software from a vendor that may later go out of business, change technology direction, or be acquired by a company with a different agenda. However, waging the good fight for open source in the enterprise is not without its hazards. A deep in-house technical knowledge is needed for the most effective use of open source.

This article presents an update on new IT products as of January 17, 2005. Business Objects unveiled its Business Objects XI (Extreme Insight), the first version of its software following last year's acquisition of Crystal Decisions, to completely integrated Business Objects' BI software with Crystal Reports. Meanwhile, Red Dot Solutions this week will deliver a new version of its LiveServer content management solution, which features several new integrated technologies including its Verity search capability. Version 2.2 contains new enhancements that allow administrators to configure the product to their respective environments more flexibly, thereby making it is easier and faster to deploy. Pervasive Software last week introduced Pervasive Postgres, an open source database that the company plans to back with application migration for independent software vendors and end-users, training, administrator certification and related data management and integration software. Moreover, Microsoft is expanding its hosted Exchange to include instant messaging and collaborative online workspaces. Previously, the offering consisted of Exchange Server 2003 and was called the Microsoft Solution for Hosted Exchange 2003.

This article looks at the significant role of open source software within the computing industry. Some of the products available within the consumer electronics industry may be difficult to operate so vendors offer online support services. However, when the author experienced an unanswered support requests to vendors, he turned to open source. A Google query for sourceforge vx4400 yielded this first result: Welcome to BitPim. On the BitPim project site, he found not only sync software for Windows, Linux and OS X, but also useful documentation, including an online help system. Although BitPim can import and export various contact formats, it as yet has no similar support for calendar events. Because the site is written in Python and uses the wxPython cross-platform graphic user interface library, it is open and easily extensible. BitPim's developer, Roger Binns, thinks the same way the author do about managing collections of simple objects.

This article comments on the advantages and disadvantages of open sourcing and outsourcing software. Custom-developed software built on reliable open source frameworks wins the day when the benefits of slick commercial software cannot outweigh the licensing costs. On the other hand, when done for the right reasons, outsourcing can save money and reduce unnecessary distractions for in-house information technology (IT) teams. Outsourcing is becoming increasingly attractive in two particular scenarios. The first instance deals with outsourcing relatively generic functions that rely on widely used commercial software packages that require specific expertise and near-perfect uptime. In these scenarios, it is difficult to run these systems noticeably better than an outsourcer. The second, more interesting emerging scenario is the Web-based hosted service with a well-documented Web services API, an offering pioneered by Salesforce.com with their sforce platform. In this type of outsourcing arrangement, users get all the benefits of a core service without having to own software or hardware, but they retain the option to extend the system to address specific needs of their business. Platforms such as sforce dispel the notion that outsourcing is about cramming a variety of square-pegged businesses into a single hosted round hole. In areas where outsourcing does not make sense and IT needs to build custom functionality unavailable in commercial products, open source is an increasingly viable choice.

Explains that the SCO Group is creating enemies with its disdain for the Linux open source operating system. Contention of SCO Group that the open source system is a threat to the U.S. economy; Argumets made by SCO Group to the U.S. Congress against Linux.

Addresses the challenges of contributing to open source software. Differing priorities that govern open source and in-house developers; Bureaucratic hurdles to the desire to give back to the open source community; Views of Jonathan Bollers, vice president and chief engineer at Science Applications International Corp., on the issue.

Criticizes the failure of U.S. computer companies to adapt to market demands as of November 2002. Action taken by top businesses to guard their positions; Challenges faced by top software companies; Outlook for companies that try to defeat the advance of open source software through the legal system.