NetWare

Novell developed with NetWare a network operating system that no complex and overweighted GUI needs for use on servers. Novell provides simple but powerful text-based menus on the command line for the configuration since the first NetWare release. The administration of resources like printers, files and users is possible with a client and a graphical window system and granted administrator rights. Since NetWare 6 no more client is necessary for this, the configuration can be done completely on the server.

NetWare needs only low hardware requirements and has memory protection. It protects single processes from each other and is very stable through this in operation. Virtual memory is used reliably. By IFS file systems can be exchanged. This operating system is used for all sorts of fields of application. Use as a directory service, Internet server, Intranet server, file server or also application server is part of it.

The first release of NetWare was 1983 for the operating system DOS. In 2005 the current version of the network operating system Open Enterprise Server was published in different variants. Either with NetWare 6.5 kernel or Linux kernel of the Suse Enterprise 9 server, no matter which variant is used the same services are available.

NetWare 3.0

With the version NetWare 3.0 the 32-bit performance of the Intel 386 CPUs could already be used fully. The following versions 3.1 and 3.11 eliminated many bugs from the main release. NetWare 3.11 had great popularity in companies and worked very reliable and stable. NetWare can respectively manage at most 32 TByte harddisk storages for at most 64 Volumes per servers. Novell cancelled the support for the version 3.2 in the year 2002.

NetWare 5.0

Structure information
- 64 mbyte RAM, 550 mbyte fixed storage disks are minimal
- SMP up to 32 CPUs, ASMP
- Monolithic kernel
- preemptive multitasking
- integrated Java applications and development tools (JVM)
- 32-bit operating system
- 64-bit file system NSS (Novell Storage Services)

System environment
- graphical installation
- TCP/IP is standard protocol now (before IPX/SPX)
- Program format is NLM (NetWare Loadable Module)
- Configuration over Novell Client32 possible
- Web optimized, offers network management
- JavaScript and VB Script support
- Reads FAT16 partitions
- Server connects different platforms
- Maximum size of Volumes: 8 terabyte with NSS
- New network functions like WAN Traffic manager
- DHCP and DNA integrated in NDS 8

NetWare 5.1

- Application platform for internet & intranet applications
- NDS 8, Novell Directory Services, efficient database model
- supports NFS (Network file system), AFP (Apple Filing Protocol)
- optimized for the services of Microsoft Office 2000
- supports the web publishing (NetWare Netpublisher optional)
- NetWare Enterprise Web server 3.6 with Frontpage support or Apache web server
- Novell International Cryptographic Infrastructure modul, 56-bit encryption, 128-bits optional
- NetWare client for Windows 2000, planned for Mac and Linux
- uniform user administration for different platforms
- use as a FTP server
- NetWare Management Portal, Administration of network installations over a browser
- Cluster services upgradeable as Add-On
- Hardware requirements for the full installation: 512 mbyte RAM, 2 gbyte harddisk storage

NetWare 6.0

- Cluster services integrated, up to 32 NetWareserver in one system group
- Console One as a NetWare management program
- NFA (Native File Access) replaces the NetWare client, access from different platforms possibly, supported:
- CIFS (Computer Internet File System) for Windows Clients
- AFP (Appletalk Filing Protocol) for Mac Clients
- NIS/NFS for Unix Clients
- FTP (File Transfer Protocol) for data exchange
- NSS 3.0 (Novell Storage Services), up to 8 tbyte harddisk storage, 64-bit processing depth
- Mirroring of NSS partitions with Raid 0 and Raid 1, use of virtual partitions, Storage Pools, up to 255 Logical Volumes
- I-Folder for virtual work directories and synchronization tasks (with comparison by-bits), with I-Folder client by HTTP(S), Blowfish (128-bits)
- I-Print is further development of NDPS (Novell Distributed Print services), inclusive Drive Map for graphical location plan
- IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) for control of printers over the Internet
- Minimum: Pentium II or AMD K7 (Server class), 256 mbyte RAM, DOS partition with 200 mbyte of size, 2 gbyte for sys Volume

NetWare 6.5

- support for Mac, Windows and UNIX networks
- modul-based Installation, server profiles for App, DNS, Print, ...
- Browser based administration and control
- E-Directory, formerly NDS (as like Active Directory of Microsoft)
- simplified Administration and use of network resources
- Virtual Office portal, remote access to working environment
- counts on OpenSource solutions, mySQL is integrated
- Minimum: Pentium II or comparable, 512 mbyte RAM, 200 mbyte start partition and 2 gbyte for system partition