NetWare 6.5 includes and fully supports AMP
technologies—open source services that are widely used for creation of
Web-based applications and services. Apache Web server, MySQL database
server and PHP and Perl scripting languages are included and supported as
part of the Novell open source solution. The Tomcat servlet container is
also included. Using these component open-source technologies, Web
application developers can develop enterprise-class, distributed
applications for any type or size of organization. These services run on
NetWare and benefit from high security and tight eDirectory integration.
Although open source AMP technologies run on Windows, Microsoft does not
support them. The Windows solution to Web-based applications is IIS, SQL
Server and a VB development environment. A major disadvantage is that
solutions developed using these technologies only work in a Windows
environment. A database is not included with Win2003 and additional expense
is incurred to obtain one.
Novell provides technical support for open source technologies included
with NetWare 6.5 which gives organizations a higher level of confidence when
deploying mission-critical applications. Novell's MySQL offering includes a
commercial license which gives developers the ability to create proprietary
MySQL applications without open source license requirements. The
commercially licensed version of MySQL means there are no user limitations
and no open source requirements to make the application's source code open
and available. This gives developers freedom to create powerful commercial
applications with the MySQL database for no additional license cost.
NetWare 6.5
Win2003
NetWare Advantage
AMP—NetWare 6.5 includes Apache
Web server, MySQL database and PHP and Perl scripting and Tomcat servlet
container for Web application development. These technologies are not
license restricted and enable running of existing open source
applications, databases and scripts.
Win2003 includes IIS, Microsoft's Web
server. SQL Server, Microsoft's database server, is extra and
development is done using Visual Interdev or Visual Studio.
NetWare provides everything needed to create new enterprise-class open
source applications or to run existing open source applications
out-of-the-box. To get the same level of application support from
Microsoft requires additional products at incremental expense.
DirXML®—NetWare
6.5 includes the DirXML Starter Pack with connectors for synchronizing
Active Directory and NT Domains with eDirectory, as well as an
eDirectory to eDirectory connector and password synchronization. Source
authority is preserved and changes made in one location are reflected in
others. XML is the open standard for information exchange and Web
services integration.
Win2003 includes no comparable
offering.
DirXML provides integration services for disparate directories including
Active Directory and NT domains. Novell's approach is accommodating,
integrating and holistic. Win2003 approach is exclusive and based on
Active Directory.
LDAP—eDirectory integrates with
LDAP and can function as standalone LDAP server.
Minimal LDAP v3 compliance with
limited support. Active Directory cannot be used as a standalone LDAP
directory.
eDirectory can act as or replace any LDAP directory. Extensibility of
eDirectory makes it possible to accommodate a wide assortment of
resources for access and management through LDAP.
Web Services
Microsoft's .NET strategy, while purporting
to accommodate Java* and industry Web services standards, is still
fundamentally proprietary. Microsoft "supports" Web services by being able
to consume the protocols used for open source (SOAP, UDDI, WSDL, XML).
However, the underlying processes are not open and not based on J2EE. In
effect, Microsoft has written its own programming language environment that
compiles open source as well as other languages into an intermediate
language (Microsoft Intermediate Language—MSIL). This code is then executed
by Microsoft's Common Language Runtime (CLR) software. The disadvantage is
that servlets or applications written to .NET services are not portable to
other open source systems.
J2EE features that are not found in .NET
include state management and persistence services. State management in J2EE
simplifies coding and results in more rapid development. Entity bean
characteristics (persistence) make it easier to create and maintain
components that are reusable, require less logic and are database
independent. Other J2EE advantages include programmatic transactions and
custom tags.
Novell's exteNd technologies included with NetWare 6.5 provide several
additional features that simplify development and decrease time to market.
The exteNd Workbench™ provides enhanced J2EE component and Web-service
creation wizards, visual designers, archive-based projects and one button
deployment to J2EE application servers. exteNd Workbench is a J2EE-oriented
IDE that providers can use to create, deploy, and maintain Web Services
based on the JAX-RPC standard (Java API for XML-Remote Procedure Call).
JAX-RPC enables Java technology developers to create SOAP-based
interoperable and portable web services and deploy them on any
J2EE-compatible server. Workbench can also be used to develop Java-based Web
service consumers that comply with JAX-RPC.
NetWare 6.5
Win2003
NetWare Advantage
J2EE—NetWare 6.5 fully supports
J2EE standard 1.3 with ability to run open source code from large
library of existing applications.
Microsoft .NET— Microsoft's
interpretation of openness—applications must be converted to run in
Microsoft environment.
Applications written to J2EE are truly open and portable with insulation
from operating system environment. J2EE specifications include load
balancing and failover. Application and business logic is not platform
dependent—now or in the future.
exteNd Application Server—NetWare
6.5 includes exteNd Application Server, a fully compliant and
comprehensive, J2EE certified platform for building and deploying
enterprise-class Web applications. It supports the full Java 2
Enterprise Edition standard including: JSP, EJB, JDBC, JNDI, JMS, JTA,
JAAS, JMS, JAXP, CORBA, JavaMail*, and JAX-RPC.
Win2003—no application server included
J2EE applications can run securely on NetWare with all of the benefits
of advanced enterprise features such as session-level failover,
server-level failover, clustering support, floating JDBC connection
pools with dynamic reconnect, remote server console and hot deployment.
There is no need to purchase a separate Web application server.
exteNd Workbench— The Novell
exteNd Workbench includes enhanced J2EE component and Web-service
creation wizards, visual designers, archive-based projects and one
button deployment to J2EE application servers.
Win2003 does not include application
development tools or IDE. Requires the .NET Framework and Visual Studio
.NET at extra expense.
Novell solution provides development environment and full application
server right out of the box. Deploy to multiple application servers (exteNd,
WebSphere*, WebLogic*, Tomcat) and experience advantages of true
portability.
Virtual Office
Mobile employees in organizations, large
and small, are requiring access to network resources and business systems
from any location. A viable "virtual office" environment uses the public
Internet as a network infrastructure, provides access via a user's device of
choice, and delivers a complete collaborative environment with applications,
files and other services. Collaboration, freedom, mobility and self-support
through Web-access are key concepts.
Microsoft does not provide virtual
office services with Win2003. To some extent, the concept of virtual office
services runs contrary to Microsoft's product strategy where every client is
Windows-based whether it be Windows XP, CE or some variation. The client is
a major source of revenue whereas in a virtual office environment, the
client is any browser that supports open standards.
NetWare 6.5 includes a full-featured virtual office environment that
provides users with access and collaboration tools using a standard Web
server. With NetWare virtual office features, users can access files,
collaborate with colleagues in virtual teams, print, e-mail, locate
resources and services, and self-manage their virtual office environments.
Win2003's only offerings in this fast growing category are limited Internet
printing and file sharing. Portal capabilities for virtual office and
self-support are not available in Win2003.
NetWare 6.5
Win2003
NetWare Advantage
iPrint—NetWare 6.5 includes
iPrint allowing users to browse for available printers via an online
map, automatically download and configure drivers, and print to the
printer as if it were local.
Win2003 supports IPP (Internet
Printing Protocol) but does not provide map location or
auto-configuration. Printing jobs are not encrypted.
Internet printing with NetWare 6.5 is much simpler for users and much
easier to administer. Microsoft print related IT costs are $216 more per
user/year than NetWare.
Virtual Teams—Virtual Teams
provides specific Web-based applications for group communication and
collaboration. End-users can create or join a virtual team with shared
folders, Internet chat, team calendars, team discussions, team favorites
and team Web pages.
Win2003 provides no comparable
service.
Collaboration and team services are available immediately on install
with users able to create teams and add members without IT intervention.
Users can quickly and easily establish linked sites for team use and
information sharing.
Portal Services—NetWare 6.5
Virtual Office provides a collection of services and applications that
easily centralize content in a Web-based format. Web mail, search,
password management, Virtual Teams, iPrint, Novell iFolder and eGuide
plus links to Web services and applications are pre-configured or easily
established.
Win2003 includes SharePoint* Services
which is limited file sharing and alerts on changes. Documents can be
customized via a Web browser but no portal capabilities are included.
NetWare 6.5 Web-based features are much more extensive with immediate
portal and Web-based access for virtual office services and team
collaboration. Virtual Office provides all network resources (file,
print, team services, applications, management, mail, etc.) from any
standard browser.
eGuide—Novell eGuide is an
end-user tool providing controlled and rapid access to information
contained in eDirectory. Users are able to search for names, addresses,
phone/fax numbers, e-mail and any other information which may be stored
in eDirectory or an LDAP-based repository. End-users can manage their
own personal directory information. Using the inherent
user/group/organization structure in eDirectory, end users can determine
personnel reporting structures and even generate org charts.
Win2003 includes no comparable
functionality.
Automatically provide rich directory information to users where they
need it, when they need it, in a format that is useful.
E-mail - Novell's Virtual
Office includes e-mail gateways that provide Web access to GroupWise®,
Lotus Notes*, Microsoft Exchange and Novell NetMail™. Users are able to
access e-mail from anywhere using a standard browser.
Win2003 includes no comparable
functionality.
Web access to mail, from an assortment of mail back-ends, is free. Users
have freedom, mobility and flexibility with mail access options.
