Novell unveiled the new architectural model code-named DENIM (Directory-enabled Net Infrastructure Model)at the company's annual developers' conference, Brainshare, in Salt Lake City.
According to Eric Schmidt, Novell's chairman and CEO, there will more users of DENIM than there are of Windows because DENIM delivers on the Net services software strategy of securing and powering Net-based businesses.
"From now on, all Novell products will be mapped against DENIM," he said.
At the core of the DENIM model is Novell's NDS eDirectory, which the company claims provides the foundation for eBusiness solutions that extend beyond the immediate enterprise to customers and supply-chain partners. NDS eDirectory is an open, standards-based directory service that serves as the framework for managing network resources across all leading operating systems including Solaris, Linux, Windows and NetWare in one Net environment.
The DENIM model focuses on a customer-centric framework for deploying directory-enabled products and services provided by Novell and its industry partners.
"Products and services in the DENIM model will allow organisations to simplify, secure and accelerate their eBusiness environments," the Novell boss claimed.
And he was keen to scotch any misconception that the company's NetWare product would not survive. "For an end-to-end solution, NetWare will do it for the next one hundred years and is one of the layers of the DENIM architecture. Novell continues to invest thousands of engineer years into the development of NetWare," Schmidt said.
Novell also used the conference to announce products, partnerships and technologies that fit within the DENIM architecture and underscore its pledge to deliver net services software across one Net environment.
Net Services is a category of software that secures and powers all types of networks - Internet, intranets, and extranets, wired to wireless, corporate and public - as one Net, across all leading operating environments.
"Net services software eliminates traditional network boundaries to help create one Net, a secure and efficient foundation for conducting business inside, outside and between organisations," said Schmidt.
The DENIM model is designed to serve three critical areas of Net service. Net Management Services include Net management, security and policy management Services; Net Content Services include publishing, storage and delivery services and Net Portal Services which provide integration identity and knowledge services that create a foundation for eBusiness applications.
Merri Mack attended BrainShare as a guest of Novell.
