Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Novell Inc. (NOVL) announced Tuesday that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) have become their latest customer. Wal-Mart is expect to begin using Novell's SUSE Linux; Novell will provide support for the software. Microsoft further agreed to pay for and distribute certificates redeemable for SUSE support – Novell has so far received 35,000 three-year certificates. The two companies' collaboration on Linux and Windows started in November and consists of improving the interoperability of Windows and SUSE. Microsoft and Novell also agreed to provide patent coverage for each other's customers.
Wal-Mart Chief Technology Officer Nancy Stewart stated that she plans to use both Windows & Suse to better make use of hardware capacity. The machines will take advantage of virtualization software designed to allow the two operating systems to share computer resources. Wal-Mart also wants to use the dual operating systems in small stores it operates in Mexico, and South and Central America, Stewart said. The company expects the two operating systems to work flawlessly together, she said, referring to the promise of the agreement.
Link: Forum Discussion (Thanks Markjensen)
News source: Market Watch
Wal-Mart Chief Technology Officer Nancy Stewart stated that she plans to use both Windows & Suse to better make use of hardware capacity. The machines will take advantage of virtualization software designed to allow the two operating systems to share computer resources. Wal-Mart also wants to use the dual operating systems in small stores it operates in Mexico, and South and Central America, Stewart said. The company expects the two operating systems to work flawlessly together, she said, referring to the promise of the agreement.
Link: Forum Discussion (Thanks Markjensen) News source: Market Watch
my company and most companies that I have worked at are pure MS Shops..wise moves
Indeed they have been and still are a somewhat major player in the IT industry. While most of the companies that I've worked with are pure Microsoft, I've encountered several companies that are a mix of both Novell and Microsoft technology.
Unfortunately, a lot of people do believe that they've long been dead due to the fact they've not hand much of a hand in the home consumer market.
Most companies are not pure 'this' or pure 'that'. Technology tools are just that, tools. If you are blinded by brand names or make decisions based on something as shallow as company loyalty, then you are selling yourself way short. You need to use the best tool for the job no matter who makes it. It doesn't sound like you've been around very long and/or worked for very insightful companies (or at least ones w/ IT areas worth a grain of salt).
My current employer is one of the largest MS Gold Certified Partners in the world, but thankfully I'm not hamstrung into only using MS products. I'm allowed the freedom to find the correct tool for the job. In my relatively long tenure in the IT industry, it's my opinion that this is how successful IT divisions are run.
...And BTW - We use Novell SuSE on our Oce' high-speed commercial print servers. This is just one of the industry sectors where Novell is strong and MS doesn't even have a tool to offer.
How does Novell have a right to patent rights of anything they didn't create? Most, if not all, of the kernel/software in SUSE was not created by them.
I just don't get it.
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