Novell Opens NetWare Services, Enabling Developers to Build True
Distributed Network Applications

Net2000 Initiative Fosters Novell Vision for a Smart Global Network

NEW YORK -- September 21, 1995 -- As part of Novell, Inc.'s Smart Global
Networking strategy, the company announced today an initiative to
establish an open set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that
will allow software developers to easily incorporate NetWareR networking
services into distributed applications. This initiative, code-named
Net2000, will result in applications that leverage Novell's strategy for
enabling a smart global network -- one that will provide information and
resources to users anytime from anyplace.

The Net2000 initiative symbolizes Novell's renewed effort to provide
greater return on investment for developers by reducing the complexity
associated with developing distributed applications. By making it easier
to build network-aware applications, Net2000 will significantly grow the
market for those products and services. Through the initiative,
independent software vendors (ISVs) will gain entr#e into two massive
markets: Novell's present 50 million NetWare users and a future global
network base of hundreds of millions of users.

"To achieve our vision of a single global network, the barriers to
application development must be greatly reduced. The network
infrastructure must become invisible to the software developer," said
Sheldon Laube, chief technology officer for Novell, Inc. "We are committed
to providing developers with interfaces, tools and services that will
transparently distribute application components throughout the network.
Net2000 is the first step toward this vision."

Novell Distributed Network APIs Components

The Novell Net2000 initiative benefits both developers and end users. With
Net2000, developers can easily build all types of client and server
applications using a universal set of APIs to tightly integrate network
applications with distributed services across multiple platforms. The APIs
also extend access to NetWare services to heterogeneous environments,
enabling network administrators to have a single global view of their
network and services, including third-party solutions. Network users will
also benefit from the initiative, gaining access to network and enterprise
services through applications regardless of resource location or
underlying network infrastructure. The initiative will effectively lower
development barriers to building and implementing true distributed network
applications.

To provide software developers with easy application access to network
services, Net2000 will provide:

* Comprehensive and Integrated Network Service Interfaces: Net2000 APIs
will offer a rich set of network service interfaces to build truly
distributed applications. These service interfaces will expose the core
NetWare services of directory (NetWare Directory Services [NDS]),
security, administration and management, messaging, licensing, object
transaction, application management, communications and backup and storage
as well as advanced new services such as Novell's Advanced File System
(NAFS), Novell's Distributed Print Services (NDPS), NetWare database
services, NetWare host connectivity services and NetWare remote access
services. Applications written to existing NetWare APIs will continue to
be supported as Novell delivers the new APIs.

* Integration with Leading Development Tools: Net2000 will integrate with a
broad range of industry leading development tools from Visual C++, Borland
C++ and other C++ environments to 4GL tools such as Visual Basic, Delphi
and PowerBuilder.

* Multiple Programming Models and Interfaces Support: Net2000 APIs support
a variety of programming models including both object- and
procedural-based methodologies. Novell will provide developers with
Net2000 C APIs, as well as easy-to-use Net2000 objects. For example,
Net2000 interfaces will be available through a set of Novell-developed
OLE/COM objects for Windows-based clients. On other platforms, Novell will
deliver objects through existing interfaces such as CORBA.

* Tight Integration with the Desktop: Net2000 is tightly integrated with
desktop environments, providing native support for OLE/COM, Win32, and
other desktop paradigms on OS/2 and Macintosh.

* Heterogeneous Platform Support: Net2000 is specifically designed to
support a consistent set of interfaces across heterogeneous client
platforms including Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT, OS/2, Macintosh,
HP-UX and SCO-Unix. Server platform support will include NetWare,
UnixWareR, HP-UX, SCO-Unix and Windows NT Server.

* Consistent and Efficient Programming: Net2000 interfaces are designed for
consistency and ease-of-use, allowing developers to master a single set of
APIs for quick access to multiple network services across various
platforms.

* Flexible and Extensible Architecture: The Net2000 initiative goes beyond
Microsoft's "WOSA" concept by allowing multiple service providers for
networks as opposed to just desktops. These service providers will define
and publish value to the network through a consistent interface
architecture underneath Net2000.

* Transport Independence: Net2000 interfaces are inherently transport
independent and will support many network protocols including TCP/IP,
SPX/IPX and ATM.

* Net2000 Developer Support Program

Novell's Net2000 initiative represents a turning point for the company,
reinforcing its commitment to development partners. To support the
initiative, Novell is expanding its existing directory services ISV
program to strengthen development partner relationships. The NetWare
Directory Assistance program, designed to further Novell's industry-
standard NDS, will become the basis for the company's upcoming Net2000
developer assistance program incorporating both developer and marketing
support. In addition, Net2000 ISV partnership efforts will integrate with
Novell's DeveloperNet programs, affording ISVs a new level of support from
the industry's network leader.

Availability

Novell will hold a Net2000 development partner conference this winter to
provide ISVs with specific information about the Net2000 APIs. Throughout
the spring, Novell's DeveloperNet program will include more in-depth
technical briefings for early adopters. The Net2000 Interface will be
available as a pre-release software developer's kit in late spring 1996.
The 22,000 development partners already writing NDS-aware applications
using Novell's NetWare 4.1 SDK are immediately eligible for inclusion in
the forthcoming Net2000 program. The applications they develop today will
be fully supported using the new APIs. Developers interested in additional
information about the Net2000 APIs should call Novell at 1-800-REDWORD.
 
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