I’m the network admin for a small company looking to upgrade to a new network operating system. We are currently running Novell Netware 5.0 with GroupWise 5.5 (email). I’ve been in this job for 2.5 years now, and I’ve gotten to work with both Netware and Windows NOS’s, both have their ups and downs. I’m looking for informed opinions on whether to upgrade to Netware 6 or Windows 2000/2003 server. We have about 100 users on Dell PC’s that I would have to reconfigure. The servers (email and file) are both Compaqs (Proliant and Presario), both can run either system with no trouble. A little background info on where my thoughts are:
This NOS should be easier to use than Netware 5, it can be very cryptic. The new NOS should be compatible with most applications out of the box. I can’t tell you how many times I got frustrated because a product we need either does not work with Novell at all or requires extensive configuration changes to get it to run. I have a dozen Windows servers running on workstation class machines behind me because most network apps I have will not run on a Novell server. Examples include Veritas Backup Exec, Norton Antivirus, and just about any smaller application like our payroll system. (Some apps will actually run, but need to be heavily modified first like NAV). I want to be able to buy applications and install them without calling support every 10 minutes. I know patching will be a big issue on an MS system, but I am prepared to deal with that. At least with MS the process is much easier, I find it difficult to navigate Novell’s site looking for which is the right patch to apply. As you can see I’m kind of leaning towards the MS solution, mostly because of compatility. Then again, our butts have been saved a number of times because people just don’t write viruses for Novell and GroupWise. Tough choice here. Of course money will be an issue, and I know it will be less expensive to go with Novell by purchasing an upgrade, they will almost certainly offer a discount to previous customers.
Please let me know what you think about this, especially if you have evaluated a similar situation. Thanks!
Linux and Microsoft. Use Linux for security intensive file sharing and MS for applications.
And I’m not joking. My place of work is dropping Netware in favor of this architecture.
I invite you to e-mail me or call me to discuss our architecture and what we’re doing to change it. Al lot of it depends on # of users, security concerns, viability/uptime considerations and on and on.
E-mail addy is in the profile, just make sure you put SDMB in the subject or it will get deleted without me ever seeing it.
Bong, I’m a salesman, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. However, Novel is basically history. Their market share is small and shrinking, and that means no one writes code for their networks. Heck, even a couple years ago when I worked for a mid tier ERP company, the installations with the most problems were Novel (for many reasons). Don’t upgrade but switch…
Thanks guys, Welby I’ll try and get an email to you today. Yeah, it sure does seem like Novell is on the way out, its a shame because there really aren’t many companies left to challenge MS at all.
In fact, the current rumor is that within a year or two Netware is going to be reimplemented as a set of services that will run on top of Linux. This doesn’t seem like the right time to invest in maintaining Novell stuff, though IANA networking professional.
It’s been several years since my company has run any Novell, we’re all Micro$oft, except for some unix machines here and there. Doesn’t seem like a bad thing.
Its still big in the pharmaceutical industry and in places like Japan. You may be interested to know that without exception everyone has told me to drop Novell. Everyone. And in the last few days I must have asked about 20 tech people (and posted here and elsewhere). Poor Novell…
I do Netware. And a lot of companies still do run Netware (you’d be surprised.)
7 is supposed to be Netware on top of Linux. Netware has had a Unix kernel since 5, but it will be more Linux. Novell owns a piece of RedHat. And Netware is morphing into a tool set for Linux.
Novell has been doing very well - (or at least as well as can be expected in the current IT market) - selling their directory and metadirectory - which rocks - its what I do. I have 20,000 users. As a File and Print OS, well…its still a good one, but it stopped being their strength (or their interest) several years ago. Most of the cool things in Netware are actually tied to the Directory - and the Directory is independant of Netware. So if you like iFolder, you don’t need Netware (you do, however, need their directory - on top of Linux or NT or Solaris or several other OSs)
(I also do Six Sigma, IT process stuff, SunOne directory, a little ADS - so don’t worry about my job. I actually have a full time job without the OS support, but want to keep my fingers in).
One thing to keep in mind…email switches are painful. I’d be more concerned about the email switch than the OS switch. The OS switch for a company your size should be pretty easy.
But just because “everyone” has told you to move - stay on Netware. The status quo is easier to maintain - switching will involve all sorts of short term headaches. Novell will likely be around for a long time - possible not in its current incarnation, but it isn’t going anywhere. The security headaches with Microsoft and Linux are legendary - but no one bothers with attacking poor little Netware - you can’t even find many useful hacks any more - much less a virus.
Seriously, you are more comfortable with Windows. If you are more comfortable there, I can’t really see any overwhelming reason to stay with Netware - except the short term work a switch would take and the increased security risks, which are probably not your biggest concerns. I might not move e-mail though…unless your users have already dumped the Groupwise interface for Outlook…have I mentioned email system switches are painful? Your big virus problems have more to do with the outlook/exchange address book, and keeping your email system Groupwise on Netware would reduce your security risks.