Novell：深入探究这个概念到底是什么

Novell, Inc. is one of the most powerful network system companies in the world. Its main product, the NETWARE network operating system, can connect multiple personal computers into a unified network integrating directories, storage, printing, databases, etc. Other products under Novell include SUSE, a Linux operating system popular in Europe, network management software - Zenworks, integration tools, file directory service products, etc.

Novell was among the first companies to get involved in network operating systems. In 1981, Novell put forward the concept of a file server. From 1982 to 1994, under the leadership of its president Raymond Noorda (1924 - 2006), Novell created a glorious chapter in the history of network operating systems. He also led the company to compete with Microsoft. In 1983, Novell began to launch the Netware operating system, which once dominated the network operating system market, accounting for 70% of the market share.

There are many versions of the Netware operating system, and the main representative ones are: Netware 3.11 SFT Ⅲ, Netware 3.12, Netware 4.1, Netware 4.11, IntranetWare, as well as Netware 5 and Netware 6. In the past, its advantages included low requirements for network hardware, compatibility with DOS commands, a similar application environment to DOS, rich application software support, and perfect and reliable technology, for example, its advantages in the construction of diskless workstations at that time.

In the late 1990s, due to the company's strategic mistakes, the market share of Netware gradually decreased. Today, Novell is still an important software company. It has acquired many small companies. Especially after acquiring SUSE in 2003, it began to shift to a new Linux - based strategy. Its main products include SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time, SUSE Linux Enterprise Thin Client, etc.