December 9, 1996 10 AM ET

IntranetWare gains better Java support, Web server
By Lisa Wirthman

  Novell Inc. this week will beef up its IntranetWare with added Java support and World Wide Web enhancements in an effort to make the network operating system less proprietary and more in line with the Internet.

Novell will announce new Java capabilities, an enhanced Web server, early-access technologies and a scaled-down version of the network operating system for small-business users, officials said. The enhancements will be announced at the Internet World show in New York.

As part of the rollout, Novell will release to general availability the Java Software Developer's Kit for IntranetWare, said Gary Mueller, vice president of corporate developer relations for Novell, in Provo, Utah.

The Java SDK includes IntranetWare implementations of Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Java Virtual Machine and just-in-time compilers, Mueller said. The SDK also features an early-access version of Java-class libraries that will enable developers to create NDS (Novell Directory Services) applications using Java.

"It's a one-two punch," said Dave Clare, senior director of product management in Novell's Developer Technology Group. "First we have Java fully implemented on the IntranetWare platform, and then we use Java to expose our directory interfaces to developers."

General availability of the Java-class libraries will be released in a 1.0 version at Novell's Brainshare developer conference next spring, Mueller said.

Also due by Brainshare are ActiveX controls for NDS, he said.

In addition, Novell will deliver an IntranetWare implementation of Sun's Java Workshop development tools to users by early next year, Mueller said.

"Java is the future direction for IntranetWare," in both clients and servers, said Mueller. The Java Virtual Machine will be integrated into IntranetWare by next spring, he added. However, Novell plans to retain its NLM (NetWare Loadable Module) development environment, which developers have complained is too proprietary and hard to use.

"NLMs will be around for quite some time," Mueller said, "We're not retreating from that at all."

However, that's just what Novell needs to do to deliver a true intranet platform, according to Craig Burton, a principal of the Burton Group, based in Salt Lake City.

"The Java Virtual Machine in IntranetWare doesn't fix problems" when Novell still has system-level applications that are NLMs, Burton said.

Other IntranetWare announcements at Internet World will include the following:

  • availability of early-access technologies for IntranetWare, including an alpha version of the Novell Services Interface;
  • Version 3.0 of the Novell WebServer, which offers links to NDS and is integrated into IntranetWare; and
  • the launch of a new scaled-down version of IntranetWare customized for small-business users dubbed "Kayak." Kayak will likely include preloaded, preconfigured servers and built-in Internet access and licensing controls, officials said.

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