Novell Business Continuity Clustering Automates Disaster Recovery Preparation

- Built on Novell Cluster Services and NetWare 6.5, its ability to manage

up to 128 clustered servers gives even largest enterprises peace of

mind WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) today announced the availability of Novell(R) Business Continuity Clustering 1.0, software that automates the configuration and management of high-availability, geographically dispersed clustered-server solutions, protecting key business systems against site downtime and disasters. Built on Novell Cluster Services(TM) 1.7 and NetWare(R) 6.5, Business Continuity Clustering ensures that in the event of an isolated server problem or severe data center calamity, customers' systems continue to function normally and without interruption.

Novell Business Continuity Clustering connects and synchronizes a "cluster of clusters" -- two to four server clusters with up to 32 servers per cluster, which are often located at separate geographic sites. If a data center's cluster goes offline for any reason, the other clusters assume its workload to ensure nonstop, seamless user access to mission-critical data and resources.

"I can't think of a business today that can afford network downtime, and users certainly can't prevent every cause of network outages," said Chris Stone, Novell vice chairman -- Office of the CEO. "With the ability to easily manage and configure up to 128 clustered server nodes, even the largest enterprises can have peace of mind that if a data center is damaged or goes offline indefinitely, they can continue to meet customer demands, maintain a Web presence and keep on conducting business."

While the market offers a variety of high-availability and failover services, only Novell Business Continuity Clustering 1.0 is integrated with an enterprise-caliber directory, Novell eDirectory(TM). With one click, customers can migrate services, configurations and other essential data from one data center cluster to another. These services may be server-based applications and databases (Novell GroupWise(R), Apache, MySQL*, PHP and other J2EE* Web applications) and those using native file access protocols of client workstations, including Novell, Windows*, UNIX*, Linux*, Macintosh*, Web and Internet clients and servers.

Kuldeep Sandhu, executive vice president of storage solutions for Xiotech, said, "Many companies have already built and deployed geographically mirrored data centers leveraging the benefits of Xiotech's Magnitude 3D clustered storage and Novell Cluster Services. Now, with the introduction of Novell's Business Continuity Clustering, companies can easily manage multiple cluster sites and automate the failover process between them with no loss of data or application services." Pricing and Availability

Novell Business Continuity Clustering 1.0 is now available through Novell Authorized Resellers(SM) and solution providers for a suggested $9,995 for customers without a Novell maintenance contract. The software requires NetWare 6.5 Support Pack 2 or later and licenses for four or more nodes of Novell Cluster Services 1.7.

Business Continuity Clustering is part of Novell Nterprise(TM), a set of services that improve communication, simplify and automate network management, and allow workers to be productive regardless of location, device or platform. For more information, visit http://www.novell.com/bcc . About Novell

Novell, Inc. is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell Nsure(TM)), Web application development (Novell exteNd(TM)) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell Ngage(SM)). Active in the open source community with its Ximian(R) and SUSE(R) LINUX brands, Novell provides a full range of Linux products and services for the enterprise, from the desktop to the server. Novell's vision of one Net -- a world without information boundaries -- helps customers realize the value of their information securely and economically. For more information, call Novell's Customer Response Center at 888-321-4CRC (4272) or visit http://www.novell.com . Press should visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom . NOTE: Novell, NetWare, GroupWise and Ximian are registered trademarks; eDirectory, Nsure, exteNd, Novell Cluster Services and Nterprise are trademarks; and Ngage and Novell Authorized Reseller are service marks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE LINUX AG, a Novell business. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.