Novell Supports Xen Virtualization at BMW Group

WALTHAM, Mass., June 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Novell today announced that the BMW Group is using SUSE(R) Linux Enterprise Server from Novell(R) with integrated Xen* virtualization software to implement virtualized workloads in its data center, thus reducing hardware costs and simplifying deployment. After extensive testing by BMW IT Research Center staff in North America and Germany, the automobile manufacturer is going to deploy virtualized data center solutions using SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 with the open source Xen hypervisor on x86 servers using dual-core processors with Intel* Virtualization Technology.

According to BMW, Xen virtualization technology built into SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 will allow the company to increase flexibility in managing server life cycles. BMW will also gain operational and cost advantages in other areas, in addition to having a flatter support structure through the integrated operating system and virtualization layer. Hardware resources can be more efficiently used through server consolidation, and BMW is able to cluster virtual servers and migrate them live from one physical server to another as needed. The company is also currently evaluating Novell ZENworks(R) Orchestrator as a way to manage the resulting virtual data center systems.

"The BMW Group is taking advantage of what the market is just discovering, that Xen open source virtualization software fully integrated in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is a viable alternative to proprietary virtualization solutions, providing high performance at a lower cost," said Roger Levy, vice president and general manager of Open Platform Solutions for Novell. "Integration ensures all pieces of the solution work well together, and as is the case with open source software, it eliminates vendor lock-in and enhances customer choice."

The next-generation platform for the open enterprise, SUSE Linux Enterprise is the best-engineered, lowest-cost and most interoperable platform for enterprise computing, from the desktop to the data center. For more information on SUSE Linux Enterprise offerings from Novell, visit http://www.novell.com/linux. For more on how customers around the globe are leveraging Novell solutions, visit http://www.novell.com/success.

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers infrastructure software for the Open Enterprise. Novell is a leader in enterprise-wide operating systems based on Linux* and open source and provides the enterprise management services required to operate mixed IT environments. Novell helps customers minimize cost, complexity and risk, allowing them to focus on innovation and growth. For more information, visit http://www.novell.com.

Novell, SUSE and ZENworks are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.