Novell has announced Zero Effort Networks (Z.E.N.works), a directory-based tool that simplifies the process of accessing and managing network resources. Using Novell Directory Services (NDS), Z.E.N.works creates a digital persona for each user on the network. This digital persona associates preferences, such as desktop configuration and printer drivers, with an individual user profile rather than with a specific workstation. As a result, users can access network resources they need regardless of which workstation they are using, and they can access these resources using their preferred desktop interface.
In addition to making networks easier to use, Z.E.N.works makes networks easier to manage in three ways:
You can download the open beta version of Z.E.N.works from http://www.novell.com/products/nds/zenworks. If you live in the United States, you can also order the open beta version of Z.E.N.works on CD-ROM for U.S. $25. (If you live outside the United States, you must contact your local Novell sales office to purchase this CD-ROM.)
Z.E.N.works, which supports Windows NT, Windows 95, and Windows 3.1, will be available later this year. If you have purchased ManageWise and have set up a maintenance contract with Novell, you will receive Z.E.N.works for free. And if you use NDS, you will receive a free Z.E.N.works starter pack that provides limited application and workstation management capabilities.
For more information about Z.E.N.works, see the related article. You can also visit Novell's World-Wide Web site (http://www.novell.com/products/nds/zenworks), or you can call 1-800-NETWARE or 1-801-861-5588.
Novell is now shipping intraNetWare for SAA 3, the latest version of Novell's LAN-to-host connectivity solution. With intraNetWare for SAA 3, you can access IBM host resources over your company's intraNetWare or NetWare network.
Because intraNetWare for SAA 3 is fully integrated with NDS, you can manage the intraNetWare for SAA gateway from a central location. You can even manage this gateway from a remote location by using a web browser-based administration utility and a software configuration utility, both of which come with intraNetWare for SAA 3.
IntraNetWare for SAA 3 also includes HostPrint 2, which allows you to print documents stored on an IBM host directly to any network printer. Like intraNetWare for SAA 3, Host- Print 2 is fully integrated with NDS.
In addition, intraNetWare for SAA 3 provides improved protocol support. For example, intraNetWare for SAA 3 supports Novell's new Service Location Protocol (SLP), which is designed for use with NetWare 5. SLP, which consumes significantly less bandwidth than Service Advertising Protocol (SAP), allows servers to dynamically locate the resources in a TCP/IP environment, including intraNetWare for SAA gateways. With SLP, you can use third-party products that optimize the performance of LAN-to-host connections and ensure continuous access to IBM host resources.
IntraNetWare for SAA 3 also offers enhanced support for IBM's Systems Network Architecture (SNA) protocol, thus enabling the network for high-performance routing (HPR), advanced peer-to-peer network (APPN) node, and end-node communications. These communications provide faster and more reliable access to IBM host resources.
Finally, intraNetWare for SAA 3 offers enhanced TCP/IP support. As a result, if one intraNetWare for SAA gateway fails, this gateway uses TCP/IP to direct users to an alternate intraNetWare for SAA gateway.
You can purchase intraNetWare for SAA 3 from your local Novell authorized reseller. For more information about intraNetWare for SAA 3, visit Novell's web site (http://www.novell.com/products/host). You can also call 1-800-NETWARE or 1-801-861-5588.
Novell has announced that Vinca's StandbyServer is now part of the Novell product line. StandbyServer, which supports NetWare 3.12, NetWare 4, and intraNetWare, is a software-based solution that allows you to mirror data between servers. In the event of a hardware or software failure on the primary server, StandbyServer seamlessly routes traffic to the standby server, thus eliminating server downtime.
You can purchase StandbyServer through your local Novell authorized reseller, and you can download a 30-day trial version from http://www.vinca.com/forms/nwoto.html. For more information about StandbyServer, visit Novell's web site (http://www.novell.com/products/clusters/sbs.html). You can also call 1-800-NETWARE or 1-801-861-5588.
NetWare Connection, April 1998, p.43