Novell Announces Broad Collaboration with VMware to Build SUSE Linux Enterprise Appliances on VMware ESX

Novell today announced a broad collaboration with VMware to help independent software vendors (ISVs) build fully supported SUSE® Linux Enterprise-based virtual appliances. This joint collaboration offers ISVs using VMware Studio a free evaluation redistribution of appliances built on fully supported SUSE Linux Enterprise, a unique offering that helps them streamline and simplify the process of creating virtual appliances. In addition, the companies are jointly working with ISVs to develop VMware Ready™ virtual appliances powered by SUSE Linux Enterprise. As a result, ISVs can offer their customers a complete, out-of-the-box solution that requires minimal installation and configuration, thus significantly reducing cost and complexity.

With VMware Studio, ISVs can use VMware-based tools to build an appliance optimized for the VMware ESX platform. VMware Studio complements Novell’s own SUSE Studio, which will enable ISVs to build appliances powered by SUSE Linux Enterprise and optimized for multiple platforms, including VMware ESX.

"VMware is helping thousands of enterprises do more with less by reducing complexity, improving the manageability of data centers, and reducing capital and operating costs,” said Parag Patel, vice president of alliances for VMware. "VMware is delighted to work with Novell to help customers transform their IT infrastructures. Both companies have made investments that provide customers with better performance, scalability, timekeeping, and security when using SUSE Linux Enterprise Server in VMware virtual machines or for developing virtual appliances. As more and more customers seek to achieve full virtualization, including mission-critical applications such as SAP, we expect our collaboration to yield increasing value.”

Zmanda is one of the first independent software vendors to bring VMware appliances powered by SUSE Linux Enterprise to market. The Zmanda appliance will soon be available in VMware’s Virtual Appliance Marketplace.

"We are very excited about bringing Zmanda Backup Appliance powered by SUSE Linux Enterprise to the market through the VMware Virtual Appliance Marketplace,” said Chander Kant, CEO of Zmanda. "This appliance will dramatically reduce the complexity of backup operation for system administrators. By making our open source backup solutions available through a streamlined, out-of-the box distribution built on SUSE Linux Enterprise and optimized for the VMware ESX hypervisor, our engineers will need to spend less time on installation and maintenance issues and more time on product innovation and building true value for our customers.”

Novell also announced today a broad collaboration agreement with VMware to deliver SUSE Linux Enterprise Server as a fully supported and optimized guest operating system running on VMware ESX, the industry-leading hypervisor. The two companies have signed a cooperative support agreement that enables Novell to provide enhanced support for customers running SUSE Linux Enterprise Server as a guest on VMware ESX. In addition to Novell’s customary virtualization-friendly subscription model, Novell is offering a limited time pricing promotion that gives an additional financial incentive to customers seeking to benefit from the companies’ collaboration.

"VMware is a critical virtualization partner for Novell, and we are excited by our ongoing collaboration to jointly develop solutions for the virtual appliance market,” said Markus Rex, acting senior vice president and general manager of the Novell Open Platform Solutions business unit. "With enhanced support for SUSE Linux Enterprise running as a fully optimized guest on VMware ESX, our offer of a free evaluation redistribution of SUSE Linux Enterprise through VMware Studio, and our joint support for virtual appliances based on SUSE Linux Enterprise, we now have a unique, market-leading offer for our customers.”

In addition, Novell, VMware and SAP are collaborating to deliver support for SAP customers migrating from Unix to VMware virtualized SUSE Linux Enterprise. Launching March 18 via a joint webinar, this solution meets the demand for a cost effective and agile solution to support core business systems.

"Novell is pleased to be working closely with VMware and SAP to optimize SUSE Linux Enterprise for mission critical computing in the Data Center,” said Susan Heystee, Novell vice president for Global Strategic Alliances.

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers the best engineered, most interoperable Linux platform and a portfolio of integrated IT management software that helps customers around the world reduce cost, complexity and risk. With our infrastructure software and ecosystem of partnerships, Novell harmoniously integrates mixed IT environments, allowing people and technology to work as one. For more information, visit www.novell.com.

Novell and SUSE are registered trademarks and PartnerNet is a registered service mark of Novell Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.