As part of the agreement, SUSE will resell Red Carpet Enterprise from Ximian - enabling customers to centrally deploy and manage software on servers and desktops running SUSE Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The companies will also offer Ximian Connector software to integrate the popular Ximian Evolution groupware suite for Linux with the SUSE Linux Openexchange server. In addition, the companies will pursue opportunities to collaborate on future Linux desktop offerings incorporating Ximian Desktop technology.
With Red Carpet Enterprise, companies automatically control and update software standards on groups of systems running SUSE Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and SUSE Linux Office Desktop. Companies using SUSE Linux Openexchange Server can install Ximian's Connector software to deploy a complete Linux client and server collaboration solution at a fraction of the cost of alternatives such as Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino.
"Red Carpet Enterprise helps our customers cost-effectively solve software management and maintenance challenges from the desktop to the data center," said Rafael Laguna, vice president, Marketing, SUSE Linux. "With Ximian Evolution and Ximian Connector our customers find the rich client experience they need to deploy an all-Linux collaboration solution centered on our SUSE Linux Openexchange Server."
"We are extremely excited to partner with SUSE to serve mutual customers worldwide," said David Patrick, president and CEO of Ximian. "On both the desktop and server, Ximian has focused on the software management and interoperability challenges to enterprise Linux adoption. Our close relationship with SUSE will help to fuel the rapid pace of Linux market growth."
Custom Software Management and Updating
Red Carpet Enterprise is a powerful server-based solution deployed behind the corporate firewall that allows companies to closely manage and maintain the Linux software deployed on groups of Linux servers and desktops across their enterprises. Through an intuitive web-based console or a powerful command line interface, administrators can schedule installation and updates of a wide variety of Linux software from Ximian, SUSE and other third-party vendors as well as internally developed applications.
Red Carpet Enterprise also provides multi-platform support, updating systems running a broad range of Linux distributions in addition to SuSE. The web-based administration console also includes flexible reporting, detailing download and installation activities.
Red Carpet Enterprise will enable companies to cut administration costs by simplifying the management and updating of systems running SUSE Linux operating systems. Through upcoming integration with SUSE own YaST and Maintenance Web technologies for delivery of SUSE software updates, Red Carpet Enterprise will allow corporate customers to customize and control the software they deploy and manage on systems running SUSE Linux 8.1 and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.
Desktop Integration with SUSE Linux Openexchange
Ximian Connector for SUSE Linux Openexchange Server will enable Linux and UNIX users of the Ximian Evolution groupware suite to manage personal information and collaborate with co-workers using Openexchange, including those on Windows PCs utilizing a web browser or Microsoft Outlook.
Ximian Evolution uniquely integrates email, calendar, contact and task list management in one powerful, fast and easy-to-use application. Ximian Evolution also provides support for key data exchange and communications standards, such as IMAP, POP, SMTP, LDAP, iCalendar and more.
The SUSE Linux Openexchange Server combines proven open source components with comprehensive software applications to offer impressive functionality, including reliable email reception, distribution, and dispatch, integrated web mail clients, smart central appointment and address management, and efficient project management and task planning tools to streamline enterprise operations. A centrally controlled document management tool and group-based discussion forums enhance the efficiency of project teams.
The Ximian Connector for Openexchange enables IT managers and system administrators to provide Ximian Evolution clients of the SUSE Openexchange Server with centralized email storage, personal calendaring, group scheduling, shared address book access, as well as task management. Openexchange users with Ximian Connector installed can define and manage email folders, propose meetings with and view free/busy time of other users, and access personal contacts and global address lists. Openexchange users benefit from an elegant interface and the full functionality of Ximian Evolution, including QuickSearch, vFolders, threaded email view, in-line text editing and synchronization with Palm handhelds.
"We're excited about the prospect of capitalizing on the functionality provided by Ximian Evolution and the collaboration functions of SUSE Openexchange, and look forward to using the new Ximian Connector to transition our user base to Openexchange in the future," said Dave Richards, systems administrator for the City of Largo, Florida. "The combination of Ximian Evolution integrated with SUSE Linux Openexchange will provide us with a powerful, user friendly and extremely cost-effective messaging and collaboration environment."
Availability
SUSE will begin offering its customers Red Carpet Enterprise in the spring as part of its "SUSE Linux Enterprise Deployment and Administration Option" pack for SUSE Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.
This summer, SUSE will ship Ximian Evolution and Ximian Connector with its SUSE Linux Openexchange server.
About Ximian, Inc.
Ximian is the leading provider of desktop and server solutions enabling enterprise Linux adoption. Ximian products, in use by over 1,000,000 people worldwide, provide the interoperability, management functionality and ease of use required to integrate Linux users and systems into mixed corporate computing environments. Ximian offers both a complete Linux desktop environment and productivity application suite and enterprise software management solutions to dramatically reduce the cost of deploying and maintaining Linux systems. Ximian founders are pioneers of the open source GNOME and Mono projects. The company has secured funding from leading venture firms Charles River Ventures and Battery Ventures. It can be reached at /linux/ximian.html.
About Novell
Novell, Inc. is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell® Nsure™), Web application development (Novell exteNd™) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise™), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell NgageSM). Active in the open source community with its Ximian and SUSE Linux brands, Novell is firmly committed to open source and offers comprehensive 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.
Novell is a registered trademarks; Nsure, exteNd and Nteprise are trademarks; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE Linux AG. * All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.