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Europe's Unix vendors cheer Novell/USL deal - Unix Systems Laboratories Inc

Software Magazine, March, 1993 by George Black

Suppliers say hardware-independent Unix fortifies their ability to repel Windows NT

European software and hardware vendors of Unix systems believe that Novell, Inc.'s proposed acquisition of Unix System Laboratories (USL) will help them present a united front against the challenge from Microsoft's Windows NT (New Technology).

Although Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash., has remained evasive about the details of Windows NT, it will probably not be a replacement for Windows on standard 386 desktop PCs. Rather, it is likely to aim at more powerful 486 or equivalent workstations and smaller servers. This is Unix's heartland.

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Differences between Unix suppliers and the variety of versions have slowed Unix's progress. Until now, this did not matter much as there was no obvious competition. However, the prospect of Windows NT puts pressure on Unix suppliers to form a coherent strategy.

In Europe, most Unix suppliers were encouraged by Provo, Utah-based Novell's $350 million acquisition of Summit, N.J.-based USL from AT&T. They think the deal will strengthen their ability to repel Windows NT. The suppliers maintain that under Morristown, N.J.-based AT&T, which owns computer maker NCR Corp., Unix could not be seen as hardware-independent. Under Novell's wing it can. USL's System V Release 4 (SRV4) will thus gain strength as an industry standard.

Novell now has to justify the suppliers' optimism and banish any underlying doubts of the estimated 30 million users that Unix will remain an open system.

Ben Smith, U.K. managing director for Novell, in Bracknell, U.K., talked of a drive to "purify" Unix that would aim to create a single target for developers and remove user doubts about openness.

One of Novell's major challenges is to harmonize Unix and encourage those suppliers with their own variants, such as Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mountain View, Calif., and The Santa Cruz Operation (SCO), Santa Cruz, Calif., to come closer in line. Novell is also expected to concentrate on promoting a desktop Unix through its Univel subsidiary in San Jose, Calif.

Unix suppliers are moving to fend off the threat from Windows NT -- even before it materializes -- with a raft of products aimed at the desktop, such as those from USL, Sun and SCO.

As many users plan to move to a client/server structure, two battlefields are emerging -- the server and client arenas. Some industry observers see Unix dominating highend servers. Unix supports multiprocessors as well as different chips, and offers the ability to cope with transaction processing. At this level Microsoft will find it hard to make any impact on Unix turf.

Smaller servers, however, increasingly use Novell's NetWare, which leading database vendors such as Oracle Corp., Redwood Shores, Calif., and Informix Software, Inc., Menlo Park, Calif., have adopted. Windows NT could make inroads into Unix ground here, but is more likely to clash with NetWare.

Until recently, Microsoft and Novell contended that Windows NT and NetWare would work at different levels and therefore complement, rather than conflict with, each other. However, that amicable relationship is rapidly breaking up.

At the client level, Microsoft won the first battle with Windows, but the war itself must still be fought. Unix and OS/2 have gained a stronger position, so there will be a three-way struggle among Unix, Windows NT and IBM's OS/2.

Windows NT's first target must be to halt the progress of OS/2 is beginning to build support among larger developers in traditional IBM sites. IBM's credibility depends heavily on making OS/2 a success, but to do so it must convince users that it has a place in an open systems world. More than 1,000 applications for OS/2 were available by January, according to IBM.

Most enthusiastic about the Novell/USL deal is the 300-company-strong consortium Unix International, based in Parsippany, N.J., with European headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Pat Arundel, UI's marketing director, described the deal as "the best thing that's happened to Unix for years." UI has an agreement with Novell waiting to be signed, which is intended to ensure the evolution of Unix in line with industry requirements. This agreement is dependent on USL's shareholders approving the Novell acquisition of the company.

Arundel said the deal will end the struggle between AT&T and IBM over versions of Unix. "Harmonization of Unix was unachievable while AT&T was Unix's owner." Novell will market Unix much more aggressively than AT&T, she forecasted, and will give Microsoft a much stronger challenge.

Arundel also believes that Novell will be able to smooth over the differences between Univel's Unixware and Sun's Solaris so that they do not compete head-on.

The Santa Cruz Operation does not completely share the other vendors' enthusiasm for Novell's acquisition of USL. SCO's European business development manager Steve Spill, in Watford, U.K., is neutral about the Novell/USL deal and said it is too early to be sure about it. "It has the potential to be excellent or a disaster. Unix is better placed to solve users' problems than Windows NT. But if the deal doesn't work and there are new arguments between Unix suppliers, then Microsoft could walk all over Unix."

Technology Industry

Europe's Unix vendors cheer Novell/USL deal - Unix Systems Laboratories Inc

Software Magazine, March, 1993 by George Black

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