Why stay with Netware?

1)Training-While it is a big leap from 3.12/bindery to 5.x/NDS, it is a huge chasm to switch to NT
2)Maturity-NDS is a STABLE, time-tested mature platform that has been around for years
3)Resources-I have seen customers switch from Netware serverswith Pentium 150-200 & 64MB to NT servers with PIII 800's, 256MB ram and the performance of file & print services is nowhere close to the old netware server.

If your app is a SQL database or something else that requires Processing at the server, Yes NT may be better and sometimes the only choice, but I have also heard software vendors say their product only runs on NT when in fact all it requires is file access (installed to the server, but processing is done on the workstation like a serverinstall of an office suite)-in this case the superiority of Netware's file sharing will far outperform the same app on an NT server.

As far as the stability of Novell right now, consider the absolute worst case scenario-Novell closes tomorrow! Will Netware disappear instantly? There is a huge installed base that will need support for many years to come
There are thousands more points good and bad for either OS, but space is limited.

Greg Beckmeyer
CNE, MCNE, MCSE

The reply of "grbeckmeyer" is absolutely the truth, with great insight! Please, no points for me, because he answered so correctly. He is certified both in Microsoft, and NetWare. That says a lot in itself. You will find that for individuals whom know little about Netware, they can be quite negative about the product. I wonder where it comes from, but it does. I am a CNE5, and working on my MCSE. At the work place, we use both NetWare 5.1 and NT. Our workstations are all NT. It is true, that NTdoes some things much better, such as running applications. But for file and print services, NetWare is simply in command of that arena.
From an Administration point, if you switch to Microsoft, you best get ready to work through several individualapplications to administrate it. If your network is fairly large, Netware can really shine. You might as well tell accounting that you will need to hire additional network administrators to administrate MS, if the switch is made. Security in NT is loose compared to Netware, and virus writers have been having a hay day with MS products lately . We still use "Groupwise 5.5", and were unaffected by the Love letter, or Melissa virus which hit MS products here a few Months ago. Our shop does not disagree as to "Which" to use, NT or Netware. We simply use both, and get the best of both Worlds. You can also tie Netware in with NT using the NetWare for NT product, and with the new ZEN works product, Network Administration has simply taken on a newdimension. Everything from remote control of every PC from the NW Administrator, to policies which can lock down the NT workstation desktop properties. It is all there. Now Novell has a great web server too. Who else would be better at delivering files to the web, than the folks that have been delivering high speed file access for years now. Too bad more folks don't understand it, and Novell does not market a little better.

Stability - As a network base Novell leads the way in uptime and reliability. Over NT but behind Unix.

Services - Novell has improved their DHCP and NAMED(DNS) services.

NDS-Security and Enterprise Integration.
NDS allows you as the administrator a single point of administration over your entire network. With optional products such as NDS for NT, NDS for Solairs, NDS for Linux, NDS for HP/UX installed an administrator can use one interface to provide access and services to network clients. I believe the product has been remarketed as NDS corporate edition(s).

Keep in mind that planning to move from 3x to 5x requires a pentium class processor and
additional RAM over the minim for 3.x.

Also note that many companies run a combination of O/S platforms to achieve corporate goals. Netware is a stable network base with good integration abilities,
NT is a very good application platform and the two can be combined to work very well together.

Also, plan.. plan.. plan..
things to consider...
centralized enterprise backup?
dedicated print server(s)?
IP Management and Conversion... 5.x can be run in an IP only environment! If you decide.
3.x-5.x conversion process..
etc. etc. etc.

Good luck,
Hope this helps.

Frank K.
CNA 3.x 4.x (5.x CNE in progress)

I agree with all the above answers. We run Novell 5.1 and are very happy with it. NDS is maturing into a very stable, flexable product. Also NDS is avaiable for many platforms including Linux, and NT. Plans are in the works for Netware to be a better application server, but we have several NT boxes on the Novell network serving apps and with NDS for NT they integrate well. Try to integrate a NetWare box into a NT/2000 system (or Linux) it is not happening.

Also look at the costs associated with both products you will find Netware is a better value. Please consider like products and include all Licencing required for the NT/2000 box(Server and User). Also you will be eligable for upgrade pricing to NetWare 5.1......What ever system you go with plan your tree out with great care. Once you start it and progress down the road it get harder and harder to change......Good Luck....Chuck

All comments were helpful, I messed up with the assigning of points. SORRY!!!!!
Thanks again for your help