Novells

Novells refers to the legacy of Novell, Inc., a U.S. software company known for enterprise networking and, later, its involvement in Linux distributions through the SUSE acquisition. The company was founded in 1979 by Ray Noorda and was headquartered in Utah. It rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s with NetWare, a network operating system that shaped LAN infrastructures for many organizations. Novell Directory Services (NDS), introduced in the late 1980s, evolved into eDirectory and became a cornerstone of its directory and identity management tools. The company also produced GroupWise, a messaging and collaboration platform, and ZENworks, a desktop and systems management product.

In 2003, Novell acquired the SUSE Linux distribution, marking a shift toward open‑source software and enterprise Linux. SUSE became a core component of Novell’s strategy for cross‑platform solutions involving identity, directory services, and management. In 2011, Novell was acquired by The Attachmate Group; SUSE remained with Attachmate and, after Attachmate’s 2014 acquisition by Micro Focus International, became part of Micro Focus’s portfolio. The Novell brand gradually receded as its business units were absorbed by successor companies.

Impact: NetWare and NDS/eDirectory were influential in the era of centralized directory services and networked computing. Although Novell ceased to operate as an independent company, its technology lineage persists through eDirectory, GroupWise heritage, and SUSE Linux, which continue under Micro Focus and its subsidiary structures.