Novell to make SUSE Linux open-source

China Martens   Today’s Top Stories    or  Other Operating Systems Stories  

Bringing Order and Security to your Mobile Workforce: Corporate Mobility Policy and Device Management Virtualization: HP's approach to solving customers needs Reduce Cost and Increase Efficiency with Grid Computing Sign up to receive Security Resource Alerts

August 03, 2005 (IDG News Service) -- Novell Inc. is planning to open up a version of its SUSE Linux operating system to users and developers, unveiling its OpenSUSE project at the LinuxWorld show next week in San Francisco, a company executive confirmed today.
"We're making OpenSUSE available for anyone, anywhere," said Greg Mancusi-Ungaro, marketing director for Linux and open source at Novell. "We've learned from customers that it's still very, very hard to get Linux unless you're a technical user."
Novell will brand its SUSE Linux Professional flavor as SUSE Linux and will make the operating system open-source. The company will host those efforts at a new Web site, www.opensuse.org, which has not yet been launched, according to Mancusi-Ungaro. "We're moving from a closed model, where the code was tested in-house, to a completely open and transparent model," where developers will have access to the source code and their input will be welcomed, he added.
At LinuxWorld, Novell will release its first public beta of SUSE Linux Version 10.0, Mancusi-Ungaro said. Next year, the company intends to establish a public-code repository and a public-build server for the open-source operating system, he said.
Novell is hoping to substantially increase the distribution of SUSE Linux in a marketing push dubbed the "Lizard Blizzard," after SUSE's lizard mascot, Mancusi-Ungaro said. The company plans to distribute "many thousands of copies" of the operating system at LinuxWorld and will be making more copies available at other trade shows and in magazines where SUSE Linux is likely to have the most appeal, he added.
Mancusi-Ungaro said Novell's move to open-source SUSE is different from the approach taken by rival Linux operating system vendor Red Hat Inc. with its Fedora project.
"Fedora's a really good open-source project. It's grown and become more independent [with the June establishment of the Fedora Foundation], but it has an inward focus with [a community of] technical users," he said. "OpenSUSE has a different goal; it's all about end-user success. We have to develop something that's so usable that it can be deployed by someone who's not technical."

Reprinted with permission from

For more news from IDG visit IDG.net
Story copyright 2006 International Data Group. All rights reserved.

Print this Story

Send Us Feedback

E-mail this Story

Digg this Story

Slashdot this Story

"It's IT Blogwatch: in which billionaire investor Carl Icahn starts a proxy fight to restart the Microsoft/Yahoo merger talks. Not..." Read more... Read more Operating Systems posts or See all Blogs

HP confirms XP SP3 endless reboot snafu, promises patch Yahoo tells Icahn that its own board knows best Tools circulate that crack Debian, Ubuntu keys More top stories...

Former Microsoft manager offers free fix for XP SP3 'endless reboot' Can Icahn take on the Yahoo board and win? Elgan: Hyperconnectivity: Friend or foe?

Shuttle Columbia's hard drive data recovered from crash site Specialists have retrieved about 99% of the data on a disk drive on board the crashed space shuttle Columbia. Don't miss the photographs of the recovered drive. The top 15 vaporware products of all time These big ideas were supposed to revolutionize technology, but they never actually appeared. In a few cases, you'll be glad they didn't. Opinion: Malware vs. anti-malware, 20 years into the fray Nearly 20 years after the first Internet worm, Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols takes stock of the malware/anti-malware landscape and spotlights how the two sides are approaching the battle. Leopard at six months: Does it live up to the early hype? Though some thought it was released too soon, Mac OS X 10.5 has matured into a solid operating system, says reviewer Michael DeAgonia. Windows Vista A to Z Reviews, analyses, how-tos, visual tours, hot issues and predictions about Microsoft's new OS. More Continuing Coverage After 9/11: Homeland SecurityAsk a Premier 100 IT LeaderBlackBerry Legal BattleData Security BreachesElectronic VotingFirefoxH-1B VisasHP's Boardroom ScandalHandheld DevicesHurricane Katrina AftermathMicrosoft Legal IssuesMicrosoft's VistaOpen SourceRFID TechnologySCO's Linux FightSarbanes-Oxley ActSpamVoice Over IPWi-FiWindows Meta File VulnerabilityWindows XP Service Pack 2 IT Careers 2010 Four years from now, the IT field will be a vastly different place. Will you be ready? More Special Reports Premier 100 IT Leaders 2007 Best in Class2006 Computerworld Horizon Awards2006 Premier 100 IT Leaders2006 Salary Survey2007 Best Places to Work in IT2007 IT Forecast2007 Premier 100 IT Leaders40 Years of ComputerworldASPs, Take TwoBest Places to Work in IT 2003Best Places to Work in IT 2004Best Places to Work in IT 2005Best Places to Work in IT 2006Business Intelligence Home RunsBusiness Intelligence: Smarter BIBusiness Intelligence: The Future of BICRM Goes VerticalCRM: Sober CRMCareer Planning Guide 2005Careers: IT Profession 2010Computerworld Horizon Awards 2005Data Management: Mining for GemsData Management: Taming Data ChaosDevelopment: Hard-Workin' Web SitesDevelopment: New Tools New ChoicesDevelopment: The New World of Application DevelopmentDevelopment: The Web Services TsunamiDevelopment: Web Services HurdlesDisaster Recovery: Preparing for the WorstE-commerce Grows UpE-mail/Groupware: Big DecisionsFaces of Mobile ITForecast 2006Global MobileHardware: Multiple Cores, Multiple ChallengesHardware: On-Demand Un-HypedHardware: The Shape of Things to ComeHorizon Awards: 10 Cool Cutting Edge TechnologiesIT Management: Guide to Managing VendorsIT Management: Navigating Global ITIT Management: Recovery AheadIT Management: The Future of ITIT Management: The Resourceful Project ManagerInnovative Technology Awards 2004Management: Reinventing ITMicrosoft in TransitionMobile/Wireless Leaders and LaggardsMobile/Wireless: The Untethered WorkerMobile/Wireless: Tiny Gadgets, Huge CostsNetwork Management: Taking ControlNetworking: Turbulence Ahead!Networking: VoIP Goes MainstreamOperating Systems: In the Slow LaneOperating Systems: Linux Goes GlobalOperating Systems: Should You Nix Unix?Outsourcing: Offshore Buyer's GuideOutsourcing: Outsourcing DangersPremier 100 IT Leaders 2004 Best in ClassPremier 100 IT Leaders 2005 Best in ClassROI: Do the Math!Salary Survey 2003Salary Survey 2004Salary Survey 2005Security Action PlanSecurity: Compliance HeadachesSecurity: Proactive SecuritySecurity: Risk and RewardSecurity: Tips From Security ProsSouped-up SecurityStorage: Battling ComplexityStorage: Cheap & Secure Data StoresStorage: Stretching Your Storage DollarsStorage: The Lean Storage MachineStorage: The New Rules of StorageStorage: The Ultimate Backup GuideSupply Chain: Missing LinksSupply Chain: RFID Reality CheckThe Business of SecurityWeb 2.0 SecurityWireless: Wireless At Work All Zones Application Performance Zone Enterprise-Class Security Zone Enterprise Solutions Zone The File Data Management Zone Grid Computing on Windows Zone Security Management Zone ITIL Best Practices Zone The SAS Zone Storage Virtualization Zone The Data Center Management Zone See your link here

Computerworld Report: Storage Gets Strategic Download this Computerworld Report, free, compliments of HP. (Source: Computerworld) Data Storage has emerged from the back room to become a key part of regulatory compliance, disaster recovery and strategic tecnhology plans. Learn more in this new this Computerworld report, a $49.95 value, available free for a limited time, compliments of HP. Download this executive briefing  Energy Logic: Cutting Data Center Energy Costs By 50 Percent or More Energy Logic: Cutting Data Center Energy Costs By 50 Percent or More View this webcast now! Go to the webcast  Five Technologies Simplifying Infrastructure Management Get this white paper now! (Source: Liebert) Today's data centers must support more devices, are consuming more power and generating more heat. Learn five infrastructure technologies that are making it easier for growing businesses to introduce new IT systems as needed while maintaining high levels of availability. Download this white paper  White Papers Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services. Discover the Secret to Secure Remote Access: GoToMyPC Corporate Security White Paper Spam Spikes: A Real Risk to Your Business Six Support Issues That Keep Execs Awake at Night View more whitepapers

• HP confirms XP SP3 endless reboot snafu, promises patch
• Yahoo tells Icahn that its own board knows best
• Tools circulate that crack Debian, Ubuntu keys
• More top stories 

HP StorageWorks EVA4400 Before now, midsize customers settled for either an expensive and complex array or low cost solution that lacked functionality. Now experience virtual storage with enterprise class functionality at an affordable price. View this product demo now



In Depth: Apple's Leopard leaps to new heights A refined look, revamped apps and new options build on an already solid OS foundation. Read more...



The Impact of Messaging and Web Threats Messaging, internal and Web-based threats are increasing in number and severity. The risks to organizations large and small are real problems that users and their employers face if they do not establish adequate defenses against this growing variety of threats. Read this Osterman Research paper to learn how organizations must implement a layered defensive strategy to protect against all types of threats and how Sunbelt Software can help. Download this white paper now



Best Places to Work in IT Where can you earn top dollar, get the best benefits, the latest IT and more? Find out in our 14th annual survey.