Novatium chooses SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Novell eDirectory for their Nova netPC

PRLog (Press Release) – Dec 17, 2007 – Bangalore: Novatium Solutions Pvt. Ltd, one of India’s fastest growing utility computing services providers, has opted to build its entire infrastructure on Novell Open Workgroup Suite, with Novell Identity Manager and eDirectory providing control over users and access rights. Novell Open Workgroup Suite provides a comprehensive infrastructure and productivity solution, including SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

Novatium created a totally new approach: subscription-based computing, using a Nova netPC device that costs less than ten percent of the price of a standard PC. The challenge was to build a simple, reliable and secure central infrastructure that would scale up to millions of customers, supporting the applications, data storage and connectivity at low total cost of operation.

Novell ZENworks will enable Novatium to distribute and maintain applications and system updates from their Chennai headquarters without the need for additional local staff, which keeps costs low and delivers the best service to Novatium customers. Novell eDirectory allows Novatium to manage authentication, user profiles and attributes from a single point of control.

“We looked at various operating system and software alternatives that had some, but not all, of the elements we needed,” said Vinod Gopinath, Chief Technology Officer, Novatium. “We found that the combination of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Novell eDirectory was able to provide enterprise-class scalability and integrated user authentication, management and security.”

“To connect to most ISPs, you need an expensive PC with pre-installed software, a landline and a subscription,” said Saugata Chakrabarti, Vice President of Business Development, Novatium. “The Novatium solution is far simpler: we provide a stripped-down, low-cost Nova netPC with instant-on access to all the services and applications a typical user needs, for a single low monthly fee. Of course, this model requires completely reliable backend systems; SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Novell eDirectory combine to make the perfect platform.”

Sandeep Menon, Managing Director, Novell India said, “We are pleased to be associated with Novatium Solutions in their breakthrough project. Their decision to move to our Open Source platform rests not only on TCO considerations, but also on the potential long-term technological and strategic advantages to being based on Open Source technologies. Based on those criteria, SUSE Linux Enterprise is proving its value to Novatium’s customers.”

Novatium subscribers can choose between Microsoft Office applications or the OpenOffice.org application suite. OpenOffice.org Novell Edition is the leading open source productivity suite and offers full compatibility with Microsoft Office files.

About Novatium
Novatium Solutions Pvt. Ltd, based in Chennai, is one of India’s fastest growing IT companies. The company’s tagline – computing for the next billion – encapsulates its ambitious aim: to make home computing economically accessible to the entire Indian population. Using a low-cost Nova netPC, Novatium subscribers pay a low monthly fee to access the Internet and use applications running on Novatium’s servers.

About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers infrastructure software for the Open Enterprise. Novell is a leader in enterprise-wide operating systems based on Linux and open source and provides the enterprise management services required to operate mixed IT environments. Novell helps customers minimize cost, complexity and risk, allowing them to focus on innovation and growth. For more information, visit www.novell.com.