The VAR Guy

In a move designed to cultivate their partner ecosystem, IBM is extending development and test services to their enterprise cloud platform, allowing software vendors and cloud service providers to build, debug, and finally deliver applications all through Big Blue. Here’s the scoop.

A hedge fund has offered to acquire Novell, developer of SUSE Linux, for $1.8 billion. Moments ago, Novell confirmed that it plans to review the unsolicited buyout offer. Now, Wall Street pundits wonder if folks like Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Oracle or SAP will step in and offer a higher bid for Novell. Here’s the chatter so far along with another software company that might make the perfect parent for Novell…

A few days ago, The VAR Guy openly wondered how CloudLinux OS — a new Linux distribution designed for hosting providers — hopes to stand out in a market dominated by Red Hat, Novell and several other emerging options. Today, The VAR Guy got some answers from Igor Seletskiy, founder and CEO of Cloud Linux Inc. Here’s what he had to say.

Novell continues to push beyond the SUSE Linux market. Among the major moves: The company is beta testing Novell Cloud Security Service, which is scheduled for general availability in May or June, according to Novell sources attending the Parallels Summit in Miami. Here are the implications for hosting providers and cloud integrators.

When Novell Brainshare 2010 kicks off March 21 in Salt Lake City, the company will put several initiatives in the spotlight. Among the top two priorities. Promoting Novell Pulse (a real-time communication and social messaging platform for enterprises) and promoting SUSE Linux software partners. Here are the details.

Amid the pomp and circumstance of tablets and hybrid netbooks from CES 2010, there’s a few notable introductions that slipped under the radar. The HP Mini 5102 — backed by a SUSE Linux option — is one of those devices. Coming soon from HP, the Mini 5102 is shipping with some interesting features. Here’s the deal.

There’s a lot of buzz about Google Chrome and the impending Google Chrome OS. But something strange happened Oct. 28. Gizmodo briefly posted an article saying Chrome OS was out. But was the report true?

As Novell prepares to announce quarterly results on Aug. 27, the company offered this tidbit of information: More than 2,000 independent software vendors (ISVs) have signed up for the SUSE Appliance Program — which is less than a month old. Pretty darn impressive, assuming those ISVs move forward with Novell. Here’s why VARs should care.

From August 27 through September 4, The VAR Guy will pay particularly close attention to Novell and Red Hat. That nine-day period will provide a healthy reality check for the Linux market — and it may also reveal how open source initiatives are shaping up across the IT channel. Here’s why.

When Sun Microsystems announced financial results this week, The VAR Guy had a moment of clarity: Sun is looking more and more like a larger version of Novell. And The VAR Guy means that in a complimentary way. Here’s why.

Mary Jo Foley, the brain behind the All About Microsoft blog, raises an interesting question today. Amid Microsoft’s big virtualization push, she openly wonders if the biggest threat facing Microsoft is now VMware rather than Linux. The VAR Guy chewed on that a bit, and delivered the following answer.

The VAR Guy is hearing rumblings from Novell about potential virtualization news at this week’s Microsoft GetVirtualNow event or the upcoming VMworld, scheduled for Sept. 15-18 in Las Vegas. The news will likely involve bi-directional virtualization efforts with Microsoft, according to our resident blogger. Here’s the scoop.

Novell expects to name a new channel chief by the end of this week or sometime next week, according to Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer John Dragoon. There’s also some good news on the SUSE Linux front. Here’s the scoop, from The VAR Guy.

Leave it to The VAR Guy. Novell has just started a search for a new channel chief to replace Pat Bernard, and our resident blogger is already offering advice to Bernard’s potential replacement. Whoever lands the position, The VAR guy hopes he or she will take the following four steps.

Novell Channel Chief Pat Bernard has left the company, and Tim Wolfe (pictured) is now serving as acting VP of global channel sales. Has Bernard landed a new job elsewhere? The VAR Guy is digging for answers.

As The VAR Guy reflects on the latest news out of BrainShare, one number sticks in his head: More than 700 partners — representing ISVs, integrators, consultants, VARs, etc. — are at the event. Not a bad showing. The VAR Guy connected with Novell’s Channel Chief, Pat Bernard, for more perspective. Here are five key takeaways from the conversation.

Former Novell CEO Ray Noorda used to speak about coopetition — the need to both cooperate and compete with technology companies. But the current Microsoft-Novell relationship is giving new meaning to the term coopetition, especially during this week’s BrainShare.

At first glance, Novell’s desktop Linux goals are humble. Novell insiders tell The VAR Guy they’d be pleased if SuSE Linux eventually captures 1 percent of the overall global desktop market. So, how is Novell’s desktop strategy performing so far — especially vs. Red Hat and Ubuntu? Here are key clues from two top Novell sources on the subject.