Dell Joins Microsoft and Novell Collaboration

Microsoft Corp. and Novell Inc. have announced that Dell Inc. is the first major systems provider to join the business collaboration that was formed by Microsoft and Novell in response to customer demand for greater interoperability and intellectual property (IP) assurance. As part of the agreement, Dell will purchase SUSE Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft and establish a services and marketing program to migrate existing Linux users who are not Dell Linux customers to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. Read more

DELL going to Open-Source?

The adoration for Linux that has been flowing from Round Rock lately is both refreshing and curious, and Dell has just taken its respect for the open-source OS to another level by signing on with Microsoft and Novell. While Linux users have long griped (and protested) about Microsoft, it's been no secret that Michael Dell has a thing for Ubuntu, and now it sounds like Dell will be "buying SUSE Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft," and moreover, "will be setting up a services and marketing program aimed at getting users of open-source platforms to switch to the new SUSE Linux offering." With the agreement inked, the Texas Powerhouse becomes the "first major systems provider to align with Microsoft and Novell in the collaboration," and judging by all the other recent Linux happenings in the Dell arena, we'd say this deal aligns perfectly with its current strategy.

Firewall Check List

It’s fairly easy to misconfigure your firewall if you don’t have strong technology expertise among your staff. Though with Linux (and BSD) deployed it does indeed get’s easier to protect your computers hooked to internet, it is still something you should seriously care about.

1. If you have a network and don’t have it firewalled, get it done as soon as possible.

2. Use a firewall device or software to provide your firewall service. Don’t use some other device that may provide some hint of security. The capability can be built into a server or a router or something else, but make sure what you are getting is a firewall.

3. Protect each individual device in your network, or that might be used on your network, with device level security tools.

4. Make sure you properly “wall off” applications from unintended external and internal use.

5. Think of security is an ongoing process, not something you do once and can forget about. Make sure you are installing patches for your network as they are made available. Consider investing in an annual security assessment from a reputable IT consultant or solution provider.

6. Look to an IT consultant, or solution provider, to help you with your implementation. They have the expertise to guide you through the process and ensure that you are able to protect yourself and balance that with making sure you have the ability to run your business.
For desktop users: some Linux distributions do not have firewall installed by default, or activated, so make sure that there is one. For example openSUSE uses iptables as it’s firewall application with Yast Firewall frontend which makes it easier to manage your firewall settings.

No matter which OS you are using on your servers (and desktops/notebooks) the above list is to be followed if you want to be sure that you are safe and secure 99.99% (0.01% - there is a always a key to any lock.

Novell's regret in Microsoft deal

If Novell's chief executive has any regrets about slipping between the sheets with Microsoft, it's around Microsoft's push for IP protection.

Ron Hovsepian's alliance with Microsoft, announced last November, saw Microsoft agree to sell SuSE Enterprise Linux (SLES) coupons, while the companies worked on interoperability between SLES and Windows on virtualization, directories and file formats between Office and Open Office. Coupons apply specifically to SLES running as a virtual guest in a host Windows operating system or vice versa.

However, it was Novell's tacit recognition of the existence of intellectual property in Linux - by accepting Microsoft's promise not to prosecute developers whose open source code is used by Novell - that really rankled the community.

According to Hovsepian in eWeek, the IP covenant was a Microsoft - not a Novell - idea, and the companies' original proposal did not include a covenant not to sue. "That was one of the business things [Microsoft] wanted out of it," Hovsepian said.

And you can see why. It put Microsoft's chief executive Steve Ballmer back on form in the weeks following the deal, claiming Linux infringes Microsoft IP and that Microsoft wanted to "get the appropriate economic return for our shareholders from our innovation." Novell agreed to pay Microsoft $40m in protection.

Which brings us onto Hovsepian's only genuine - public at least - regret: his delay in responding to a storm of community criticism through an open letter. Hovsepian believes a timelier letter would have cleared up concerns.

That letter said Novell's agreement with Microsoft was "in no way an acknowledgment that Linux infringes upon any Microsoft intellectual property." Rather than clarify, though, Hovsepian's letter left people baffled over why Novell signed the covenant, given both companies held diametrically opposed views