I have been given the task of deciding if we are going upgrade to Windows Server 2003 or migrate to Novell. I have found several article of Microsoft bashing Novell and Novell bashing Microsoft. I have seen so much of that that I am ready to recommend throwing out all the computers and going back to pencil and paper. However, knowing that that is not an option. Does anybody know of any good, Independent, articles that go over the advantages and disadvantages of both? Or any personal experiences that may help make a decision?

In my opinion it really depends on what you're doing. I have found dos apps\16 bit apps run much better on novell than on win2k.I like novell for a simple file server and 2k if I'm going to be running alot of user apps on it.I like 2k's mail system better and In my opinion the interface is a little more intuitive with 2k. No experience with 2003 yet though. Mike

I think you will find VERY few companies that once they have a properly configure Windows 2000 AD domain set up, will migrate to Novell. You will however, see a lot of the opposite. Our company had some divisions with Novell. They are all gone and replaced with Windows and I couldn't be happier. If you are starting a new network, I guess it depends on what you are comfortable with. Novell is certainly a viable option. However, if you already have a Windows network in place, I think you'd be a fool to dump it and migrate over to Novell.

I agree with Mike. I had Novell for 5 yrs and MS for 5 yrs. Compares the Novell 4.11(I know it is old) to Win2K, the Novell server did a better job in file and print. For e-mail and internet, I think Win 2k is easier. If your shop runs old dos apps and just need file and print sharing, no e-mail and internet access, I still prefer to go with Novell,(not sure about the newer version of Novell though), otherwise, Microsoft might be a better solution. No exp in 2003 yet, and I don't think Linux is for newbie sysadmin either.

I have worked with netware since 2.2 and ms since dos3.3 and nt3.50. As previously stated both have their advantages. For me the real deciding factor are the applications you will be using. As I have learned your convience is 2nd to that of the users. After all without them we wouldn't have a job. You might design and manage a wonderful technically perfect network but if your users can't effectively use it then what is the point. If comparing NDS to AD both have their flaws and become unwieldy in large organizations. NDS has been around longer. Concerning server OS I think netware is better. Features like quotas, defrag, etc have been built into the core of Netware for years whereas MS as added these "lite versions" to their core OS. I believe the MS layered onion approach to programming is flawed in its core and will be the OS's downfall. Apple was a pain with a completely new OS for completely new hardware. But think where the architecture would be now if that had been the path? The WinTel industry keeps souping up the cpu and ram but the peripheal bus where the real access is lags woefully behind. Why I think Linux is the way to go, and I only dabble in it now, is due to the cost of network ownership. I have seen the Hardware/software industry dig deeper and deeper into American business pockets while at the same time increasing the overhead to run the network organization. As profit margins shrink in America this does not bode well for any of us or the country as a whole. I made the decision when Microsoft wanted $50,000 from my company, for software we already owned, they called it "software assurance" so that I could upgrade of software that would not run on my existing equipment, that I would slowly migrate our network to Open Source solutions. The first to go will be the Office products on the desktop. The last to go will be the servers. The last will depend on application writers. I am sure I am not alone in this decision. I believe Bill Gates and Microsoft have already lost the war. It is just a matter of time now. If faced with your decision I would look at where upper management forsees the company going. I would talk to them to understand their vision. They will enjoy that. I would look at what services and what applications would be required to get the company there. I would use this information to decide what platform or mixture of platforms to choose with versatility and flexibility being of main focus. Get the big picture and don't look at this as netware vs ms but how you can have a positive impact on your company's future.

You're also going to have to do a substantial hardware upgrade and buy all new licenses under Win 2003. But from everything I've read, it's a great system and very fast.

Here's a review by PC Magzine in the July issue. Netware 6.5 Larry