Novell has announced a version of Novell Directory Services (NDS) that runs on the Windows NT, Novell NetWare and Sun Solaris operating systems.
Available now, the NDS eDirectory is a directory platform that lets customers collect, store and communicate information about users, customers and business partners. In addition to the three platforms that are available today, the directory will also work with Linux and Compaq's Tru64 Unix operating system in the first half of next year.
Novell is touting NDS e-Directory as an e-commerce tool that will allow companies to share information with partners and suppliers.
"Extranet equals extra work ... rather than create a virtual private network you are sharing information using open protocols like secure sockets layer and lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP)," says Paul Corriveau, NDS product marketing manager.
The new directory is being positioned as a product that e-commerce vendors can use to build up highly personalized profiles to offer customized services to customers.
For example, one of Novell's clients, CNN Interactive, will use the technology to store user profiles for its Web site. When users log onto the directory via CNN's Web site, they will receive customized news, services and advertising, Corriveau says.
Building this kind of personalized information in order to target customers is the real importance of directories, says Dana Gardner, an analyst with Aberdeen Group in Boston. "By having robust directories companies can target specific individuals and offer the services those people want."
"Customers benefit because the information about their wants and needs can be supplied to a large number of product and service providers," Gardner says.
By using eDirectory you can allow partners to access your directory using a browser via LDAP, Corriveau says. The partners do not have to have eDirectory. The directory also addresses privacy concerns, Corriveau says.
"EDirectory has built-in access controls so you can decide how much information partners share." In an attempt to get software vendors to develop applications for eDirectory, Novell is giving away the directory to any independent software vendor (ISV).
The ISVs can download the directory and use it to develop applications and they can bundle a limited eDirectory license with their software.
Novell also announced the availability of NDS Corporate Edition, an application that sits on top of NDS e-Directory that integrates network resources across multiple platforms. NDS eDirectory costs $2 per user and NDS Corporate Edition is $26 per user.
Novell, in Provo, Utah, is at http://www.novell.com/.
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