Novell Gives Compaq Sense of Security

Compaq Computer Corp. (NYSE: CPQ), the “better answers” company, and Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) have entered into an agreement that will secure Compaq online business servers running on the UNIX platform. The pact is the latest development in a 14-year relationship.

Central to the new agreement is the integration of Novell’s Directory Services (NDS) into Compaq’s NonStop Solutions program, which is designed to enable its customers to “compete in a 24-hour global online business environment.” In practical terms, customers deploying Compaq’s enterprise solutions will be able to strengthen their infrastructure and Internet security.

Featuring policy and access control management, NDS relies on encryption technology to augment network security, protecting against unauthorized intrusion and other potential breach-related problems. The new agreement also adds to Compaq’s security solutions for other platforms — including Linux and Windows NT – and allows customers to securely manage heterogeneous networks.

Central Management and Control

“Compaq’s decision to make NDS a key component of its NonStop solutions strategy further validates NDS as the most appropriate cross-platform directory service for enterprise, Internet and electronic commerce,” commented Dr. Eric Schmidt, Novell chairman and CEO. “With the port of NDS to Compaq Tru64 UNIX, we will allow enterprise customers to easily manage their mixed-platform networks.”

Novell’s NDS will be ported to the Compaq Tru64 UNIX operating system (OS), and utilized to secure Compaq ProLiant servers. Compaq is pushing its new security-enhanced systems as an alternative to traditional mainframes. The Compaq NDS for UNIX is expected to be available in the first half of 2000.

Additionally, Compaq customers can cut costs by managing their network through either a ProLiant or AlphaServer environment. “NDS has been adopted by our company as the corporate strategic direction,” stated Alan Goodale, strategic directory planner for the Bank of Montreal.

“We have to manage our services end-to-end, so using NDS to manage all our servers — Compaq ProLiant and AlphaServer — is a great move in the right direction,” added Goodale. Compaq is looking to integrate desktops, workstations and servers with NDS.

“One of the most significant challenges facing our enterprise customers today is the ability to effectively manage large, complex network environments while expanding these infrastructures to become global ebusiness solutions,” said Enrico Pesatori, senior vice president and group general manager for Compaq’s enterprise solutions and services group. “Integrating NDS across Compaq NonStop solutions will give our customers the ability to centrally manage highly secure, multi-platform networks without sacrificing performance or scalability.”

Biometric Security Software Agreement

This week, Compaq also announced an agreement with Identix, Inc. (AMEX: IDX) to update its fingerprint ID technology. Identix will contribute Biologon 2.0, its biometric verification security, enhancing Compaq’s “peripheral device used to capture, digitize and authenticate a human fingerprint.”

The updated Compaq Fingerprint Identification Technology, set to ship September 20th, integrates with smart card devices, allows up to eight fingers per user to be utilized and works on both stand-alone and networked systems. According to Compaq, a significant benefit to using this technology is the essential elimination of passwords.