Novell SA has announced that customers using IntranetWare, Novell SA`s full-service Internet/intranet access platform, can take advantage of both hot add and hot swap PCI with NetFRAME enterprise-class network servers.
The companies will continue to work closely in the future to ensure that the recently proposed PCI hot plug standard will deliver the level of functionality that IntranetWare and NetFRAME customers depend on.
"Hot pluggable PCI is a key technology for continual Internet and intranet availability," said Frans Koppel, Distribution and Channel sales manager of Novell SA. "With today`s requirement for 24-hour information access, server downtime resulting from server component failure, system maintenance or hardware expansion is unacceptable."
Hot Pluggable PCI technology from NetFRAME, introduced in October, 1996, enables IntranetWare customers to add and swap industry standard PCI boards and device drivers, while users remain on-line-greatly reducing server downtime and service disruption.
The technology supports PCI-based SCSI, Ethernet, FDDI and Token Ring interface cards and device drivers. System administrators can use this functionality to both repair and expand server storage and network connectivity without having to bring down either IntranetWare or the server.
"Novell SA is a leader in the network operating system market", said Andre Odendaal managing director of NSS, sole distributor for NetFRAME in South Africa.
"We believe Novell SA is well positioned to shape the future of continuous intranet computing as organisations evolve their LANs into intranets. By shipping hot pluggable PCI technology today, NetFRAME makes it possible for IntranetWare users to deploy continuously available server environments. By combining IntranetWare`s unique ability to load and unload device drivers without downing the server with NetFRAME`s hot pluggable PCI technology, system administrators can add new PCI devices to a server with no user downtime.
For example, if a server`s network adapter fails, it can be replaced without requiring an administrator to take IntranetWare off-line or re-booting the server. When a component is replaced, the card and driver are automatically identified and configured, and the card is instantly made available as a system resource. "
Share
Editorial contacts