Novell makes iFolder open source

Continuing to keep its promise to be a valuable, contributing member of the open source software community, Novell today introduced the iFolder open source project, a project that will be the basis for the next enterprise version of Novell iFolder and other future collaboration products.

The project consists of three code branches: Simias (the core synchronisation engine and data store upon which Novell iFolder is based), an address book (which iFolder uses when sharing iFolder accounts), and iFolder (which consumes both Simias and the address book).

Because it is an open source project, customers will be able to easily customise iFolder or add features to fit their needs without waiting for traditional product releases from Novell. The code will be offered to the public under the terms of the GNU General Public Licence (GPL), with Novell maintaining code copyrights in order to be able to distribute future products based on this code under traditional Novell commercial licences.

"The synergies of the open source community are extraordinary," says Stafford Masie, MD for Novell SA. "By creating the iFolder open source project, Novell is making available code for an extremely valuable and beneficial piece of software, and we trust the community will enhance and improve it to the benefit of everyone: users, developers and even other vendors. The open source availability of iFolder will help meet a wide-ranging, critical need for storage, file access and backup for individuals and organisations of all sizes."

iFolder is a simple and secure storage solution that enables users to backup, access and manage personal files at any time, from anywhere. Users simply save files locally, and iFolder automatically copies and updates the files to any other machines the user designates. For example, a user saves a file at the office and it`s automatically copied to his or her home computer via iFolder. All files are kept up to date on all the machines that person uses. Novell - a leader in enterprise collaboration innovation with Novell GroupWise - has designed this version of iFolder so people can enhance it or just use it to create and share iFolder accounts with each other, simply and without IT support or cost.

This version of iFolder is being developed using the Mono framework, a community project initiated by Novell to develop an open source version of the Microsoft .NET development platform. That means smoother and easier development of iFolder for Linux, Windows, Macintosh and Novell NetWare. iFolder will also include client- and server-side application programming interfaces (API) to enable integration with other applications. The iFolder open source project is hosted on Novell Forge, http://forge.novell.com.

Novell iFolder is part of Novell Nterprise, a set of offerings that improve communication, simplify and automate network management, and allow workers to be productive regardless of location, device or platform. For more information about Novell iFolder, visit http://www.novell.com/products/ifolder. For details on the iFolder open source project, see http://www.ifolder.com.