Partnership will enhance VMware virtual infrastructure solutions for Novell customers, enabling them to improve returns on their technology assets.

Novell, Inc., yesterday announced expansion of its partnership with VMware, including joint development and delivery of new technology solutions, services offerings, software distribution, and expanded customer support.

Novell claims that it will support VMware virtual infrastructure focused on data center infrastructure for customers running Novell products like SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Open Enterprise Server, NetWare, eDirectory, ZENworks and GroupWise. Novell will offer technical support for VMware, giving customers a single point of contact for support needs. In addition, VMware and Novell have established a program to make SUSE Linux-based partner solutions broadly available to customers.

Novell has also incorporated VMware products into their consulting methodology for virtualization and will provide design, consulting and integration services for Novell solutions that rely on VMware virtual infrastructure, claims the company. According to VMware, this cooperation will create new solutions for Novell's customers to drive server consolidation, migration, provisioning, zero-downtime maintenance and dynamic workload optimization. As a result, customers can leverage their existing infrastructure and improve the return on their technology assets.
  
"VMware represents a key component in Novell's data center solutions portfolio," said David Patrick, vice president and general manager, Linux, Open Source Platforms and Servers for Novell. "Our partnership will enhance VMware virtual infrastructure solutions for Novell products, including disaster recovery, dynamic workload migration and zero downtime maintenance. It's all about improving operating reliability, and it's a significant advantage for our customers."