Novell released OES 1, the first version of OES, on 25 March 2005. Since some users wanted backward compatibility with NetWare, Novell offered two installation options: OES-NetWare and OES-Linux. These are two different operating systems with different kernels and different userlands. OES-NetWare is NetWare v6.5 equipped with NetWare Loadable Modules for various Novell services and open-source software. OES-Linux is based on the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server with added NetWare services ported to the Linux kernel: e.g. the NetWare Core Protocol, Novell eDirectory, Novell Storage Services, and iPrint. Novell released OES 2, the second version of OES, on 12 October 2007, it was the first SLES-Linux-kernel-only OES, but it retained the OES-NetWare operating system option, as NetWare 6.5 SP7, can run as a paravirtualized guest inside the Xen hypervisor. The SLES base of the OES 2 was updated to SLES 10 SP1. Features introduced in OES 2 include:
Novell Open Workgroup Suite Small Business Edition
OES 11
OES 11 was released on 12 December 2011 based on SLES 11 SP1 64-bit. This is the first version of OES to be 64-bit only. NetWare 6.5 SP8 was still possible to run as a 32-bit only paravirtualized guest inside the Xen hypervisor.
Introduces Novell Kanaka for Mac client
Uses Zypper tool to patch up to 100 times faster than OES2
Added Automated / Unattended Upgrades from OES2
New Novell Linux Volume Manager provides easier storage management
Novell released a service pack, OES 11 SP1, on 28 August 2012. Novell released a service pack, OES 11 SP2, on 28 January 2014. Novell released a service pack, OES 11 SP3, on 26 July 2016.
OES 2015
OES 2015 was released on 31 August 2015, added new features and improved performance.
OES 2015 SP1 was released on 14 June 2016.
OES 2018
OES 2018 was released on 28 November 2017, based on SLES 12 SP2.
OES 2018 SP1 was released on 4 October 2019, based on SLES 12 SP3.
OES 2018 SP2 was released on 7 May 2020, based on SLES 12 SP5.
Release summary
OES, released on 25 March 2005, based on NetWare 6.5 SP3 and SLES 9 SP1.
* OES SP1, released in September 2005, was based on NetWare 6.5 SP4 and SLES 9 SP2.
* OES SP2, released in January 2006, was based on NetWare 6.5 SP5 and SLES 9 SP3.
OES 2, released on 12 October 2007 based on NetWare 6.5 SP7 and SLES 10 SP1.
* OES 2 SP1, released on 1 December 2008, based on NetWare 6.5 SP8 and SLES 10 SP2.
* OES 2 SP2 was released on 11 November 2009, based on SLES 10 SP3.
* OES 2 SP3 was released on 7 November 2014, based on SLES 10 SP3, SLES 10 SP4.
OES 11 was released on 12 December 2011, based on SLES 11 SP1.
* OES 11 SP1 was released on 28 August 2012, based on SLES 11 SP2.
* OES 11 SP2 was released on 28 January 2014, based on SLES 11 SP3.
* OES 11 SP3 was released on 26 July 2016, based on SLES 11 SP4.
OES 2015 was released on 31 August 2015., based on SLES 11 SP3.
* OES 2015 SP1 was released on 14 June 2016, SLES 11 SP4.
OES 2018 was released on 28 November 2017, based on SLES 12 SP2.
* OES 2018 SP1 was released on 4 October 2019, based on SLES 12 SP3.
* OES 2018 SP2 was released on 7 May 2020, based on SLES 12 SP5.
End-of-support schedule
Components
Automatic Client Upgrade - automates the upgrade of Novell client software on existing workstations
Marketing
Vendor motivation
Novell executives expect that porting these services to an OS with growing popularity and better support from hardware and software vendors will give Novell a good opportunity to improve its business results. OES is Novell's reaction to two things:
the increased significance of Linux and open-source in the company strategy and the industry in general
the fact that it lost a lot of market share, not because the customers were dissatisfied with the quality of its networking services, but mostly because these services ran almost exclusively on top of an OS that was narrowly specialized in its initial design and didn't get as strong support from ISVs as most of its competitors.
License costs
Licensing costs are identical regardless of the platform, and the platforms may be mixed under the same license. As with Novell's other products, OES is licensed per user seat, without regard to the number of servers. Pricing is typically not altered by physical CPUs or the use of hardware virtualization technologies. NetWare and OES both include two-node licenses for Novell Cluster Services, allowing basic clustered environments to be created without additional licensing charges. In comparison, Microsoft Windows charges per server and per client, with additional charges for larger SMP support and for clustering.
