Novell scales its directory.(Novell Directory Services 8.0 network directory software)(Software Review)(Evaluation)

Novell, looking to establish itself as the premier supplier of network directory technology, is making its Novell Directory Services (NDS) offering scalable for global enterprise deployment.

The message behind Novell's open beta release of NDS Version 8.0, earlier this month was one of sheer power -- a heavy-duty network directory that can store hundreds of millions of objects and will not diminish in speed.

Some corporate sites are starting to report that the new directory delivers on its performance promise. Novell will prominently feature Version 8.0 of NDS at its upcoming BrainShare conference in Salt Lake City this week and will demonstrate the directory when filled with 500 million objects.

"Version 8.0's scalability is the main reason we're upgrading," said Peter Cruikshank, a beta tester and a systems engineer at the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, in San Diego. "We may have several hundred thousand users in a global directory. As soon as NDS Version 8.0, is ready we'll be setting up servers to begin migrating users to a new tree."

"Version 8.0 of …