In a bid to rapidly expand its Linux capabilities, Novell has acquired privately held open source software provider Ximian in an all-cash transaction.

Novell will use the acquisition to round out its Linux software offering, including the provision of a fully-fledged Linux desktop based on Ximian's Gnome desktop and graphical user interface.

Ximian is known for several other open source products including Evolution email and calendaring software, and Red Carpet used for software updating in most leading Linux distributions.

Perhaps the most interesting project is Ximian Mono, aimed at running Microsoft .Net-created applications on Linux, Unix and other operating environments.

Gary Barnett, principal analyst at Ovum, told vnunet.com: "This is very good news for Ximian, because it gives it the funding and resources it needs. It also makes Novell a credible player in the Linux environment."

Following the deal, Ximian will become Novell Ximian Services and will be led by Ximian chief executive David Patrick.

Novell is promising to promote Mono and carry forward Gnome to become a fully-featured desktop Linux implementation.

Barnett suggested that the new desktop would be good for Linux, as it would create an alternative to Sun Microsystems' OpenOffice and StarOffice suites.

Novell chief executive Jack Messman identified two key issues that the products addressed: cost-effective Linux management and maintenance; and deployment of low-cost Linux desktops for users.

"Ximian brings Novell unparalleled Linux expertise, helping [Novell] not only to deliver more value to customers, but strengthening our ability to work with and leverage open source initiatives more constructively," he said in a statement.

Among Ximian's other products, Red Carpet Enterprise will be tightly integrated into Novell ZENworks to make use of Novell directory services and policies management.

Evolution, which includes contact management and task lists, already integrates with Microsoft Exchange and Sun ONE, and will now integrate with Novell's Groupwise via its Ximian Connector extensions.

Novell recently committed itself to putting its entire range of network services on Linux. It now bundles open source products such as the MySQL relational database and Apache web server with Novell NetWare.

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