NovaNET for NetWare is a comprehensive, enterprise-class data protection and network backup software suite developed by NovaStor (marketed by distributors like Unylogix). It was specifically engineered to back up, restore, and safeguard environments running the legacy Novell NetWare local-area network (LAN) operating system. Core Architecture and Scalability
Distributed Architecture: Allows IT administrators to attach storage devices (such as tape drives, hard disks, or autoloaders) to any server or client across the network. This design allows organizations to manage their entire backup footprint from a single workstation using Remote Administration tools.
Cross-Platform Consistency: NovaNET features a standardized graphical user interface (GUI) across multiple platforms. This allows administrators to manage backups for mixed environments—such as NetWare, Microsoft Windows, and Linux—without having to learn different software applications.
Product Tiers: The software was sold in scalable variations to accommodate different business sizes:
Single Server Editions: Built for local network configurations.
NovaNET Alliance: The enterprise tier capable of backing up unlimited clients and servers across heterogeneous operating systems. Key Technical Features
Novell Ecosystem Integration: Fully supports native NetWare systems, including the Novell Storage Services (NSS) file system, Novell Directory Services (NDS) object structures, and System Fault Tolerance (SFT III) setups.
Database & Application Agents: Includes specialized plugins and agents to back up live databases without downtime, natively supporting Btrieve 6.1x database structures, Microsoft SQL Server, and Exchange Server.
Open File Management: Features system-wide volume synchronization to successfully back up files that are currently open or locked by active network applications.
Hardware Automation: Features native tape drive auto-configuration, multi-slot autoloader/library control (up to 9 slots natively), and LZW data compression to maximize tape capacity.
Disaster Recovery: Later versions (such as NovaNET 8.5) introduced “One Button Disaster Recovery” (OBDR) for HP tape drives. This feature allows an administrator to restore an entire crashed server system simply by booting from a recovery CD or pressing a single button on the tape hardware.
Legacy Compatibility: To aid migration and transition, it features the ability to read historical, non-SMS legacy tape formats like ARCserve 4.x and 5.x.
If you are researching legacy storage systems, let me know if you would like to look into supported tape drive hardware profiles from that era, details on NDS object recovery, or how it compares to competitors like ARCserve. Novell NetWare Backup Software
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