2,000 ISVs Embrace Novell SUSE Linux Appliance Program

Written by The VAR Guy 1
August 25, 2009

As Novell prepares to announce quarterly results on Aug. 27, the company offered this tidbit of information: More than 2,000 independent software vendors (ISVs) have signed up for the SUSE Appliance Program -- which is less than a month old. Pretty darn impressive, assuming those ISVs move forward with Novell. Here's why VARs should care.

As Novell prepares to announce quarterly results on Aug. 27, the company offered this tidbit of information: More than 2,000 independent software vendors (ISVs) have signed up for the SUSE Appliance Program — which is less than a month old. Pretty darn impressive, assuming those ISVs move forward with Novell. Here’s why VARs should care.

Generally speaking, Red Hat Enterprise Linux has more mind share than Novell SUSE Linux within many ISV circles. But the SUSE Appliance Program could help Novell to catapult its ISV and channel partner programs forward.

As Novell puts it:

“Appliances are transforming the way ISVs market and package software as they simplify the installation and configuration of software, eliminating unexpected costs and making the sales process frictionless.”

That almost sounds too good to be true. But Novell offers up these metrics as proof of the SUSE Appliance Program’s momentum:

20,000 total requests for new accounts in the first four weeks of the Program, with more than one request per minute in the first week alone following the launch
28,000 appliances built
13,000 appliances tested with SUSE Studio’s test function
Since the beta program started four months ago, more than 27,000 total accounts created

Where VARs Fit In

Now, let’s tie this all back to the channel. In theory, the software appliances could help VARs to accelerate application deployments and server consolidation projects. With that goal in mind, Tech Data (the major distributor) plans to promote SUSE Linux appliances to its reseller partners.

So far, so good. But Novell needs to show continued momentum when the company announces financial results on Aug. 27. Plus, Novell must maintain positive buzz even as many open source advocates converge next week at Red Hat Summit (Sept. 1-4, Chicago).

In the meantime, The VAR Guy is impressed to see 2,000 ISVs showing interested in the SUSE Appliance Program.

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