Novell, currently used by more than 1,500 employees, provides networked storage. Not only is the filed information accessible from other computers, but it is also backed up every night and automatically scanned for viruses each time a file is placed on the server.

Over the past year, Dan Denton, one of the Lab's Novell administrators, has set up a user portal to allow off-site access. The portal, which uses Internet browser technology, provides encryption using SSL, or Secure Socket Layer. All an employee needs to use the portal is Internet access and either Netscape Navigator (v. 4.75 or better) or Internet Explore (v. 5 or better). "That's what makes it so simple to use," said Denton, a member of the Computing Infrastructure Technology Group.

Another Novell tool, which was rolled out last month, is called iFolder. IFolder is a way to automatically synchronize files on home and work computers simultaneously. For example, if you're working on a report both at the Lab and on your home computer, you could find yourself with two different versions of the report. By placing the latest version in the iFolder on the Lab computer, the same file in the iIFolder of your home computer will be automatically replaced with the newest version. Updates are made every five seconds. If both computers are on, the files are synchronized every five seconds. If one computer is not running, the iFolder files are updated when the system boots.

For more information about these and other features, visit the Novell Services Web page.