UK aid office uses Novell to launch global intranet

NEWS The Department for International Development (DFID), the UK's unit dealing with overseas aid budget, has rolled-out Novell software to connect its the globally scattered staff. Adrian Bennett, deputy head of IT at the DFID, said software was needed to ensure departments within the DFID can share information. The applications will be shared via an intranet which will act as a repository for corporate and departmental information for its 1,600 users. Novell's directory-enabled desktop management tool, ZENworks, will handle the software distribution and management features. Bennett said a virtual private network connecting DFID's UK headquarters with its overseas offices through the Internet will be created using BorderManager Entreprise Edition.