Q. What can a server-based network do that a P2P can't?
A. The distributed processing model allows you to share networking services throughout your company without respect to what's happening on individual PCs. Directed by a server, distributed-processing networks are never "busy" and don't have to wait for one PC to finish with a request for one network service before another can begin. This multiprocessing capability serves up network services with a speed and efficiency that P2P networks simply cannot match. If you have more than one PC in your office, you need to have immediate access to network services from any of those PCs at all times.

Another major difference lies in the range of networking services themselves that each model can address. P2P networks can share files, folders and print services. Not many can do anything more than that. A full-service network provides the fullest-possible range of services that your business can build on. File-and-print sharing is the backbone of any of these systems. However, a professional-grade, full-service network like Novell Small Business Suite 6.5 also gives you:

• "Take it with you" collaboration services that allow you and your staff to remain in email contact at all times, even on the road with a wireless cell phone or any standard web browser; scheduling and calendaring organize the day, while key business tasks are categorized like an online day-planner for the office.
• Internet services allow you to use the Internet with greater control, ensuring your staff is on the web only for professional reasons and keeping questionable materials that could pose a litigation threat to your company out of your office.
• Establish your own web site, either as an informational or promotional vehicle or as an online storefront that offers online services to your customers. The Novell Small Business Suite 6.5 Starter Pack includes the software capability to add a second server for this and many other purposes.
• Internet-enabled file services that allow you to access your business files from any standard browser, whether you're on the road, at home, at another office, on vacation-wherever
• Internet-enabled print services that make printing to new or different printers a simple point-and-click operation
• Comprehensive security services protect your business from e-mail-borne virus attack, hackers and other breaches-including internal breaches, which are the most frequent and can be the most deadly. Set up your own firewall or even your own Virtual Private Network (VPN), which allows you to securely control access to your system outside the boundaries of your office. Protect critical competitive materials as it moves through the Internet or across email systems with encryption and even certificates and keys. Keep your email virus-free with substantial protections that stop viruses before they even reach your messaging system. It's all here.
• Storage services ensure that you make the most of your hardware resources in a business environment that may require the handling of large-scale file resources, including graphics, streaming video and more.
• Make your incompatible computers a little more compatible: Both Windows-based PCs and Macintosh computers plug directly into this network and can share its resources and services.

More important, the combinations of these services can create unique solutions that work together to protect your business and enhance your processes and revenue opportunities. For instance: You can share many of these network services with business partners, distributors and even customers—securely and without fear of anyone getting into something they shouldn't see or have.

There's more, of course—but you can begin to see what a full-service network can do for your business. It provides the foundation for whatever growth you may hope to achieve over the next decade, allowing you to easily "switch on" the business processes and capabilities you need to do business today and will need as your business grows to meet new challenges, new goals, and new growth. With the Novell Small Business Suite 6.5 Starter Pack, you choose how much or how little of the network to enable, and when and how you do it.

And there's always a local Novell technology partner nearby to help you make it happen. With this offer, all you pay for is their services: The network is free. It's the best deal in the networking world today. Take advantage of it today and start reaping the benefits of professional-grade networking in your business for years to come.

Q. So if I start with just a limited number of users today, how can I "grow" my Novell network as my business-and my staff-begins to grow beyond that number?
A. It's easy—you just add users. With the Novell Small Business Suite 6.5 Starter Pack, you get a true full-service network. It's not time-bombed, it's not hobbled in any way, and it's not designed to force you to buy an Enterprise-size network until the day your business reaches Enterprise-size dimensions. It's everything you need in one box with a simple key lock that gives you a limited number of users for that network free. When your business grows beyond that limited number of users, you can purchase the Expansion Pack-which gives you another 5 users at just $950. From there, if your business grows even more, you simply purchase further user licenses (in quantities of 5 users) to enable user growth on that network. And you can keep doing this until your small-business network reaches up to 100 users.

Q. What can a Novell technology partner do for my business?
A. Anything you want-and nothing you don't want. With the Suite 6.5 Starter Pack program, all you pay for is whatever services you choose to buy from your local Novell technology partner, who can do all the work of installing and even maintaining your network for you-painlessly, quickly and without any disruption to your business. If you like what you get, you can continue to work with your Novell partner as your business moves forward. Your Novell technology partner can even become your adjunct "IT staff," if that's what you need-monitoring and maintaining your network so that it always offers optimal service to your business. It's a relationship that can do as much or as little for you as you choose. And should you choose to leverage that relationship, it can make the most of what your business can do . . . while allowing you to focus entirely on growing your business.

Q. Sounds great! How do I get started?
A. You need to set up an appointment so we can evaluate your needs and ensure that the Suite 6.5 Starter Pack is the right fit for your organization and assess how best we can be of service.  This initial evaluation typically takes about an hour or so, and we'll need to have access to your technical people as well as the financial decision makers.  Of course, all of this - like the SBS 6.5 offer itself - is absolutely free.