Call it a major strategy change. For many years, YaST (yet another setup tool) was Suse's crown jewel in its Linux distribution. It made Linux setup and configuration so much easier. After buying Suse last November, Novell shows it understands the power of open source, and hopes that its move will give YaST extra wings (and exposure) so that it gets recognized and supported by the leading system management platforms from e.g. CA, HP and IBM. So far, the only platform that supports it is Novell's very own Zenworks, but we expect others to announce support for YaST very soon.
Update: Linus Torvalds suprised everyone with his appearance at Brainshare, Novell's annual user conference in Salt Lake City, and was greeted with a thundering applause by the Novell customers. Linux hailed Novell's new strategy, and called software patents the biggest threat to software innovation. Also at Brainshare, Novell announced that it will also open-source its iFolder personal storage and filing technology, and will adopt an enterprisewide Linux/OpenOffice strategy, and throw out everything that reminds them of Microsoft. Read more at http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Mar/03232004/business/150310.asp and http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/53/36455.html