Likewise Enterprise is software that allows Novell’s Linux desktop to use Active Directory for its network authentication needs. In addition, administrators can easily include Linux desktops in their Active Directory environments and manage them with some of the same tools they use to manage Windows desktops.

The Likewise software is designed to work with Linux, Unix and Mac desktops.

An agreement forged between Novell and Likewise will give all buyers of SLED 11 the Likewise software, which also will be included in the SLED software repositories. Via Active Directory, companies using SLED 11 will be able to authenticate users, set access controls, manage settings and group policies, and create audit reports.

Novell in March and the desktop included a number of hooks with Microsoft software, an outgrow of a the two companies signed in 2006.

Last August, Microsoft into the Novell deal. So it was no surprise when SLED 11 was delivered with hooks into system management, virtualization, and multimedia systems from Microsoft.