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The Novell Client 2 (later renamed OES Client 2) supports Windows NT 6.0 and up (Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10). It does not support the IPX protocol at all (as windows no longer supports it) so it is only compatible with NetWare servers that can run purely over IP. SP1 only supported NetWare 5.1+ as well as OES 1 and 2. I'm not sure if NetWare 5.0 would work but NetWare 4.x and earlier are certainly incompatible.
Visit the MicroFocus Website to download the latest release!
Refer to the table below to figure out which version you can run based on client operating system. So far the only windows versions to loose support are Vista and Server 2008. For everything else just grab the latest client from the MicroFocus website (download.novell.com).
| Windows Version | Minimum Client | Maximum Client | Notes |
| Vista | Initial Release | SP2 | Probably as far as SP2 IR6a |
| 7 | SP1 IR9a | — | SP1 IR9a is the earliest release I can find. The first patch (No SP, IR1) was August 2009 which is after Windows 7 RTM so possibly the original release supproted it too. |
| 8 | SP3 | — | Windows RT not supported. Earliest support might be an IR patch to SP2. |
| 8.1 | SP4 | — | Windows RT not supported. Earliest support might be an IR patch to SP3 |
| 10 | SP4 IR1 | — | |
| Server 2008 | ? | SP2 | Support probably ends with SP2 IR6a. Not sure what the earliest verion supported is - certainly at least SP1 IR9a and possibly as early as the initial release |
| Server 2008 R2 | ? | — | Not sure what the earliest verion supported is - certainly at least SP1 IR9a and possibly as early as the initial release |
| Server 2012 | SP3 | — | Earliest support might be an IR patch to SP2. |
| Server 2012 R2 | SP4 | — | Earliest support might be an IR patch to SP3. |
| Server 2016 | SP4 IR7 | — | |
| Server 2019 | SP4 IR12 | — |
This client has only ever been available from download.novell.com which requires registration to download clients and possibly a support contract to see patches. There are only old versions of the client no longer available from MicroFocus available here. Unless you have a specific need for something old, grab the latest version from them.
| Version | Date | Notes | Link |
| Download Latest Versions (SP6 IR1 as of March 2022) from MicroFocus | |||
| SP4 IR13 | 2020-02-18 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016, Server 2019 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR12 | 2019-05-15 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016, Server 2019 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR11 | 2018-12-01 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR10 | 2018-09-06 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR9 | 2018-07-12 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR8a | 2018-05-18 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR8 | 2018-04-03 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR7a | 2017-10-25 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR7 | 2017-09-29 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR6 | 2017-04-01 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR5 | 2016-12-13 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR4 | 2016-09-17 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR3 | 2016-05-13 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR2 | 2015-12-11 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 IR1 | 2015-07-29 | Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2 | Readme, Download |
| SP4 | 2015-01-27 |
Supported Platforms: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2 Copy of the Download Page with system requirements, new features, and other details. |
Readme, Download |
| SP3 | 2013-01-16 | Supported platforms: Windows 7, 8, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012 | Readme, Download |
| SP2 | 2011-11-28 | Supported Platforms: Vista, 7, Server 2008, Server 2008 R2 | Readme, Download |
| SP1 IR9a | 2011-07-04 | Supported Platforms: Windows Vista, 7, Server 2008, Server 2008 R2 | Readme, Download |
After much searching I've been unable to find the following:
I'm not a netware expert, don't have any of those fancy novell certifications and have never administred a netware network; I've just played with it at home occasionally since 2004 or so. Email me if you've got any suggestsions or corrections for this page or any extra information you think is worth including here. My address is david at this websites domain name (without the www bit of course).