What Happened to Novell NE2000?
The Novell NE2000 was a highly influential 16-bit ISA Ethernet network card introduced in 1988, based on a National Semiconductor reference design. It became a de facto standard due to its low cost and Novell's strategic move to commoditize networking hardware to boost NetWare sales. While the original card was robust, its widespread cloning led to a mixed reputation for reliability due to varying quality and compatibility issues among "NE2000 compatible" cards. Today, the NE2000 is obsolete hardware, primarily found in vintage computing and emulated environments.
Quick Answer
The Novell NE2000 was a seminal 16-bit ISA Ethernet network card launched in 1988, designed to make PC networking affordable and widespread. It quickly became a de facto industry standard, leading to numerous clones. While the original Novell card was reliable, the proliferation of often-incompatible clones contributed to a mixed reputation. As of 2026, the NE2000 is entirely obsolete for modern systems, existing mainly in historical contexts, retrocomputing, and as an emulated device in virtual machines for compatibility with old software.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Novell Data Systems Inc. Founded
Novell Data Systems Inc., the precursor to Novell Inc., was founded in Provo, Utah, initially as a computer operating system manufacturer.
Novell Inc. Incorporated
Novell Data Systems Inc. was incorporated as Novell Inc., with a focus on network operating systems, particularly NetWare.
National Semiconductor DP8390 Chipset Introduction
National Semiconductor introduced the DP8390/91/92 chipset, including a complete Ethernet controller, which would become the basis for the NE1000 and NE2000.
Novell NE1000 Released
Novell introduced the 8-bit ISA NE1000 network card, based on the National Semiconductor DP8390 reference design, to lower networking hardware costs.
Novell NE2000 Released
The 16-bit ISA NE2000 network card was introduced, offering improved performance over the NE1000 and quickly becoming a de facto standard due to its low price and Novell's open compatibility policy.
NE2000 Sales Peak and Manufacturing Transfer
Novell's network cards were selling at a rate of 20,000 per month. Novell transferred the NE1000/NE2000 manufacturing and distribution business to Anthem Electronics, later Eagle Technology.
Rise of Clones and Reputation Issues
The NE2000's popularity led to a proliferation of "NE2000 compatible" clones, many of which had varying quality and compatibility issues, contributing to a mixed reputation for the standard.
National Semiconductor Ceases DP8390 Production
National Semiconductor stopped manufacturing the 8390 chip, the core component of the NE2000 design, marking a significant step towards the card's obsolescence.
Novell Acquired by The Attachmate Group
Novell Inc. was acquired by The Attachmate Group for $6.10 per share in cash, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary.
Attachmate Group Acquired by Micro Focus
The Attachmate Group, including Novell, was subsequently acquired by UK-based Micro Focus International.
Micro Focus Acquired by OpenText
Micro Focus International, which owned Novell's assets, was acquired by the Canadian software company OpenText. Novell's products and technologies are now integrated within various OpenText divisions.
Current Status: Obsolete but Emulated
As of today, the Novell NE2000 is an obsolete piece of hardware, primarily existing in retrocomputing setups and widely emulated in virtual machine software like Bochs and QEMU for compatibility with legacy systems and for educational purposes.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Novell NE2000 emerged in 1988 as a 16-bit ISA Ethernet network card, a successor to the 8-bit NE1000 introduced the previous year. Its creation was a strategic move by Novell, primarily a software company known for its NetWare network operating system, to drive down the cost of networking hardware and accelerate the adoption of PC-based networks. Novell's goal was not to profit from hardware sales but to expand the market for its software.
The NE2000 was based on a simple, low-cost reference design from National Semiconductor, utilizing their DP8390 Ethernet chip. Unlike some competitors that used shared memory or DMA, Novell opted for Programmed I/O (PIO), which, while potentially slower, avoided complex configuration issues common with memory managers of the era. This design choice, combined with Novell's decision to allow other vendors to manufacture "NE2000-compatible" cards without royalty (provided they passed certification), rapidly established the NE2000 as a de facto industry standard. By 1989, Novell's cards were selling at a rate of 20,000 per month, significantly expanding its market presence.
The widespread adoption and open compatibility policy, however, led to a proliferation of clones. Many manufacturers produced cards labeled "NE2000 compatible," but these often varied in their adherence to the original design, sometimes using clone chips with minor differences or cutting costs by omitting features. This inconsistency meant that while the genuine Novell NE2000 was generally robust, many "compatible" cards suffered from reliability issues and driver incompatibilities, particularly with operating systems like Linux and early versions of Windows. This led to a mixed reputation for the "NE2000" as a whole, with the original card often unfairly maligned due to the shortcomings of its numerous imitators.
As technology advanced, the ISA bus and 10 Mbps Ethernet became obsolete. The National Semiconductor 8390 chip, the heart of the NE2000, ceased manufacturing in 2003. Novell itself faced increasing competition, particularly from Microsoft's Windows NT in the 1990s, leading to a decline in its market dominance. The company underwent several acquisitions: by The Attachmate Group in 2011, Micro Focus International in 2014, and most recently by OpenText in 2023.
Today, the Novell NE2000 is a relic of early PC networking. It is no longer produced or used in modern computing environments. Its legacy, however, endures in retrocomputing communities, where enthusiasts use it to build and maintain vintage PC networks. Furthermore, the NE2000 architecture is frequently emulated in virtual machine software like Bochs and QEMU, making it a common choice for developers learning network card programming due to its simple design and broad emulator support.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Novell NE2000 made different choices?