Okay, the headline is a bit dramatic. But the Sun-MySQL business combo makes The VAR Guy wonder: Will Novell wake up and start buying open source application providers … or is Novell doomed to repeat the exact same mistakes it made in the 1990s? Alas, Novell in 2008 looks a lot like Novell from a decade ago. That’s not good. Here’s why.

Novell has announced an agreement with Microsoft to settle potential antitrust litigation related to Novell’s NetWare operating system in exchange for $536 million in cash.

Latest examples of resentment towards and backlash against Novell (particularly as a response to Tuesday's news)

Novell has filed a Reply [PDF] to SCO's Opposition to Novell's Motion for Conversion. Novell does not mince words. It suggests that the court check SCO's math, not to mention SCO's 22 pages of its "history" of UNIX and its litigation prospects.

Another look at some new (and older) Novell SEC filings, along with their meaning

Microsoft's work with Novell bears fruit: ODF 'killer'

We recently showed how Microsoft is ’stealing’ from Novell’s GroupWise. Is this the company that Novell is serving in so many ways? Why? Has Novell forgotten the past so quickly? Examples from the news of Novell problems and loss of business to Microsoft.

Novell's fast decline continues (and so does Microsoft's, its funding partner)

Selling fear. That’s just what Novell does along with Microsoft, but it’s not alone. Novell tries to cause damage to friendly (Free software) rivals for the benefit of Microsoft and increased profit at Novell.