According to news reports, Novell has been working on a program to help independent software vendors develop Linux-based appliances.

Experts say that includes offering a configuration of the company's SUSE Linux Enterprise through Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) system.

Novell executives said the initiative would lower development expenses for ISVs and reduce the cost of supporting their customers.

The new initiative also will make it easier for ISVs to begin selling Linux support-based appliances through a bevy of solution providers, Novell's marketing executives say.

Pre-configured appliances are also easier to sell through distributors to solution providers, say some Fort Lauderdale computer repair experts, and Novell has actively been working with distributor Tech Data to set up the program.

Instead of charging ISVs upfront for the technology, Novell indicates that it would charge a "small percentage" of the revenue generated by the appliances.

Moreover, the program includes a suite of new technologies including SUSE Studio Online, a free Web-based tool for quickly assembling software appliances.

There is also a customizable operating system, and an updated release of SUSE Linux Enterprise JeOS, Novell's customizable version of SUSE Linux for appliances.