Drew Major

Last updated
Drew Major
2005 dmajor bw.jpg
Major in 2010
Born (1956-06-17) June 17, 1956 (age 67)
Occupation(s)Computer Scientist, Novell, Move Networks
Website http://www.novell.com

Drew Major (born June 17, 1956) is a computer scientist and entrepreneur. He is best known for his role as one of the principal engineers of the Novell NetWare operating system from early in Novell's history. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Major received a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in 1980, and graduated with honors in mathematics and computer science. He was born in California but has lived most of his life in Utah. [3] [4]

SuperSet Software

SuperSet Software was a group founded by friends and former Eyring Research Institute (ERI) co-workers Drew Major, Dale Neibaur, Kyle Powell, and later joined by Mark Hurst. Their work was based on classwork that they started in October 1981 at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA, and upon previous work experiences at Eyring Research Institute working with the Xerox Network Systems (XNS) protocol which led to the development of the Novell IPX and SPX networking protocols, and the NetWare operating system. [3] [4]

In 1983, Ray Noorda took over leadership of Novell and engaged the SuperSet group to work on networking products. The team was originally assigned to create a CP/M disk sharing system to help network the CP/M hardware that Novell was selling at the time. Under Ray Noorda's leadership, the group developed a successful file sharing system for the newly introduced IBM-compatible PC. [1] [3] [4]

The group also wrote a text-mode game called Snipes and used it to test the new network and demonstrate its capabilities. [5]

Novell

Major joined Novell in 1983, and his partners Kyle Powell, Dale Neibaur, and Mark Hurst began to work in enabling PCs to share files and other resources via a local area network (LAN). [3] [4] Major was the lead architect and developer of the NetWare operating system for over 15 years. Major left Novell in 2003. [1]

Move Networks

External video
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Drew Major Tribute 2005 UTC, posted December 4, 2014 [3]

After leaving Novell, Major co-founded video networking company Move Networks, Inc. [6] The company began to experience financial problems in 2010 for failing to deliver on key technologies, which resulted in some of its larger customers abandoning the company's technology.[ clarification needed ] [7] The company was subsequently acquired for 45 million dollars by EchoStar, Inc. in January 2011. [8]

External video
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Drew Major Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum Hall of Fame, posted November 4, 2013 [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 What Novell Founder Drew Major is Up To
  2. Drew Major of Superset Fame Honored by UVEF
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Drew Major Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum Hall of Fame
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Drew Major Tribute 2005 UTC
  5. "Snipes! « Tribute to Text-Mode Games". Textmodegames.com. 2010-09-17. Archived from the original on 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
  6. American Fork Company Move Networks Rebounding with New Business
  7. The Fall Of Move Networks
  8. Echostar Paid 45 Million for Move Networks