Drew Major
Drew Major | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 17, 1956 California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, computer scientist |
| Known for | Lead engineer for Novell NetWare operating system |
Drew Major (born June 17, 1956) is an entrepreneur and computer scientist best known for his role as a lead engineer during the early development of the Novell NetWare operating system.[1][2]
He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in 1980, graduating with distinction in both mathematics and computer science. Although his birthplace is California, Major has predominantly lived in Utah throughout his life.[2]
SuperSet Software
SuperSet Software was established by Drew Major along with Dale Neibaur, Kyle Powell, and subsequently Mark Hurst—all former colleagues from the Eyring Research Institute (ERI). Their collaboration began with academic projects at Brigham Young University in 1981 and was influenced by their work with Xerox Network Systems (XNS) protocols at ERI. This experience contributed to the creation of Novell’s IPX and SPX networking protocols as well as the NetWare operating system.[2]
In 1983, under the direction of Ray Noorda at Novell, SuperSet was commissioned to develop a CP/M disk sharing system aimed at networking Novell’s CP/M hardware. The project shifted towards producing an effective file-sharing solution for IBM-compatible personal computers, which laid the groundwork for Novell’s suite of networking products.[1][2]
Additionally, the team created Snipes, a text-based game designed to demonstrate and test their networking technology.[3]
Novell
In 1983, Major became part of Novell, working alongside Kyle Powell, Dale Neibaur, and Mark Hurst to enable file and resource sharing across local area networks (LANs) on PCs. He served as the principal architect and developer of the NetWare operating system for more than fifteen years before leaving Novell in 2003.
In 1995, Byte magazine honored him as one of the top twenty individuals who have significantly influenced microcomputing.
Move Networks
Following his departure from Novell, Major co-founded Move Networks, Inc., a company specializing in video networking technology. The company encountered financial challenges in 2010 due to setbacks in delivering critical technologies, which led to the loss of key customers. In January 2011, EchoStar, Inc. acquired Move Networks for $45 million.