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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000758004-09-000185.txt : 20091210
<SEC-HEADER>0000758004-09-000185.hdr.sgml : 20091210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091210164022
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000758004-09-000185
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091210
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			O'Keefe Colleen A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001382276

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13351
		FILM NUMBER:		091234111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		404 WYMAN STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			WALTHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02451

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOVELL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000758004
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				870393339
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		404 WYMAN STREET, SUITE 500
		CITY:			WALTHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02451
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8018617000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1800 SOUTH NOVELL PLACE
		CITY:			PROVO
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-08</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000758004</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVELL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NOVL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001382276</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>O'Keefe Colleen A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NOVELL, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>404 WYMAN STREET, SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior VP of Services</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>62656</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>208722</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.99</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>128205</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-12-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>128205</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>128205</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of common stock that may be issued upon the vesting of a like number of restricted stock units granted on December 8, 2009.  The units will vest in three equal installments if the last reported sales price of Novell's common stock on NASDAQ for the immediately preceding 20 consecutive trading day period equals or exceeds $5.50, $7.00 and $8.50 respectively, which target prices are subject to reduction at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors or a committee thereof. As the restricted stock units vest, the vested units will automatically be converted to vested common stock on a one-for-one basis.  Any units that have not vested by December 8, 2016, will be forfeited.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Of these securities, 25% vest on December 8, 2010, and 2.0833% vest monthly thereafter so that the options are fully vested on December 8, 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Elspeth Grant Pruett/Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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