EXHIBIT 32.1

SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Ronald W. Hovsepian, Chief Executive Officer of Novell, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby certify that to my knowledge:

(1) The Company’s periodic report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2008 (the “Form 10-Q”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

(2) The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

/s/ RONALD W. HOVSEPIAN

Ronald W. Hovsepian

Date: September 8, 2008