<p>I'm not sure whether I'm asking the question correctly, but I've been told SQL Server cannot run on a Novell server. Is this true? If yes, why not?</p>

You may have to be more specific about what a "novell server" is.  From what I understand, Novell servers run some form of Suse linux.  Sql Server is a windows only product.
My company, however, does have clients that run Novell networks, and we do run Sql Servers on their network.  But they're hosted on a win box...