Can workstations access Netware 6 servers without the Novell Client?

[wardog25]

We have 3 Netware 5 servers and 2 Netware 6. Workstations can access the NW 5 servers with just client service for netware installed, but they can't access the NW 6 ones without the entire Novell client installed. Is there any way to remedy this?

The reason I would prefer not to have the Novell client installed is it seems to slow a lot of stuff down with Windows 2000 and also causes issues with our backup tape drive, etc.

 

[DrGreen26]

You can implement the browser based login. I believe Netware 5 and 6 have this capability


Mark C. Greenwood, CNE
m_jgreenwood@yahoo.com

With more than 10 years experience to share.

 

[marvhuffaker]

With my reply, I'm assuming you haven't done anything with the partitioning and replicas in your tree.

The two NetWare 6 servers that you've installed recently probably don't have replicas on them. You will have to add replicas to them manual using either NDSMGR32.EXE or ConsoleOne. (You can find both on the NW 5.x servers, but only ConsoleOne on NW 6)

When you use the Microsoft client for NetWare, you need to have replicas on any Novell server you are trying to login to. Otherwise you can't be authenticated.

You also need to set up the bindery context on each of the NW 6.0 servers if you haven't already done so. This is done by putting this in the autoexec.ncf or typing at the command line:

SET BINDERY CONTEXT = xxxxxxx.xxxxx.xxxxxxx (context where the User objects are located)

Marvin Huffaker MCNE, CNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[wardog25]

Well, I can see in NDSMGR32 that the NW6 servers do not have replicas on them. But when I right click on them in the tree, the only options that come up are "Delete" and "Information". The Create replica option is grayed out. What do I need to do to get it to allow me to create a replica?

And is there anything that can get messed up if I create a replica on them?

Thanks

 

[wardog25]

ok, i discovered how to add replicas...i guess i wasn't high enough up in the tree. but i'm still concerned about any ramifications of that. Can it affect anything badly?

And about that Bindery context command, where do i find the context where the User objects are located?

(I feel silly asking all this, but as i may have said before, my training is in Win2k. Netware is basically all greek to me)

 

[marvhuffaker]

There's nothing wrong with having a replica on each server. It only slightly increases network traffic since changes in NDS are synchronized to all servers containing replicas. You probably won't notice any difference.

Use NWADMN32 to browse the tree and find where your users are.




Marvin Huffaker MCNE, CNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[terry712]

i'm sorry i cant understand the logic in not using the novell client here
i've never had any probs with 2000
surely using the microsoft client will restrict you to bindery logins and ipx land
surely you want to be getting to ip and minimising protocols on servers and pc's
also if using ms client you cant use any of the nice feature of zen etc - you are effectively downgrading the netware functionality to that of a netware 3.x or nt server

 

[marvhuffaker]

I've seen backup programs such as veritas netbackup that work better when you don't have the Novell client. Also the system would blue screen when using the novell client during a backup, but not with the MS client. Not sure why, and never had the luxury of troubleshooting further.

other than that, I agree. not using the client pretty much kills a lot of good functionality.



Marvin Huffaker MCNE, CNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[wardog25]

Ok, I have another question or 2 so that I can make myself look more ignorant than I already have.

Would someone be able to outline any possible problems that could arise from creating a replica? I read somewhere that if the servers are not syncronizing correctly and you create a replica, things could get messed up.

See, my boss as well as others here have the firm belief that any possible thing that could go wrong will and so is very wary about creating this replica.

Being in the healthcare business, if the servers are down for 2 seconds when information is needed, someones neck will be wrung, so there basically cannot be any issues.

 

[wardog25]

As far as the other comments, I would imagine all this functionality with Netware 6 must come with someone who knows how to set it up. Something our company has never had. I was hired with the hope in mind of switching to windows 2k servers in the future, not for my Novell knowledge. As far as i can tell (though i wasn't here at the time) Netware 6 was purchased because it was the newest thing out, not because anyone had any clue what advantages it had over netware 5 or any other version for that matter.

As far as the client goes, we do use Veritas backup Exec and it seems slower with the client installed. As do our databases when using windows 2000 machines with the client installed.

 

[marvhuffaker]

There is nothing wrong with adding a replica. Replicas provide redunancy of the NDS database.

If something is hosed up in NDS, it is possible that adding a replica will make it worse. But just the fact of adding a replica is not going to break something unless it's already broken.

Do a health check and make sure you have no problems. If none, then don't be afraid to add it. But if you don't add the replicas, you're not going to be able to access them without the client.

If you feel you are over your head, then your company should bring someone in that is qualified to do the job right.

Marvin Huffaker MCNE, CNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[terry712]

most nhs places (assuming you are on this side of pond)
have upgrade protection so 6 would come for nothing