Novell Network Management: NetWare 6

Chapter 16: Add a NetWare 6 Server to the Tree

Objectives:

 

This chapter discusses adding a NetWare 6 server to an existing network. The objectives important to this chapter are found on page 15-1:

  1. Prepare Your Existing Network
  2. Prepare Your Server for NetWare 6
  3. Install NetWare 6
Concepts:

Prepare Your Existing Network

The chapter begins with two reasons for adding server to networks. Adding to your network's capacity if the first. Networks tend to grow, users are added, new branch offices are opened, and the number of servers needed will grow as well. The second reason is that some services that you can add to a network either require a dedicated server, or perform better when they are run on a dedicated server. The point is that you may be adding NetWare 6 servers to your network, instead of upgrading or migrating older servers. You may also be adding more servers to the network as time goes by.

The first objective is met by a familiar technique: run Deployment Manager. As in the previous chapters, Deployment Manager is used to find potential problems in your network that stand in the way of adding a new server. You will want to make a full eDirectory backup, update eDirectory on servers that need an update (to be compatible with the eDirectory version that will be on your new NetWare 6 server), and update your schema if needed.

A note is made in the chapter that could be more general than it is. Novell cautions us that a Windows 2000 workstation with a Matrox G400 video driver may not be able to run Deployment Manager. If this problem occurs with any Windows workstation, not just Windows 2000, and not just those with Matrox drivers, it is a good idea to follow Novell's advice: update the driver for your video card. This is usually a free download from the video card manufacturer's web site.

Prepare Your Server for NetWare 6

This topic is short, apparently because it has been discussed already in the text. The text recommends using hardware that is better than the minimum requirements.

  • Most servers use Intel processors. Use at least a Pentium Pro, but use a Pentium III or IV if possible. (That will look odd in the future: it is now late 2003.)
  • A server requires at least 256 MB of RAM. Novell recommends more than 1 GB.
  • A single hard drive with 4 GB of space is required. Novell recommends a RAID 5 array of drives and a Fiber-Channel Storage Area Network.

This text also reviews the steps to install NetWare on a server that cannot boot from its CD drive.

  1. Create a bootable DOS partition on the hard drive. It must be at least 200 MB. The usual method to do this is to use FDISK, FORMAT, and other DOS commands. If you are unfamiliar with creating a DOS boot disk, and using DOS commands, read the notes on this site for Installing NetWare 5.1.
  2. Copy a DOS driver for your CD drive to your DOS partition.
  3. Edit your Config.sys file to load your CD driver.
  4. Edit your Autoexec.bat file. Put the command in it to load Microsoft CD Extensions.
  5. Novell's step 5 would be better done along with step 3. Your Config.sys file should have the lines
    FILES=50
    BUFFERS=30
    in it.

Again, this procedure is needed only if you cannot boot from your installation CD. If you can boot from your installation CD, a fact you may wish to know is that the installation CD does not include Microsoft DOS. It includes Digital Research DOS. DR-DOS is very similar to MS-DOS. A difference that makes a difference to you is that MS-DOS partitions are limited to 2 GB, but DR-DOS partitions are limited to 1.5 GB.

Install NetWare 6

The text begins its discussion of installing NetWare 6 by telling you to boot your server from the CD drive. It is correct that you may have to adjust the boot device order in the computer's CMOS settings. What is not mentioned is what you must do if you had to follow the procedure above for a computer that cannot boot from the CD.

If your server-to-be cannot boot from the installation CD, carry out the procedure above to create a bootable DOS partition, making sure to copy DOS drivers for your CD drive to that partiton, reboot the server-to-be, and change to the CD drive. At the root of the CD drive, execute the command INSTALL. This will start the same program that would run automatically when booting from the CD.

Steps to install NetWare:
  1. Boot from the installation CD, or create a bootable hard drive, change focus to the CD drive, and execute the INSTALL command. Once it begins, accept the NetWare license agreement.
  2. Choose express installation (default settings) or configure a custom installation.
  3. Some environment situations may require you to choose custom options. For example, an express installation creates a random 8 digit hexadecimal number to identify your server on the network. In a custom installation you can determine this number yourself, which could be necessary if your routers are configured to forward data only from specific addresses, or if devices on your network are assigned numbers based on location.
  4. Regional settings are settings for the language used in your environment and the keyboard layout. Defaults are US English, and US keyboard.
  5. Mouse type and video mode are detected in most cases. You can select a USB, PS/2, or serial mouse if not detected.
  6. Platform module and storage adapter settings are also auto-detected if needed. In rare cases, you may need to select HAM and CDM drivers for the hard drive.
  7. Storage device and network board settings, although usually auto-detected, may require information from you about interrrupt, port, or slot values.
  8. NetWare partition and SYS: volume can be created if none exist or can replace those that already exist. You can choose to make SYS: an NSS or traditional volume.
  9. The server must be given a name.
  10. It is recommended that additional volumes be created in the server's file system, if hard drive space is available.
  11. Network protocol choices are IP, IPX, or both. The nature of your network determines the best choice.
  12. DNS service requires that this server be given a name in your domain, and the you record the IP address of your DNS server.
  13. Time Zone settings enable your network servers to keep a common network time, while providing local time to other servers and workstations.
  14. eDirectory must be installed. The server will either become the first server in a new tree, or join an existing tree.
  15. A Server License must be installed, unless you have no license, or are in a Master License Agreement environment.
  16. Install other products from the installation CD.
  17. Install Certificate Server, if one does not already exist in your tree.
  18. Customized settings can be made for the products chosed to be installed.
  19. Completing the installation means to allow the installation software to copy all necessary files from the CD to the server hard drive.