| Test Objective Covered: Identify NetWare 6 Features
Whether you're continuing your certification training or just want to surf the 'Net using NetWare 6, you'll want to become intimately familiar with all of NetWare's new and updated features. In this section, we will explore 20 exciting features organized into two main categories: New NetWare 6 Features Novell offers seven completely new web-based features in NetWare 6 including iFolder, iPrint, iManager, NetWare Web Access, Native File Access Pack, NetStorage, and NetDrive. Updated NetWare 6 Features Novell has enhanced 13 of the most popular tools from previous versions of NetWare, including eDirectory, Migration, Novell Clustering Services, NSS, and NetWare Remote Manager.
Let's get started with the seven coolest new features offered by NetWare 6. New NetWare 6 Features Again, Novell has pioneered new ground in the world of networking. The new features available in NetWare 6 provide administrators all over the world with an enhanced toolkit of Internet-savvy filing, printing, and network management utilities. (Just don't forget the "i.") Following is a brief description of the seven most exciting new web-based features included with NetWare 6: Novell iPrint Novell iPrint is a powerful web-based printing tool that allows mobile users to print from a variety of remote locations to a plethora of printing devices via the Internet. Users simply point, click, and print from any web browser. One of the greatest features of iPrint is a map utility that enables you to select printers from a geographic-oriented web page. With this feature, printers are represented as icons on a map with all the complex redirection management handled in the background and transparent to the users. This feature, called the iPrint Map Designer, is illustrated in Figure 1.2. We will explore iPrint in greater depth in Chapter 6. Figure 1.2. iPrint Map Designer.
NetWare Web Access This Java servlet application built into NetWare 6 is based on Novell's award-winning Portal Services. With the NetWare Web Access product, administrators can create a secure web-based portal, enabling users to access network resources from anywhere in the world via a simple web browser no more clients! Customized content is delivered to users through gadgets Java windows to specific content on web pages within the portal. Gadgets communicate with back-end systems to gather all the specific data that users need. This is all accomplished with a single sign-on. You will build your own NetWare Web Access portal in Chapter 6. Novell Native File Access Pack NetWare 6 includes native support for Macintosh and Unix clients…finally! The Novell Native File Access Pack included with NetWare 6 allows Macintosh, Windows, and Unix workstations to access and store files on NetWare servers without having to install additional Novell client software. All of this magic is explained in depth in Chapter 6. Novell iManager iManager represents the future of Novell web-based network management. NetWare 6 includes a prerelease version of iManager that allows you to manage network resources, eDirectory objects, printing devices, Novell licensing, and DNS/DHCP services through a web browser (see Figure 1.3). iManager accomplishes this feat by assigning eDirectory administration roles and tasks to specific users. Eventually, iManager will replace traditional platform-specific utilities such as NetWare Administrator and ConsoleOne. You will learn how to manage NetWare 6 services using iManager in Chapter 4. Figure 1.3. The iManager browser screen.
Novell iFolder iFolder is the first of three new Internet-based Novell storage solutions introduced in NetWare 6 and is the user interface component of Novell's new storage strategy. iFolder is a file storage and management tool that allows users to access applications and data via a Java-enabled web browser. We'll access lots of data regarding iFolder in Chapter 6. Novell NetStorage NetStorage is the second component of Novell's extensive new Internet-based storage strategy. NetStorage serves as a bridge between your company's protected Novell storage devices and the Internet. This is the critical back-end component of Novell iFolder. NetStorage provides a platform for secure file access from any web browser or Microsoft Web Folders. You'll learn how to build a NetStorage filing cabinet in Chapter 5. Novell NetDrive NetDrive is the third, and final, component of Novell's Internet-based storage strategy. NetDrive allows users to map file system drives to web servers or FTP servers using a simple Internet connection. Using NetDrive, you can perform all the same file operations on web and FTP servers that you now perform using Windows Explorer. We will engage in some NetDrive exploring of our own in Chapter 5.
This completes our brief overview of new features in NetWare 6. Yet, this is only the beginning. There are almost twice as many updated and enhanced features coming up. Let's check them out. Updated NetWare 6 Features In addition to all the great new features, NetWare 6 includes updated and enhanced versions of some of your favorite Novell tools, including eDirectory, Migration, Novell Clustering Services, NSS, and NetWare Remote Manager. In this section, we will explore a plethora of enhanced NetWare 6 features in five different categories: It's important to update your network periodically. Let's take a closer look. eDirectory Do you remember Novell Directory Services (NDS)? I hope so, it's been around for many years. eDirectory is the new, enhanced incarnation of NDS. NetWare 6 is built on the foundation of eDirectory Version 8.6. This improved version of NDS provides better replication and partitioning capabilities for these Directory-enabled services: automated business-relationship management, supply-chain management, virtual private networks (VPNs), electronic wallets, automated notification and provisioning systems, and some of today's most popular electronic storefronts. eDirectory is the heart and soul of NetWare 6. We will dedicate Chapter 3 to this wonder of science. TIP NetWare 6 is built on the foundation of eDirectory Version 8.6. If you are integrating your new NetWare 6 servers into an existing network, you must upgrade the network to support eDirectory Version 8.6 with NetWare Deployment Manager before you install or upgrade your new NetWare 6 servers.
NetWare 6 Migration Fortunately, Novell has dramatically improved the NetWare Migration Wizard in NetWare 6. In addition, Novell Licensing Services has shifted from a server-based model to a network-based model called User Access Licensing (UAL). Here is a brief preview of two enhanced NetWare 6 features that apply to migration: NetWare Migration Wizard The new NetWare 6 Migration Wizard solves problems administrators previously experienced when upgrading certain hardware and software. This new, enhanced wizard enables you to migrate network data and resources from NetWare 3, NetWare 4, NetWare 5, NetWare 6, and Windows NT to a server running NetWare 5 or NetWare 6. You will migrate one of ACME's legacy servers to NetWare 6 in Chapter 2. Novell Licensing Services In early versions of NetWare, users were granted access to network resources and services based on the server they logged into. This meant that each user required an available license for every server that hosted a resource they needed. This is known as the Server Connection License (SCL) model. In NetWare 6, Novell Licensing has evolved beyond the server to focus on the network as a whole. This is the new UAL model. In the UAL model, User objects receive a permanent license unit that allows them to access network services at any time and from any workstation attached to the network. This greatly simplifies Novell license management. We will explore the new UAL model in greater depth later in this chapter.
Novell Storage Management and Clustering Earlier, we previewed three new NetWare 6 storage strategies centered on the Internet: iFolder, NetStorage, and NetDrive. Novell has also made significant improvements to the following three storage services from earlier versions of NetWare: Novell Storage Services (NSS) Novell Storage Services (NSS) is an integrated file storage and management system that was first introduced in earlier versions of NetWare. NSS uses free space from multiple storage devices to create an unlimited number of volumes that each store up to 8 trillion files of up to 8 terabytes each. That's an unbelievable amount of data storage, even by today's demanding standards. In NetWare 6, NSS has been improved to better integrate with Novell Clustering Services (supporting 255 volumes) and provide default support for the SYS: volume. For more information regarding Novell Storage Services, refer to Chapter 5. Novell Cluster Services (NCS) Novell Cluster Services (NCS) is a high-availability clustering solution that enables you to configure up to 32 NetWare servers into a multimode cluster where network resources can be dynamically transferred from server to server on the fly. In NetWare 6, NCS is enabled for eDirectory and supports failover, failback, and load balancing of individually managed cluster resources. NetWare 6 ships with a 2-node cluster included. We will dedicate Chapter 7 to Novell Clustering in the guide. Storage Management Services (SMS) Storage Management Services (SMS) has been the NetWare backup strategy of choice for almost a decade. In NetWare 6, SMS has been enhanced to provide superior performance and support for cluster resources. We will explore SMS in greater depth in Chapter 5.
Novell Network Management Network management is the name of the game, and NetWare 6 offers the most advanced toolkit ever. In addition to iManager, the coolest new web-based management utility on the market, NetWare 6 offers improved versions of the following network management services: NetWare Remote Manager Previously, Novell introduced a web-based remote management tool called the "Management Portal." In NetWare 6, Novell has enhanced the capabilities of the portal and renamed it NetWare Remote Manager. The new and improved enables you to perform a large variety of server management tasks securely from a web browser, including mounting and dismounting volumes, managing server connections, accessing files on volumes and DOS partitions, configuring SET parameters, viewing server configuration parameters, and restarting the server. Also, new in NetWare 6, the integrated Console Applet allows you to view and run all console screens from a remote browser. You will get a chance to experiment with all of these great remote tools in Chapter 4. Remote Server Management The enhanced version of Remote Server Management in NetWare 6 (RConsoleJ) provides greater security through SSL (Secure Socket Layer)-based sessions. You will get a chance to see it for yourself in Chapter 4. Network Time Management Network Time Management is controlled by an integrated time synchronization tool called TimeSync. TimeSync ensures that all NetWare servers in your network report the same time to each other. In NetWare 6, TimeSync can by monitored using the improved NetWare Remote Manager. We check it out in greater depth in Chapter 3. Novell DNS/DHCP Services In NetWare 6, servers and workstations communicate with each other natively using the IP protocol. This feature requires that each server maintain a list of simple, readable names that match all the IP addressed devices on the network. In order to simplify IP addressing on a Novell network, NetWare 6 includes an application called DNS Server. DNS stands for Domain Name Services. Furthermore, NetWare 6 servers can dynamically allocate IP addresses to workstations as needed. This capability is know as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Together, these IP management services are integrated in NetWare 6 in a product called "Novell DNS/DHCP Services." We will explore all of this great IP addressing magic in Chapter 4. Novell Certificate Server The Novell Certificate Server is an additional service built into NetWare 6 that installs automatically during the NetWare 6 installation process. When NetWare installs the Certificate Server, it creates a Security container object, a Certificate Authority (CA) object, and two server certificates. This application enables you to mint, issue, and manage digital certificates from your NetWare 6 server. These capabilities are required for web-related Novell products such as NetWare Web Manager and NetWare Enterprise Web Server. You will learn a lot more about the Novell Certificate Server in Chapter 3. Novell Modular Authentication Services (NMAS) NMAS provides an integrated way of authenticating users and services from NetWare 5.1 and Windows NT/2000 servers. NMAS protects information on your network by ensuring that people accessing your network resources are, in fact, who they say they are. NMAS is required by other NetWare 6 security services such as eDirectory, Novell Certificate Server, and Novell International Cryptography Infrastructure (NICI).
NetWare Web Services Now that Novell has based its future on web-integration, it is putting a lot of pressure on NetWare Web Services. In fact, almost every tool, utility, application, and service offered by NetWare 6 uses NetWare Web Services. Fortunately, Novell has put a great deal of effort into improving and enhancing its previous web capabilities. And, Novell has solicited some help from its friends at the Apache Group. Here is a brief preview of the critical pieces of Novell's enhanced NetWare 6 Web Services puzzle (refer to Chapter 6 for more details): NetWare Web Manager This browser-based utility is the GUI portal used to access all of NetWare's Web Services and to launch all other web-based NetWare 6 management tools. NetWare Enterprise Web Server This is the HTTP server that provides a platform for serving web pages to Internet, intranet, and extranet users. The NetWare Enterprise Web Server is integrated into eDirectory, enabling you to use directory services to catalog all of your publishable network information. NetWare FTP Server This server provides FTP services for transferring files to and from NetWare volumes via the Internet. It is basically a bridge between your internal NetWare file system and web-based Enterprise Web Server. NetWare Web Search Server This is one of the industry's fastest and most accurate search engines. The NetWare Web Search Server can handle simple text searches or complex, revenue-generating logic searches for world-class web companies. Apache Web Server for NetWare This web server is installed by default when you activate NetWare Web Services and is the foundation of many of NetWare 6 Web services, including NetWare Remote Manager, NetWare Web Manager, and iFolder. The Apache Web Server for NetWare is an open-source web server that was originally developed by the nonprofit Apache Group. In fact, the Apache Web Server is used by more than 60 percent of all web-hosting companies. It is extremely stable and free. Tomcat Servlet Engine for NetWare Also developed by the Apache Group, Tomcat is a servlet engine that provides web applications to browser-based clients. Tomcat is the foundation of many NetWare 6 web features, including the NetWare Web Search Server. WebDAV WebDAV stands for Web-Distributed Authoring and Versioning. It is an enhancement to HTTP that provides the foundation of a web-based collaboration, editing, and searching tool. Although HTTP supports only file reading, WebDAV enables documents to be written with sophisticated version control.
That does it! This completes our comprehensive preview of NetWare 6's Top 20 new and enhanced features. As you can see, we will all be managing the network in style very soon. But before you can manage anything, you must build your NetWare 6 servers. This is where the journey really begins. In this chapter, you will learn what it takes to build a NetWare 6 server from scratch. We will skip hardware assembly (that's the easy part), and dive straight into software installation. That's where the CNE journey begins. Have a great trip! |
