Phase IV: Setting Up DNS and eDirectory

In Phase IV, you will expand beyond the server to establish Domain Name settings and configure the eDirectory tree. This stage encompassed the following three steps: configure Domain Name Service (DNS), configure eDirectory, and license the NetWare 6 server.

Let's start with enhanced IP address management via the Domain Name Service.

Step 12: Configure DNS

Earlier, we mentioned that the IP protocol identifies servers and workstations by their unique four-part IP addresses. These addresses are complex and difficult for humans to track. Fortunately, your NetWare 6 server can maintain a list of simple, readable names that match all the IP addressed devices on your network. This capability is known as Domain Name Services, and the corresponding NetWare 6 application is called DNS Server.

To provide DNS services from your NetWare 6 server, you must configure the following information in Figure 2.13:

• Host Computer The simple, readable name on the DNS server that matches your NetWare server's name (or the name you have bound to the internal server NIC). You can set up the host computer name on the DNS server to use the NetWare server name.

• Domain Name The hierarchical name that represents the organization of your network, such as acme.com. Typically, you should use the information provided by your network administrator. In many cases it is the name of the server's host Organization object in the NDS tree.

• Domain Name Server The IP address of the DNS server that maintains the list containing this NetWare server's simple, readable name and IP address. For more information, contact your network administrator or ISP. If your NetWare 6 server is providing DNS services, this would be its own IP address.

Figure 2.13. Configuring Domain Name Services during NetWare 6 upgrade.

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If you see an error message at this point, it means that you don't have an A-record on your DNS server for the hostname you supplied. Be sure to go back later and add the appropriate record.

Step 13: Configure eDirectory

When the Login to NDS screen appears, log into the tree as admin, using the full distinguished name and password.

At this point, the Upgrade Wizard checks for duplicate tree names and installs NDS. When the NDS Summary screen appears (see Figure 2.14), write the values you supplied for the following parameters and store it in a safe place for future reference:

• NDS Tree Name

• Server Context

• Administrator name

• Administrator password you entered on previous screen

Figure 2.14. Viewing the NDS Summary screen during NetWare 6 upgrade.

Step 14: License the NetWare 6 Server

Novell Licensing Services has been enhanced in NetWare 6 to support two different models for distributing valid license certificates to network users and services:

• Server Connection License (SCL) Model In the SCL model, users are granted access to network resources and services based on the server they are logged into. This means that each user must obtain an available license for every server that hosts a resource that they need.

• User Access License (UAL) Model In NetWare 6, Novell Licensing has evolved beyond the server to focus on the network as a whole. This new model is known as User Access Licensing (UAL). 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.

When you install or upgrade to NetWare 6, the Wizard installs the SCL model by default. To add license certificates and/or upgrade to UAL, you must use iManager after the installation or upgrade. Fortunately, UAL and SCL can coexist on the same network. In this scenario, NetWare delivers the appropriate license certificate type based on the location of the resource NetWare 6 servers share a single UAL certificate, while NetWare 5 servers deliver an SCL certificate for each server.

We will use the NetWare 6 Upgrade Wizard to license the NetWare 6 server (as shown in Figure 2.15). When the Licenses dialog box appears, insert the NetWare license disk in the floppy drive and select the appropriate license file. Be sure to use a unique license disk, and make sure that you actually browse to and select the license file, instead of just listing the drive letter (a common mistake).

Figure 2.15. Licensing the server during NetWare 6 upgrade.

When you select the license file, you'll notice that the type of license appears in the Description section, such as "NetWare 6 Server, Plus Fifty User Connections." Select OK to return to the Licenses screen, and Next to continue to step 15.

NetWare 6 must have a valid software license in order to function as a server. You can install the license from the NetWare 6 License/Cryptography disk or browse to a directory that contains a valid NetWare 6 license. In addition, you can choose to install NetWare 6 with out a license by marking the Install without Licenses check box in Figure 2.15. In this scenario, the unlicensed server will allow only two user connections.

If an MLA License Certificate context screen appears, select the NDS context where you would like the MLA server-based license certificate and connection license certificate installed. These MLA certificates are valid for all servers and users located at the selected eDirectory context and below. You may wish to install these MLA license certificates high in the tree so that they will be available to more servers and users.

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If you are using a demo version of the NetWare 6 Operating System CD (that is, one that does not have an associated license disk), use the license file in the preselected directory on the CD. If you can't locate the license file, mark the Install without Licenses check box, although you may experience problems with features such as Novell Distributed Print Services (NDPS), which use multiple connections.

This completes the three trickiest steps of NetWare 6 upgrade and Phase IV. Now, it's time for the home stretch: completing the upgrade in Phase V.