Novell NetWare

From the mid-1980s until the mid-1990s, Novell dominated the network operating system market. Novell still has the largest market share of existing network installations, but Microsoft has a larger share of new operating systems that are sold and installed. This section provides an overview of these Novell network operating systems:

  • NetWare 3.x

  • NetWare 4.x

  • NetWare 5.x and 6.x

NetWare 3.x

NetWare 3.x is Novell's server operating system for small networks. It supports a client-server network model, as defined in Chapter 9. Although version 3 is three versions old and considered technologically out-of-date, it is still present on many business networks. Therefore, it deserves some discussion.

In a NetWare 3.x network, each server contains its own database of user accounts, which are stored within three files called bindery files. These files store details about users and groups, including their security-access level. The database is local to each server and is not distributed or shared with any other servers on the network. If a user needs access to two NetWare 3 servers, two accounts must be created, one on each server.

The NetWare server is a dedicated server, which means that only the NetWare operating system can run on it. You cannot run DOS or Windows commands from the server.

From the keyboard of a NetWare server, you can issue console commands. The console commands are used to start NetWare Loadable Modules (NLMs). Each NLM is a service that can be run on the server if needed. For example, if you need to support Macintosh computers on your NetWare server, you can load the ATCONFIG module. The capability to load individual services makes NetWare a modular and flexible NOS. An important feature of NLMs is that you can load and unload them without having to restart the server.

console command

A command that is input directly from the keyboard and monitor of the server instead of remotely.

NetWare Loadable Modules (NLMs)

Software that is added or removed to a NetWare server to provide additional functionality. Examples include adding support for Macintosh computers and print services.

NetWare 4.x

NetWare 4 radically changed NetWare architecture by introducing NetWare Directory Services (NDS). NDS uses the directory services network model, which is covered in Chapter 9.

NDS works by establishing a database of network objects. Each object in the database can represent any device, user, or group on the network. The NDS database is distributed and replicated to all NetWare servers. The advantage of NDS is that Windows NT, 2000, and Unix servers can all be centrally managed as objects. There is less of a need to have management systems for each platform. That translates into lower management costs.

NetWare 4.x also provides other key network services, including security services, file and print services, backup services, and a messaging service that you can use with compatible messaging applications to send e-mail and coordinate schedules.

The release of NetWare 4.11 (called IntraNetWare) added support for a web server, web client, and a new feature called the IPX/IP Gateway. The IPX/IP Gateway added support for connecting IPX-based clients to the Internet without the hassle of configuring the clients for TCP/IP.

NetWare 5.x and 6.x

With the release of NetWare 5.1, Novell made many major changes. Besides expanded support and improved performance of NDS, now called NDS eDirectory, Novell added pure IP support. Novell's proprietary protocol, IPX, is no longer used unless installed by the administrator for use with IPX-configured client computers. In addition, a growing number of Internet-based applications are included with NetWare 5.1, including DNS, DHCP, a web server, a web search server, and a web-based application server. Finally, NetWare 5.1 includes several new management tools, including a web-based server administration application. NetWare 6 is the latest version and includes more extensive support for web services.

When to Choose NetWare

If you are working on a network that has existing NetWare servers, then your decision may be easier, or at least already decided. An existing NetWare network is best left NetWare. More than for management reasons, staying with NetWare-based servers and applications will result in the shortest integration time and the best performance. Always consider the learning curve required to use a new system-even if it appears easy to learn, as might be the case with Windows NT Server.

If you are looking at a new installation or migrating from an outdated system, consider these advantages and disadvantages before making your final decision.

Advantages to choosing NetWare:

  • It has a large user base of NetWare users.

  • It is stable and performs well.

  • NetWare Directory Services has been well tested.

Before you go out and buy NetWare, consider these disadvantages:

  • There are fewer new applications and tools developed for NetWare.

  • It has no capability to limit user storage or to compress files on hard disks.




MCSA. MCSE 2003 JumpStart. Computer and Network Basics
MCSA/MCSE 2003 JumpStart
ISBN: 078214277X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 203
Authors: Lisa Donald

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