NetWare Server Basics

There are many tasks associated with managing a NetWare 6.5 server; from monitoring performance to adding or changing server hardware, to accounting for customer usage. NetWare 6.5 brings a new management paradigm to many of these standard operations. This chapter presents you with the options for performing server maintenance and management. As you will see, many of these options are now Web-based, using the latest one NET-management tool such as NoRM. The move is definitely toward remote, clientless management tools that give you all the power of NetWare's traditional console-based utilities. However, when appropriate, the tried-and-true NetWare methods are provided as well. Specific administrative tasks covered in this chapter include

• Protecting the server

• Monitoring and optimizing server performance

• Performing regular server maintenance

• Installing or replacing server hardware, such as hard disks and network boards

• Working with CD-ROMs as network volumes

• Managing startup files

• Synchronizing time between all the network servers

The behavior of a NetWare 6.5 server is configured and managed through the use of console utilities and NetWare Loadable Modules (NLMs). NoRM exposes these tools for use from a remote workstation. Similarly, ConsoleOne provides RConsoleJ to make the server console accessible from any workstation on your LAN/WAN.

Console Utilities

Console utilities are used to change or view some aspect of the NetWare 6.5 server. They ship as part of the core operating system. Console commands are accessible either directly from the console or remotely through NoRM or RConsoleJ.

To see a list of all supported console commands, select the Console Commands option in NoRM or type HELP at the server console. Figure 4.1 shows the NoRM Console Commands page. To see a brief description and example of any console command, select the Information link next to the command in NoRM or type HELP at the server console. Appendix C contains a comprehensive list of NetWare 6.5 console commands.

Figure 4.1. Console commands list in NoRM.

NetWare Loadable Modules

A NetWare Loadable Module is at its most basic a program that runs on NetWare. Once loaded, an NLM becomes part of the NetWare OS. NLMs can be dynamically loaded and unloaded. Many NLMs are automatically installed and loaded with NetWare 6.5. Others are optional and can be loaded as needed. Four of the most common types of NLMs are listed in Table 4.1.

Table 4.1. Common Types of Loadable Modules

TYPE OF MODULE	EXTENSION	DESCRIPTION
NLM	.NLM	Changes or adds functionality to the server. This includes most applications and services that run on the NetWare OS kernel.
Name Space module	.NAM	Allows the operating system to store Macintosh, Windows 2000/XP, Windows 9x, or NFS files, along with their unique file formats, long filenames, and other characteristics.
LAN driver	.LAN	Permits NetWare to communicate with a network board installed in the server.
Storage drivers	.CDM and .HAM	These drivers are associated with the NetWare Peripheral Architecture (NPA) used to drive specific storage devices and host adapters. The Host Adapter Module (HAM) is used to drive specific host adapter hardware. The Custom Device Module (CDM) is used to communicate with a specific storage device such as a hard disk, which are connected to the host adapter.

NLMs can open their own status screens on the server console when they are loaded. You can view the status screens that are active on your server by selecting Console Screens from NoRM (see Figure 4.2).

Figure 4.2. Viewing active console screens from NoRM.

If you are at the server console directly, or using an RConsoleJ session, you can toggle through the status screens by using Alt+Esc from the server console. Use Ctrl+Esc to pull up a list of available screens similar to what you can see from NoRM. For more information on RConsoleJ, refer to Chapter 3.

To load an NLM, you can type the name of the NLM on the server console. However, it is often more convenient to use the List Modules link in NoRM. Enter the full name, including path , to the NLM you want to load in the dialog box and click Load Module. Check Display System Console for Module to view the system console while the NLM loads to make sure it loads properly.

Similarly, you can unload NLMs that are not required for the operation of the NetWare operating system by typing UNLOAD < module > at the server console. Using NoRM, you can select an NLM from the list of loaded modules in List Modules, and click Unload. This option is not available for kernel-level NLMs such as SERVER.EXE or NSS.NLM.

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NoRM has the capability to define groups of servers and create a custom home page from which those servers can be managed. Select the Configure New Group option in NoRM and you can select the server(s) that you want include as part of a management group . Once these groups are created, it makes it easy for you to move from server to server as necessary to perform your administrative tasks.

Stopping and Starting the Server

If you need to shut down or restart your NetWare 6.5 server, first notify users so that they have time to save their work and close any files they are using on that server. Once this is done, select Down/Restart in the navigation pane in NoRM (see Figure 4.3).

Figure 4.3. The Down, Restart, and Reset options in NoRM.

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You can send a broadcast message to all users attached to a server by selecting the Connections link in NoRM. Simply type your message into the Broadcast Message field and click Send.

• Down: This option shuts down the server and returns the server console to a DOS prompt. From the DOS prompt, you can turn off the computer, reboot it, or restart the server. This is equivalent to typing DOWN from the server console.

• Restart: This option unloads and then automatically reloads the NetWare operating system without returning to DOS first. This command is equivalent to typing RESTART SERVER from the server console.

• Reset: This option not only shuts down the server and returns it to DOS, but also performs a reset of the computer hardware (warm reboot). If your server is configured to load automatically on boot up, NetWare 6.5 will automatically reload after the hardware has rebooted. This is equivalent to typing DOWN from the server console and then performing a "three-finger salute" (Ctrl+Alt+Del) to reset the hardware.

Running Java Applications on the Server

NetWare 6.5 includes an updated Java Virtual Machine (JVM) for NetWare, version 1.4.1, which makes it possible for Java-based applications and applets to run better than ever. The JVM is installed automatically during the NetWare 6.5 installation and it is used to support graphical server interface, the Apache Web server, and Tomcat Servlet server. To load an external Java application on your NetWare 6.5 server, complete the following steps:

1. Copy the application or applet files, typically a .JAR file, to the default Java directory on the server. The default directory is SYS:JAVA\LIB . This directory is included in the CLASSPATH environment variable, so the server will be able to find the application or applet without users having to specify the path.

2. Specify a Just In Time (JIT) compiler for the server to use. This will improve the performance of Java-based applications. NetWare 6.5 ships with the Symantec JIT compiler v1.3, or you can install another manufacturer's JIT compiler.

3. Java is loaded by default when NetWare 6.5 loads. If it has been unloaded for any reason, you can restart Java by loading JAVA.NLM on the server. Once JAVA.NLM is loaded, you can view Java information from NoRM by selecting Java Application Information under the Manage Applications heading (see Figure 4.4).

   Figure 4.4. Java application information and management options in NoRM.

   

4. You can start a new Java applet by selecting Start New Application and typing the APPLET <html_file> command, substituting the applet's filename for <html_file> .

5. To execute a Java-based application, the command you type depends on how you want the application to run. Use one of the following commands, substituting the application's name for <class> :

   • JAVA <class> : Use this load format if the application doesn't require user input, or if it runs in a graphical user interface.

   • JAVA NS <class> : Use this load format if the application is text-based and requires user input. This will launch a separate console screen for the Java application you are loading.

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You can view detailed statistics on any Java application running on NetWare 6.5 by clicking Show Application Details in NoRM.

You can also terminate a Java process from NoRM for any reason from the Java Application Information screenselect the application from the list of running Java applications, and click Terminate Application. Click OK to confirm that this application should be unloaded. This is equivalent to typing JAVA KILL <id> at the server console, substituting the ID of the Java process you want to terminate for <id> . The ID of the Java process is listed next to the process on the Java Application Information screen.