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Integration Note
January 2000
118R-1099A-WWEN Prepared by OS Integration Compaq Computer Corporation
Contents |
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Overview....................................... |
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Software Tips ............................... |
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General OS Tips ........................ |
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Command Tips........................... |
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Driver and Utility Tips................. |
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Software Application Tips......... |
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Hardware/Firmware Tips........... |
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Server Installation and |
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Configuration Tips.................... |
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Memory Tips ............................ |
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Monitor and Screen Saver |
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Tips .......................................... |
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Network Tips ............................ |
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Processor Tips ......................... |
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Storage Tips............................. |
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Helpful Websites........................ |
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Conclusion ................................. |
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Compaq Tips and Tricks for NetWare 5
Abstract: In September 1998, Novell successfully launched its powerful, next-generation network operating system, NetWare 5, that provides superior management and control of network applications and resources.
This Integration Note includes the latest and greatest hot tips, shortcuts, enhanced commands, and software tool descriptions that help network administrators, developers, and other users truly optimize the many features of a NetWare 5 system on a Compaq ProLiant platform.
More specifically, we present tips and tricks in the following areas:
•Software: general OS, commands, drivers and utilities, software applications
•Hardware/firmware: server installation and configuration, memory, monitor and screen saver, network, processor, storage
As Compaq and Novell engineers and field support teams continue to tune and test NetWare 5 on Compaq high-availability servers, we’ll pass on any more juicy tidbits or tricks that they discover.
In January 2000 Novell released NetWare 5.1, an even more robust platform for developing and deploying open, web-based applications. In fact, it’s a complete solution for an enterprise website. So, be sure to read the white paper Compaq Tips and Tricks for NetWare 5.1, available from the following websites:
•Compaq technical publications
•ActiveAnswers on Compaq.com
•NetWare 5 Online Competency Center
For more tips on Novell Directory Services (NDS), checkout the white paper Compaq Tips and Tricks for Novell Directory Services (NDS) at the same websites listed above.
Help us improve our technical communication. Let us know what you think about the technical information in this document. Your feedback is valuable and will help us structure future communications. Please send your comments to: Novell.feedback@Compaq.com
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Notice
The information in this publication is subject to change without notice and is provided “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION REMAINS WITH RECIPIENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL COMPAQ BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR OTHER DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION), EVEN IF COMPAQ HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
The limited warranties for Compaq products are exclusively set forth in the documentation accompanying such products. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting a further or additional warranty.
This publication does not constitute an endorsement of the product or products that were tested. The configuration or configurations tested or described might or might not be the only available solution. This test is not a determination or product quality or correctness, nor does it ensure compliance with any federal state or local requirements.
Product names mentioned herein might be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Compaq, Compaq Insight Manager, ROMPaq, and SmartStart, are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Netelligent and SoftPaq are trademarks and/or service marks of Compaq Computer Corporation.
GroupWise, intraNetWare, ManageWise, NetWare, Novell, NDS, Novell Directory Services, and Novell Storage Services are registered trademarks, and BorderManager, ConsoleOne, eDirectory, NDS Corporate Edition, and Z.E.N.works are trademarks of Novell, Inc.
Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
Copyright ©2000 Compaq Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
Compaq Tips and Tricks for NetWare 5 Integration Note prepared by OS Integration
Third Edition (January 2000) Second Edition (December 1999)
First Edition (October 1999)
Document Number 118R-1099A-WWEN
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Overview
With NetWare 5, Novell offers some pretty cool extras, like pure IP that exemplifies Novell’s new strategic direction and commitment to the Internet. NetWare 5 was also designed to be more tightly integrated with hardware and most optimally with the equipment it’s most familiar with— Compaq ProLiant servers, of course. This tight integration with hardware results in quicker, more reliable installations and configurations; powerful debugging tools; dynamic programming with NetWare Loadable Modules (NLMs); and a higher performing intranet. It’s a network administrator’s dream.
This Integration Note highlights some of the more powerful NetWare 5 commands, OS intricacies, software descriptions, and hardware utilization tips. Does it contain everything you ever wanted to know about OS integration? No. Consider it a documentation upgrade, or boostersupplement, to other NetWare 5 manuals and Compaq reference materials.
Major topics include the following software and hardware/firmware tips:
•Command tips
•Driver and utility tips
•Software application tips
•Server installation and configuration tips
•Memory tips
•Monitor and screen saver tips
•Network tips
•Processor tips
•Storage tips
As our engineers and field support teams uncover other pertinent tricks and hot tips, this document will be upgraded and available on the Internet. So keep your eyes peeled for updates or send us your tips. Until then, enjoy these tidbits.
Software Tips
Compaq and Novell continue their winning partnership with the release of NetWare 5 and all its high-tech features—such as ConsoleOne, Novell Directory Services (NDS), and Novell Storage Services (NSS). Compaq not only provides top-of-the-line, robust servers and options on which to run NetWare 5, it also provides the drivers and utilities to ensure NetWare 5 performs optimally on our hardware.
Although impossible to exclusively divide software tips from hardware tips, we have attempted to arrange the information in the most logical order so that you can quickly find what you need. So, if you can’t find what you need under the “Software Tips” section, try the “Hardware/Firmware Tips” section.
Let’s start with some general OS tips.
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General OS Tips
To make your NetWare 5 installation a breeze, begin with Compaq SmartStart for Servers. Don’t wait until later and wished you had. If you start off on the right foot, components—such as hardware drivers, management agents, server maintenance utilities, and other Compaq Support Software for Novell Products (Novell SSD)—will be seamlessly integrated with your NetWare 5 install. For more information on the SmartStart and Support Software CD-ROM, look at section “Drivers and Utilities.”
And be sure to use the Compaq Management CD-ROM software to easily monitor and manage your Compaq servers, workstations, desktops, and portables. For more information on the Compaq Management CD-ROM software, look at section “Drivers and Utilities.”
If you can’t seem to start (boot) the NetWare 5 Server CD-ROM from your Compaq server, check the ROM BIOS date. If the date is prior to 07/98, you need to take a slight detour. You must either update your ROM BIOS or use the CPQBOOT.EXE SoftPaq. Decisions. Decisions.
Choice #1: Update your ROM BIOS with the latest version of the ROMPaq Utility available on the SmartStart CD-ROM, as well as from our Compaq website.
Choice #2: If your server doesn’t have a BIOS update or flashing the ROM is not convenient, use the file CPQBOOT.EXE to create a floppy diskette that will enable you to
boot the NetWare 5 Server CD-ROM and begin the installation. You can find CPQBOOT.EXE on the NetWare 5 Server CD-ROM (in \INSTALL), but you’ll still need one non-write-protected floppy diskette to create the bootable diskette. There’s just a little catch with this second choice: Since
CPQBOOT.EXE writes an image file to the diskette, any data on the floppy will be overwritten. So use a blank diskette and be safe.
The choice is yours.
And our last two generalized tips….
•Did you know that a free, DOS-like shell comes with NetWare 5, as well as NetWare 4.11 (intraNetWare)? Sure does. To enable the DOS-like shell, just enter the NETBASIC command. Then type SHELL at the command prompt. Now you can use NetBasic to browse file systems and copy files. You can even use NETBASIC while the server is running. However, Compaq can top this with its free Compaq File Manager (CPQFM.NLM). See the section “SmartStart and Support Software for Compaq Server Products Release 4.60.”
•For NetWare 5, Support Pack 4 is packaged and installed separately (instead of included with the SmartStart and Support Software CD-ROM).
Command Tips
Did you know that…
•the REMOVE DOS command is no longer available?
•the DOWN command replaces EXIT?
•the DISMOUNT ALL command dismounts all NSS volumes with a single command? Well, now you know. In fact, here are more details on the above items.
With server systems growing so quickly, the space occupied by DOS in memory becomes negligible. Most of you have probably never even worried about removing DOS to free up
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memory. That could be why the REMOVE DOS command is no longer a necessity and no longer available. Think simplicity and one less command to remember.
Novell also simplified other areas. For NetWare 5, Novell combined the former DOWN and EXIT commands into just one command: DOWN. The DOWN command’s job description now includes three functions: (1) disconnecting the server from its clients, (2) unloading NetWare 5, and (3) returning you to the DOS prompt. Slick and fast! And not to worry because any events formerly triggered by the retired EXIT will still occur when you use just the DOWN command.
Here’s a troubleshooting tip that you might not know off the top of your head.
Troubleshooting server issues could take a lot of time. Wouldn’t you like to have your system configuration specifics right at your fingertips? Well, Novell thought you would and, consequently, added two new command options just for this purpose. The DISPLAY ENVIRONMENT command lists all your system’s configuration defaults (straight-from-the- factory) parameters. To see what you’ve tweaked since the server landed, use DISPLAY MODIFIED ENVIRONMENT. Usually it’s a much smaller list.
Let’s clarify the CSET and SET commands.
Don’t stop yet! Stay-tuned for one of the top tips so far.
Well, this is a great tip for those of us who can’t remember more than three items in a row.
To manipulate OS environment parameters on the fly––without having to memorize all their names––use the CSET [CLASS] console command. A list of [CLASS] parameters will pop onto the screen. CSET will then walk through each variable in the class. No more boring memorization games or scratching parameters on small sheets of paper that always disappear when you need them. Isn’t that great? We think so.
After examining the parameters, you can proceed as usual with the SET command. Two tips about SET:
•SET parameters are stored in the NetWare Configuration file and don’t need to be added to the AUTOEXEC.NCF or STARTUP.NCF files.
•The SET command still works for altering any common parameters that are changed often.
A great way to learn all those NetWare settings.
You can also use MONITOR.NLM to modify your SET parameters. In the old NetWare 4.x days, you used the SERVMAN utility. However, MONITOR.NLM is more convenient.
Just use these three simple steps:
1.Start MONITOR.NLM.
2.Select Server Parameters.
3.Select the desired parameter from the list.
IMPORTANT: MONITOR.NLM must be loaded as the last NLM in the AUTOEXEC.NCF. This ensures an accurate read of the configured network server information. If changes are made to the console, unload MONITOR.NLM and reload it after the change has been made.
Let’s talk a little about RCONSOLE.
The DOS-based RCONSOLE command lets you remotely access a server. What you see on your RCONSOLE screen is what you’d see on the remote server’s screen if you were actually sitting in front of it. However, due to the nature of the interface, a GUI is unavailable to remote sessions.
That means no pictures or mouse movements; RCONSOLE is limited to text. If you try to use
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(+) or (–) to cycle through remote windows, the GUI will not appear, even if it’s active on the server.
For easy console access, just add the following to the end of your AUTOEXEC.NCF file:
REMOTE [somepassword] RSPX
Now you’ll always have access to the console—without any extra work. Just load RCONSOLE.EXE from SYS:PUBLIC (usually on the Z:drive); select SPX; then pick a server.
Need an encrypted password? Easy. Just type REMOTE. Then type REMOTE ENCRYPT [yourpassword]. You’ll then see the command syntax to use for adding your encrypted password to the AUTOEXEC.NCF file. At the prompt, type YES, which writes the information to
LDREMOTE.NCF.
IMPORTANT: Don’t use the REMOTE command to change your current password. If you have used INETCFG to set your remote password, you must use the same command to change your password.
Driver and Utility Tips
Many of the drivers and utilities that Compaq provides can be found on the SmartStart and Support Software CD-ROM and the Compaq Management CD-ROM, both of which ship with your server. Most of these products are called NetWare Loadable Modules or simply NLMs.
Here you have it: the scoop on those NLMs.
NetWare Loadable Modules (NLMs) are powerful code packages, or programs, that give you more control of your system. If you really want to enhance your computer system, learn which NLMs exist, how they optimize performance, and where you can retrieve them. For simplicity, Novell even removed the LOAD command in NetWare 5 so you can save some keystrokes. To launch NLMs without the LOAD command, simply type the module name. (In a year’s time this saves a lot of keystrokes.)
•To check if a specific module has been loaded, enter the MODULES command, followed by the name of the module: [MODULE_NAME]. When searching for a particular module, wildcards are allowed. If you forget the module’s name, you can just type MODULES. You can then view the list of every NLM that has been loaded since the server started.
•Some NLMs are contained inside the SERVER.EXE file and are always proceeded by an asterisk (*). These NLMs are called Bound-In and are loaded in a predetermined order when you start the server. Also see the section: “Server Installation and Configuration.”
•JAR.NLM, TAR.NLM, and ZIP.NLM are included with NetWare 5 and give you commandline access to compression utilities. There is no need to download the files separately.
•NWCONFIG.NLM now replaces INSTALL.NLM.
•The Novell Event Bus (NEB.NLM) facilitates communication between the software modules, such as CPQHLTH.NLM and NWPA.NLM; management agents; and device drivers. That’s why you must remember to load NEB.NLM before the CPQHLTH.NLM driver and before any command to manually load HAMs or CDMs, which would force NWPA to be loaded.
•Make certain that the latest versions of drivers and other NLMs are located in both C:\NWSERVER and C:\NWSERVER\DRIVERS. Why? Because NetWare 5 searches C:\NWSERVER and C:\NWSERVER\DRIVERS for drivers when a new hot-pluggable device
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is detected. If the server finds a different version of the driver in each location, the Take heed! file in C:\NWSERVER\DRIVERS will be used for the new device and will replace
(overwrite) the other one.
For more NLM tips, continue reading.
SmartStart and Support Software for Compaq Server Products Release 4.30
Good news! If you can remember the long name of this compact disc, you‘re halfway to grasping its powerful applications. The other half is even easier. Just open up the SmartStart CD-ROM that shipped with your server.
In order to ensure that Compaq servers are equipped with the latest features and drivers, each disc contains BIOS updates and the latest version of value-add drivers and utilities (powerful, customized NLMs). More specifically, SmartStart contains the following software for NetWare/Compaq systems:
•Compaq Array Configuration Utility –– Setup program for Compaq array controllers; configures physical drives attached to the controller into arrays and logical drives that the OS uses.
•Compaq Array Diagnostic Utility –– Diagnostics for Compaq drive arrays.
•Compaq Diagnostics Systems ROMPaq –– ROM BIOS updates for Compaq Prosignia and ProLiant Servers.
•Compaq File Manager (CPQFM.NLM) –– Utility that allows you to search, edit, and delete files, as well as change file attributes and get file version and date information.
•Compaq Options ROMPaq –– Upgrades of programmable ROMs on Compaq options, such as disk controllers and drives.
•Compaq Support Software for Novell Products (Novell SSD) –– Compaq drivers, utilities, patches, and information for enhancing NetWare 5 on Compaq systems.
•Compaq System Configuration Utility –– A utility that aids in configuring your server and its expansion boards. Automatically allocates system resources—such as interrupts, DMA channels, memory, and I/O ports—among the installed expansion boards.
By the way, do you want all these latest and greatest software packages as they’re released? Of course you do. In order to ensure that you receive the latest Compaq drivers and utilities, Compaq periodically updates its SmartStart and Support Software CD-ROM. Is it on a calendar system? No, only when new products and support software become available. Just click here to order our I-can’t-live-without Compaq SmartStart subscription service (Product No. 195654-001).
If you already have your SmartStart CD-ROM and want to immediately reap the benefits, just follow these installation steps:
1.Insert the disk and mount the drive. The CD-ROM drive may be mounted either as a DOS drive or a NetWare volume.
IMPORTANT: The method of mounting is important because the path to the CD-ROM drive is needed to run the installation. If you mounted the drive using the DOS driver, access your CDROM drive as a drive letter, for example, D:. However, if your mounted your CD-ROM drive as a volume, then the system uses the volume label assigned to the CD-ROM drive, for example, CPQSMST400:
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