evil-tom

However both the security and performance knobs will need attention. That's just a delight of NFS. T

Well, you actually don't have a vast amount of data there, so I'd ask whether you really need a full-blown F/C SAN, or whether iSCSI SAN will meet your need, providing you make certain that you use a decent GB switch at the back end. A SAN won't solve many problems, just create new ones, so my advice is normally to ask whether you're ready to deal with the delights of live migrations of data, or whether just mirroring of data would be sufficient. T

Managed to get there yesterday - got my lanyard too! Bigger than other shows that I've been to at Olympia. Worth the day away from my desk! T

Witchness protection I presume? T

Although this forum is still labelled NetWare, I was wondering whether anyone has had a play with Domain Services for Windows (DSfW). See Domain Services for Windows: Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 This is designed to allow some of the AD features without running Microsoft servers. Does anyone have any experiences - both good and/or bad that they could feed back? I've got a meeting with Novell developers in a few weeks time, and I've been asked to give feedback as to why we do/don't use some of their products, and what features are missing from the ones we do use. I'll be at the BETT show on Thursday.

You also need to remember what link-local is actually for. It's not designed for enterprise networks - look at RFC 3927 - Dynamic Configuration of IPv4 Link-Local Addresses It's a botch job best used in the home or a small office. I disable it in Linux.

The migration to OES Linux hasn't been all plain sailing, particularly for the Macs and access to Apple resource forks over AFP. I've had to do no really major migrations of data nor visits to client workstations. It has required a steep learning curve for the sysadmin (me - I used Linux in the late '90s and dropped it as unusable until about 2005), but the other staff have been completely unaware that we've changed the background OS. It all still looks the same to them, same management practices, greater security and less downtime than a Windows migration. Far, far, fewer virus problems than my Windows friends suffer as we don't use CIFS. We have however been able to integrate it into a PGP whole disk encryption for the laptops, and we get the best of all worlds using LDAP. We've stayed a mixed shop, and use eDirectory to tie things together. I think eDir is still ahead of AD (although I'm watching), and the Domain Services for Windows means that the "must have AD" needs can be met. We've done some NetWare virtualisation under both VMWare and Xen with no trouble. The variety of platforms means that we can meet the needs of users.

Why not just use NSS onto the NAS? Quotas for free?

Shame to hear that. It's not as though there's no expertise around you. UCT has certainly got the skills. OES Linux has allowed us to keep skills in place with fewer security issues, and very little hassle.

That would be vanilla linux I presume?

A local secondary school has just been deemed "unsatisfactory" for issues such as this by Ofsted. This might move the SLT away from inaction.

Before you get over enthusuastic about the PCounter bit - find out whether they will be supporting iPrint on OES Linux. I used PCounter in the early '90s and liked it, the NetWare integration is great. If they plan to support it on OES Linux, we'll be able to use it in the future. They were being a little sluggish about its adoption last thing I knew - some were recommending PaperCut - about which I know nothing. T

The servers themselves should give few problems. It'll be the little extras you may need to put more time into - such as patching policies for new windows servers and moving from one directory service to another as well as printers. If you're using ZenWorks - that'll be the headache! Plan well in advance and test it again and again and again.... If you're starting completely from scratch - good luck! T

NetWare might be a retrograde step - however using eDirectory and using SLES with OES add-on might actually allow you the best of both worlds. There needs to be a recognition that Novell > NetWare. NetWare <> Novell. T

My feeling is that it should relate to the environment and the size of the setup. Managing people as well as machines does add a whole layer of complexity. If you look at a job and like it - but the pay is too low - then I have to admit that I've had no shame in writing to the employer telling them that I'm not applying for the job because it's not being paid enough. I've had some interesting responses - and seen the post re-advertised at a higher grade. It got me my current position. T

Not so sure that the DWP have got or provided the correct information there. Yes, NW4 is outdated and should have been upgraded to NW65/OES, but less of a target than an AD service. NW actually exceeds most of the security requirements of most of the other networked OS - ever since Windows got its security rating provided it didn't have a network card. T

Load afptcp.nlm Take a look at the sys:/etc/cifsctxs.cfg and the afpvol.cfg file for more information. Tom

Should you decide to move to OES Linux, rumour has it that A.N.D. are preparing OES Linux offerings.

The delight of NDS. You only normally need to do it once. As it's purely an object in the directory (with an ID that doesn't change when you rename it), it's all done for you.

The Novell forums are worth their weight in gold. Don't forget some of the listserv mailing lists such as the one at Novell Info Page now hosted in the UK

Out of interest, is RM's offering the one taking over, or will it be native?

I just don't tell them what sort of server files are being hosted on. It gives them an excuse for poor programming if they can blame Novell. It's the same with the OES bits. Some parts of management are happy for NW users to migrate to Linux or Windows, so if asked, you are moving to Linux. Just don't mention the "add-on product".

Well, the travel sickness has been acute at times as other parts of the world have changed for better or worse. However, I'm now a part of a move to make more of Novell in UK education - particularly training people to "go green rather than blue". I've got a meeting at Novell in the US next week with school and university NWAdmins. If you've got anything you want me to say, (that's repeatable!) then you have a small window of time if you want.

Quite sad really. However, don't forget the identity management bits. In areas where AD isn't good enough their software is the best for interoperability with other bigger systems and life outside the domain.

Works well here - supports whatever is thrown at it - including Apples. Debating when to move to OES Linux, but once the AFP support is there, we're going that way. GW, NW, ZW all up and running. No need to change.