DEL MAR COLLEGE
CIS 306 - Managing NOVELL® Networks

Instructor: Michael P. Harris
NETWARE BASICS
Part 1 - Introduction to Netware v3.12

INTRODUCTION TO NETWARE:   If your personal computer is part of a NOVELL® NetWare 3.12 network, it is connected to other computers and peripherals. You can share files and resources and communicate with others in your workgroup, thus increasing productivity. This introduction answers the following questions about using a NetWare network:

 

WHAT IS A NETWARE NETWORK?

A NetWare network is a group of computers (such as PCs or Macintoshes) that are linked together so they can communicate and share resources. Network users, each working on a different personal computer, can communicate with each other via the network. They can also share network resources (hard disks on the file server, data, applications, and printers) and use any service the network provides (for example, access to a mainframe system).

 

HOW DOES A NETWORK OPERATE?

To understand how a network operates, you must know about the principal components of a network: the file server, the workstations, and the software that runs on each----NetWare and operating systems like DOS, OS/2, VMS, UNIX, and the Macintosh operating system.

Beyond these basic components, a NetWare network can incorporate mainframe computers, backup devices, modem pools, and different types of servers (such as file servers, print servers, or archive servers).

The Network Workstations and DOS

Workstations are the personal computers on which network users do their work. Workstations are used much like non-networked personal computers. The only difference is that they can access files from more than just the local drives. Each workstation processes its own files and uses its own copy of DOS.

The Network File Server and NetWare

The file server is a personal computer that uses the NetWare operating system to control the network. The file server coordinates all of the workstations and regulates the way they share network resources. It regulates who can access which files, who can make changes to data, and who can use the printer first.

All network files are stored on a hard disk in or attached to the file server, instead of on diskettes or hard disks in individual workstations.

The NetWare Workstation

Workstations use two pieces of software to communicate with the file server, the shell and a protocol. The shell must be loaded into each workstation before that workstation can function on the network.

The NetWare shell, either NETX or VLM (depending on whether you are using IPX or ODI), directs workstation requests to DOS or NetWare. When a workstation makes a request (asks to do a task), the shell decides if it is a workstation task (to be directed to DOS) or a network task (to be directed to NetWare). If the request is a workstation task (such as using the DOS DIR command to list the files in a local directory), DOS should handle the request. If the request is a network task (such as printing a job on a network printer), NetWare should handle the request. The shell sends the request to the appropriate operating system, somewhat like a railroad track switcher sends trains to the proper destination.

The workstation shell uses another file(s), IPX (or the ODI components: LSL, the MLID and ,IPXODI) to send network messages to the file server. This IPX protocol is the language the workstation uses to communicate with the file server.

 

HOW ARE FILES STORED ON A NETWORK?

All network information is stored on the file server's hard disk. The system for storing that information is called the "directory structure."

The NetWare directory structure is organized into:

  1. File servers, which contain one or more...
  2. Volumes, which can span several hard disks, divided into...
  3. Directories, which can contain other directories (subdirectories) and...
  4. Files.

A directory structure can be compared to a filing cabinet system.

  • The file server corresponds to the filing cabinet.
  • The volumes correspond to the filing cabinet drawers. Each file server has at least one volume, the SYS: volume, which is created when the server is installed. In NetWare v3.12, however, one volume can span several hard disks.
  • The directories correspond to the hanging folders within the filing cabinet drawers. You can create and delete directories to suit your organizational needs, much as you insert hanging folders into, and remove them from, a filing cabinet.
  • Directories can contain other directories, which are sometimes referred to as subdirectories. These directories within a directory then correspond to the manila folders inside the hanging folders. They divide directories into smaller units, just as manila folders divide hanging folders into smaller units.
  • And finally, directories contain actual files, just as manila folders contain individual documents. A file might be a letter or a list of addresses. When you save information in a file, you give the file a unique name so you can retrieve it later.

 

WHO CAN USE THE NETWORK?

Before being able to work on the network, a person must be designated as a network user. Network users can be assigned four levels of responsibility on the network.

  1. Regular network users
  2. Operators (file server console operators, print queue operators, print server operators)
  3. Managers (workgroup managers, user account managers)
  4. Network supervisors

Regular network users are the people who work on the network. They can run applications and work with files according to the rights assigned to them.

Operators are regular network users who have been assigned additional privileges. For example, a file server console operator is a network user who is given specific rights to use the FCONSOLE utility.

Managers are users who have been given responsibility for creating and/or managing other users. Workgroup managers can create and manage users; user account managers can manage, but not create, users. Managers function as supervisors over a particular group, but they do not have supervisor equivalence.

Network supervisors are responsible for the smooth operation of the whole network. Network supervisors maintain the system, restructuring and updating it as needed. Supervisors may also teach regular network users how to use the network.

 

HOW IS INFORMATION PROTECTED ON A NETWORK?

All information on a NetWare network is stored in a central location--the file server's hard disk. However, all users should not be able to access all information (such as payroll files). In addition, users should not always be able to access the same data at the same time; otherwise, they may overwrite each other's work.

To prevent problems like these, NetWare provides an extensive security system to protect the data on the network.

NetWare security consists of a combination of the following:

  1. Login security
    Login security includes creating usernames and passwords and imposing station, time, and account restrictions on users.
  2. Trustee rights (privileges) assigned to users
    Trustee rights control which directories and files a user can access and what the user is allowed to do with those files and directories, such as creating, reading, erasing, or writing to them.
  3. Attributes assigned to directories and files
    Directory and file attributes determine whether that directory or file can be deleted, copied, viewed, or written to. In addition, they also mark a file as shareable or non-shareable.

These three levels of security work together to protect the network from unauthorized access.

 

REVIEW:

This introduction explained the following:

  • A NetWare network links personal computers so users can communicate and share resources.

  • A NetWare network consists of two or more workstations and at least one file server.

  • Workstations are personal computers on which network users do their work. Workstations run their own native operating system (for example, DOS) and process their own files. They can access files, applications, and resources through the file server.

  • File servers are personal computers that use the NetWare operating system to coordinate all network activities.

  • Workstations and the file server communicate via the NetWare shell, which must be loaded into each workstation (just as DOS must be loaded into each workstation). NETX or VLM sends workstation requests to the proper operating system (file server or workstation) for processing.

  • The shell uses a protocol, such as IPX, to send messages to the appropriate network station.

  • Information is stored on the file server in a directory structure that is made up of volumes, directories, and files.

  • There are four types of network users: regular network users, network operators, network managers, and network supervisors. The type of user you are is determined by your responsibilities.

  • NetWare's extensive security system prevents users from corrupting data in network files and prevents unauthorized users from accessing restricted files.

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