This file is available from ftp.eskimo.com u/m/mstal/csn.faq. It is also available from the web at URL http://www.eskimo.com/~mstal/novell.html. Max M. Stalnaker, stalnaker@acm.org From rickt@dialup.oar.net Sun Jul 17 11:50:43 1994 Date: Sun, 17 Jul 1994 11:49:33 -0700 (PDT) From: rickt@dialup.oar.net To: stalnaker@PASCAL.ACM.ORG Subject: Re: faq volunteer Max, Here is the last copy of the comp.sys.novell FAQ from the previous maintainer, Kevin Wang, who disappeared from c.s.n last fall. I figured this would be a good starting point, no need to re-invent the wheel. Rick Troha Network Support Certified NetWare Engineer 4485 Oak Circle Microsoft Certified Professional North Olmsted, OH 44070-2838 rickt@nwsup.north-olmsted.oh.us (216)734-5550 Archive-name: novell-faq/part1 Frequently Asked Questions for comp.sys.novell ================================================ I appreciate any and all input for improving this FAQ. Please email suggestions and other such nonsense to kwang@gauss.elee.calpoly.edu. In need of (perhaps desperately) ================================ Does anyone have any info on these fax product(s)? Alcom's Lan Fax Redirector Biscom Calculas Crachiolo & Feder's RightFAX FACSys from Optus Any other Windows utility that you've found useful...ftp site, description, cost, manufacturer, installation description... More details about WinLogin, what it does... Announcements ============= If there's interest, email me and I will start some sort of out-bound mailing list if you want to receive the full FAQ directly, every 2 weeks... that is, of course, until the FAQ stops changing (which I doubt!) True, though, it is growing at a tremendous rate...comments? Contents ======== New questions are marked by (+), Modified/revised questions are marked by (*), and Deleted questions are marked by (-). '**********' separates sections and '----------' separates questions Section 00. General information (FAQ location, ettiquete, blatherscythe) 01. What is this "FAQ" List? 02. What is the origin of this FAQ and how do I add to it? 03. Is this FAQ available by anonymous FTP? 04. What rules of etiquette apply on this newsgroup? Section 01. TCP/IP, Internet Access, and Tools (Servers) 01. Why can't I get my 3.x server to forward TCP/IP packets? 02. What is BOOTP and where can I find it? 03. What is RARP and where can I find it? 04. How can I connect my Novell Server with TCP/IP? 05. Where can I get various unix-like daemons for my server? 06. How can I integrate NFS into my server? Section 02. TCP/IP, Internet Access, and Tools (Workstations) 01. How can I send email from Novell to the Internet? 02. What utilities for Pegasus Mail are there? 03. How can I get TN3270 access? 04. How can I use TCP/IP at my workstation? 05. What utilities can I get for TCP/IP access? (telnet, ftp, finger) 06. What is FSUUCP and where can I get it? 07. What alternatives are there for *nix boxes to connect with Novell? 08. Can I print from *nix -> Novell? Section 03. NetWare shells & network card drivers (packet drivers, shims, ODI) 01. What are Packet, ODI and NDIS drivers? 02. What is Burst Mode and where can I get it? 03. Where can I get Packet drivers? 04. How can I use Packet driver utilities with my Token-Ring card? 05. What are the protocol numbers for the NET.CFG? + 06. How can I tell if Packet Burst is running? How much am I improving? Section 04. Printing 01. RPRINTER prints EXTREMEly slow, i.e. one line per 3-10 minutes 02. What neat Printer Tricks can I do? (PCL/Postscript switching, etc) 03. How can I setup a global PRINTCON.DAT? * 04. What replacements (HW & SW) for rprinter and pserver exist? 05. How can I control printing? (Charge per page, etc) 06. Why does pserver.nlm print out garbage when a print job is > 1k? Section 05. Where can I get help from? Listservs, phone #'s, tech support #'s. 01. How can I reach Novell by phone? 02. Where can I go for more help with: Charon, CDROMs, PMail, Novell, etc? 03. Where can I reach companies for info about their network products? 04. What publications & magazines might be helpful? Section 06. FTP retrieval of patches, utilities, tools. 01. Where can I anonymous FTP Netware utilities, programs, etc? 02. Is there an official Novell FTP site for patches and updates? 03. How can I ftp things if I don't have a direct Internet connection? Section 07. Windows & Netware 01. Windows won't print properly to Novell print queues/redirection 02. How do I setup Windows 3.1 for Packet Drivers? 03. How do I get Windows for WorkGroups to run on Novell? 04. How do I get Windows NT to interface with Novell? 05. How can I reliably receive messages and broadcasts under Windows? 06. How can I manage Windows users who login on different workstations? 07. How can I get RPRINTER to co-exist with Windows? 08. How can I get started writing Windows programs for NetWare? Section 08. Macintosh Problems 01. How do I setup my HP LaserJet IIIsi with PostScript to use with MACs? 02. How do I rebuild the desktop on a Mac? + 03. How can I get printers to stay hidden? + 04. How can I use networked non-postscript printers? Section 09. Programming under Novell 01. How can I get started programming with Novell (Client APIs)? 02. How can I get started programming NLMs? 03. How can I use Encrypted Passwords? 04. How do I write Windows programs using the NETWARE.DRV files? Section 10. Utility programs 01. What utilities can I find for my Novell server(s)? Section 11. Other topics 01. How do I become a CNE (Certified NetWare Engineer)? 02. How can I remotely control my PC/remotely login to my network? 03. How can I boot my server without running STARTUP.NCF/AUTOEXEC.NCF? 04. How can I login *without* running login scripts? 05. How can I get user-ids (and other information) into programs? 06. Why won't RPL (remote boot) work? 08. What software metering packages are available? 09. What products are available for networking a CD-ROM drive? 10. What is IPTUNNEL and what is it used for? 11. What different Tape Backup manufacturers are out there? 12. What networking Fax products are available? 13. How do I setup OS/2 for Novell? 14. What free/shareware menu programs can I replace Novell's? 15. Where can I find the legendary 110 Usefull NLMs list? 16. What BBS software will run over Novell? (i.e. access from workstation) 17. What does the output of STAT.NLM mean? 18. Where can I find a cron-like utility? 19. Help! I lost the Supervisor password! 20. How can I capture all the messages that are scrolled off the console? 21. Why aren't NetWare messages sent to my screen are not being seen? ********** Section 00. General information (FAQ location, ettiquete, blatherscythe) 01. What is this "FAQ" List? ---------- This FAQ contains information about common questions, problems, and bugs in Novell's and other third-party, shareware, and freeware products. You will also find hints and generally good ideas for improving and/or expanding an existing system. 02. What is the origin of this FAQ and how do I add to it? ---------- All typos, spelling errors, slang, and errors are mine. Should you find a Q/A in error or an addition, please email me with a COMPLETE answer/update/fix/change/addition. A 3-line "That's wrong, fix it" will be completely ignored. I don't have the time to research every single problem. I will, however, try and briefly double-check it (if it is within my power) and then add it to the next edition of the FAQ. 03. Is this FAQ available by anonymous FTP? ---------- Ftp to my server at 129.65.43.132 as anonymous. Located under csn.faq/* you will find 0.FAQ, 1.FAQ and 2.FAQ. 0 is the every-other-week pointer to the FAQ and 1 & 2 are parts one and two of the FAQ itself. 04. What rules of etiquette apply on this newsgroup? ---------- I willnot/cannot summarize net etiquette here. Instead, try reading the newsgroups news.announce.newusers and news.newusers.questions. However, I believe this topic deserves some merrit: Dave's theorem of "me too" propagation: 1) Person A posts a note announcing a document 2) 25 people respond to the list that they'd like a copy 3) 2 people respond to each response in #2, saying they missed the original posting, but they'd also like a copy. 4) 10 people post a note to the list requesting that requests be sent privately to the original poster. 5) Person A posts a note apologizing for the traffic, and requests that people email him directly. He forgets to list his address. 6) 10 people point out the missing address 7) 20 people respond to the list requesting the document 8) 2 people respond to each response in #7, saying they missed the original posting, but they'd also like a copy. 9) Person A re-posts #5, including his address 10) 10 people ignore the address in #9, and respond to the list requesting the document. 11) 10 people post to the list, apologizing that their email to person A was bounced. 12) 20 more people complain about the traffic. 13) Person A apologizes again, and posts an FTP address where the document can be obtained. 14) 10 people post to the list that they don't have FTP access 15) Goto step 1 -- dkearns@klaven.tci.com ********** Section 01. TCP/IP, Internet Access, and Tools (Servers) 01. Why can't I get my 3.x server to forward TCP/IP packets? ---------- With 2 or more network cards in the server, you can forward TCP/IP packets relatively simply. The first common problem is that when you load TCPIP.NLM the forward=yes options is forgotten. Thus, the AUTOEXEC.NCF file should have the line: load tcpip forward=yes Another possibility is that the transmitting station is not sending the packets to the right place. If packets must go through the server, you must set up a "gateway=aa.bb.cc.dd" option on the workstation. The server will then decide which network card the packet must be retransmitted on, thus leaving all routing to the server, instead of trying to have the programmers put it into the program itself. Also, if you have some older routers on, say, a campus backbone, they might have to be reprogrammed as well, so that they can send packets back to your workstation, should they need to make several hops to get to their destination. Older routers require this, while the newer ones will automatically "find" your server as a router through RIP. Another common problem that people have is that Novell will only forward between two different subnets, i.e. 129.65.1 & 129.65.2 with a mask of mask=ff.ff.ff.00 According to mcollins@novell: There is a flaw in this design because Netware 3.11 IP routers require unique IP network numbers for different physical networks. In certain IP arenas you can do this through the use of PROXY ARP which NOVELL does not support yet in this release of TCPIP routing. This is being worked on however. 02. What is BOOTP and where can I find it? ---------- BOOTP is a method for a workstation to query a central server and inquire what its IP setup should be: address, mask, gateway, nameserver, etc. This differs from RARP in that RARP *ONLY* returns the IP address of the machine. There is now a BOOTP.NLM available from HellSoft in Czechoslovakia. Ftp address is novell.felk.cvut.cs under /pub/nw311/*. If BOOTP is available to you, consider looking into BOOTPFWD.NLM, the bootp packet forwarder for Novell 3.11 servers. It can be found on sjf-lwp.novell.com, under nw311/bootpfwd/. 03. What is RARP and where can I find it? ---------- RARP: Reverse Address Resolution Protocol This will allow a Novell 3.11 server to tell any workstation what its IP address is. This is very handy for student or public-access labs, where some malicious persion might want to change ip addresses for network hacking. RARPSERV.NLM can be found on Novell's anonymous ftp server, sjf-lwp.novell.com, as well as other ftp sites across the globe. (see also: BOOTP) 04. How can I connect my Novell Server with TCP/IP? ---------- NOTE: These instructions are for Novell 3.x. If anyone can write me something up for Ver 2.x, I'd be more than happy to add it in here. There are two halves of this problem. One, you need to get your Server to talk (and perhaps route) TCP/IP and then two, your workstations need to talk TCP/IP. First, though, a few (re)definitions. These are what I consider "classic" definitions, although with the growing industry of LANs, WANs, and even GANs, the definitions keep on changing. gateway: passes and re-frames data between different hardware topologies repeater: passes data between similar hardware topologies router: passes data between similar/different topologies, but also provides addressing and subnet control. Because of this, it must "talk" the protocol on the wire. packet driver: a generic interface for talking to the network board For the server, you only need to follow the TCP/IP Installation guide. The instructions are relatively simple. To use the server as a gateway or a repeater, you need the line: load tcpip forward=yes in your AUTOEXEC.NCF. Be warned that Novell does NOT have Proxy Arp. See related IP Forwarding Question... 05. Where can I get various unix-like daemons for my server? ---------- ftpd: Murkworks markets a FTPD.NLM for Novell 3.x servers. A Time-limited demo is available. Email info@murkworks.com for more information, or SnailMail to P.O.Box 631, Potsdam, NY 13676-0631. Also available is an ftp demon NLM from the Tech. Univ. of Prague. HellSoft has a freeware ftp daemon also for you 3.11 server. All hellsoft programs can be ftp'd from novell.felk.cvut.cs:/pub/nw311 LPR/LPD gateway See references to Charon 4.0 fingerd: There is a finger demon NLM from Tech. University of Prague. Anonymous ftp to novell.felk.cvut.cs:/pub/nw311 telnetd: A simple Null Telnet daemon can be loaded on your server to tell people simply "You cannot telnet into a Novell server" and then hang up on them. rdate: There is a free rdate nlm from Murkworks. It synchronizes the Server to a Unix box via an rdate call. Anonymous ftp to ftp.msen.com:/pub/vendor/murkworks/freebies. 06. How can I integrate NFS into my server? ---------- Two NFS products are available from Novell. Novell Netware NFS allows unix systems to mount and access Novell drives. Novell Netware NFS Gateway allows the exact opposite. This allows unix partitions to appear as novell volumes. ********** Section 02. TCP/IP, Internet Access, and Tools (Workstations) 01. How can I send email from Novell to the Internet? ---------- For Macintosh Mail access, your best bet is to go with Mercury mail transport for the Novell side and a POPMail client on the Mac side. Pegasus Mail for the Mac is also available. The rest of the below describes in most part, PC solutions for email. Pegasus Mail is a free email package written by David Harris. It has many features such as file transfer, send-to-group, and message passwording. Pegasus Mail is essentially the user interface that everyone would use to read/send mail on your network. It can also interface with MHS and send (with the support of Charon or Mercury) Internet mail. Pegasus Mail now has DOS, Windows, and Macintosh versions. Pegasus mail can be found at splicer2.cba.hawaii.edu and risc.ua.edu To get mail from you Novell server to the Internet, there are two main methods. If you have a direct connection to a *nix box that has SMTP installed, you can use Charon or Mercury. Even if it's a slip link, you can still use it. All Charon and Mercury really need is to be able to "telnet" to the Unix box. Charon version 4.x will serve as both an lpd gateway and a SMTP gateway. Charon requires a dedicated PC and can be ftp'd from splicer2.cba.hawaii.edu, risc.ua.edu, and omnigate.clarkson.edu. Mercury SMTP transport for Pegasus Mail is another SMTP gateway option. This is a replacement/upgrade for Charon. It only does SMTP mail transfer, no lpr/lpd gatewaying. Mercury does, however, offer a POP3 mail server for remote mail access. Mercury is available from risc.ua.edu:/pub/network/pegasus/merc* and tyr.let.rug.nl:/pub/pmail/merc* If you do not have a direct tcp/ip connection with a *nix box, there are various Popmail, uucp, and other gateways. Some that I know of are: XGATE works in conjunction with Charon, connecting MHS with SMTP through Charon. The down-side of this solution is that it requires three dedicated PCs, one running the MHS router, one running Charon, and another running XGATE. UGATE is a shareware gateway from MHS to UUCP that is quite popular because of its relative simplicity and price. UGATE runs as a gateway on the MHS mail router PC, so it doesn't require a dedicated PC...and it uses an async (dial-up or null modem connection) connection to connect to your Unix boxes. POPGate will give Pegasus Mail POP-mail access via the User Defined Gateway. Anonymous ftp to risc.ua.edu:/pub/network/pegasus/misc/popgt*.zip POPMail is a combined mailer and POP-mail access mechanism, however it is not nearly as powerful as Pegasus is with folders, filtering, and such. It is however a simple POPmail solution. IGate consists of 2 programs - one a server running on a dedicated PC and the other, a program running on the WPO Connect Server. The SMTP gateway runs on top of packet drivers (no extra commercial software needed) and the whole setup is extremely easy to configure. I have had mine up for a couple of weeks now with no problems. It even handles message attachments, with auto UUencode and UUdecode. Newly added is full MIME support, while addressing is also very easy. IGate is a WordPerfectOffice-SMTP gateway by Smart Systems. Price is NZD $1000, apx $540 US NuPOP is yet another popmail client, however, this one runs hand-in-hand with LWP (where can I get info?) Commercial packages that you might also want to look at are: cc:Mail is available from Lotus. the SMTP gateway (as of 2-15-93) was $3495. WordPerfect Office runs on multiple platforms, and a DOS SMTP gateway is due RSN. (or use IGate) Da Vinci eMail runs under MHS, which is bundled with it. A SMTP gateway is available. S-Bridge (MHS->SMTP gateway) from Computer Mail Services is the one that's been around a long time. (Da Vinci also OEMs this gateway for their SMTP gateway) Computer Mail Services: 313-352-6700 Notework Corporation sells an MHS to UUCP gateway product. Voice: 617-734-4317 Remember that purchasing an email package does not mean you have all the parts. Several of the above require MHS which used to be packaged with Novell 2.x, but is no longer bundled with 3.x. It is now a separate product. Beyond that, you will probably need a SMTP gateway to get your email out to the Internet as well. 02. What utilities for Pegasus Mail are there? ---------- (what is phone anyways?) Phone is available from ftp.agecon.wisc.edu:phone/phone25a.zip MailWatch does expiration of old mail messages, various pmail maintenence tools that the administrator can use on everyone's mailboxes. MailWatch is available from risc.ua.edu:/pub/network/pegasus/misc/mwch24.zip. MessageWatch does something like watch for "you have new mail" broadcast-type messages (that require ctrl-enter) and do soemthing funky with them, like allow them to be cleared with ctrl-P? ftp from usual_ftp_site(splicer2, risc.ua.edu, netlab2.usu.edu):MSG*.ZIP, 03. How can I get TN3270 access? ---------- OpenConnect/Dynacomm TN3270 for Windows, works on top of LWP. $495 list, but can drop below $200 in bulk. A 30-day eval copy is available. Rumba by WallData, located in Redmond, WA. TN3270 by Brown University, works on top of LWP. It comes in TSR and stand alone modes and is share/freeware. You can get a copy from sjf-lwp.novell.com 04. How can I use TCP/IP at my workstation? ---------- For your workstations, there are multiple platforms to consider: On a DOS workstation, you can use five main options: ODI with packet drivers ODI with Lan Workplace ODI with NDIS with packet drivers ODI with 3rd party software Crynwr Packet drivers -- ODI with packet drivers: To use ODI with packet drivers, you will need to load up ODI using a NET.CFG with at least these lines: Link Driver 3c523 Frame Ethernet_II # for packet driver, MUST be first! Frame Ethernet_802.3 # for IPX Protocol IPX 0 ethernet_802.3 # bind protocols to frame type Protocol IP 800 Ethernet_II Protocol ARP 806 Ethernet_II Protocol RARP 8035 Ethernet_II The order in which to load the drivers is: LSL mlid -- fill in with your net card's mlid driver ODIPKT 0 96 IPXODI NETX Explaination of the ODIPKT line: ODIPKT 0 96 96 Decimal translates to 0x60 hex, where all of the "standard" packet driver programs look for the packet driver stub. The 0 refers to the "logical" board. (0) is the first frame type listed in the NET.CFG file (ETHERNET_II), As required for ODIPKT. ODIPKT is available from Novell's anonymous ftp site, among others. ODIPKT was written by Dan Lanciani . -- ODI with Lan Workplace To gain TCP/IP through Lan Workplace, follow the instructions. I cannot offer any help here, since I don't have any experience with Lan Workplace. -- ODI with NDIS with packet drivers Get ODINSUP and then load DIS_PKT on top of *that* and then you will have ODI, IPX, NDIS, and packet-driver all at the same time. (details anyone?) -- ODI with 3rd party software Since Novell is slowly going to be moving to ODI as their workstation network shells, an option growing in popularity is ODI with 3rd party software. In these cases, the program will talk directly with LSL, bypassing the need for a second level of "genericism" (read: packet drivers). However, at this time, the only package that I know of that uses the ODI interface directly is Kermit, available from watsun.cc.columbia.edu. -- Crynwr Packet drivers Formerly known as Clarkson Packet Drivers, the Crynwr drivers provide a free/shareware (Support is extra) option for TCP/IP. Configuration of the Crynwr packet drivers is relatively simple, but you will also have to regenerate your IPX with the BYU packet driver. This second step will allow IPX to talk through the packet driver to the network. 05. What utilities can I get for TCP/IP access? (telnet, ftp, finger) ---------- If you have a network connection with the Internet, either through a router or a gateway, you can immediately use the below options. If you do not have a network connection, you can try alt.internet.services and alt.internet.wanted for ideas and places where you can purchase an internet address. UUCP is a dial-up option that can be found relatively cheaply (maybe even free if you look hard enough!). Workstation based: telnet: NCSA telnet, CUTCP telnet, are fairly common telnet packages for the PC. Both use packet drivers as to maintain compatibility across hardware platforms. Bother support a wide variety of configuration items such as RARP and BOOTP. NCSA telnet is available from ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu. MS-Kermit is available. The latest version no longer requires a packet driver and can work on virtually any system that can run ODI. News: The Trumpet news reader will connect with a NNTP server and provide you with news capability. POPMail: POPMail which is a Pop-2 and Pop-3 client has been created and is available for both PCs and Macs. POPMail can be found on boombox.micro.umn.edu via anonymous ftp. WINQVT supposedly has POP built into it as well, but I am not sure. Mercury is the first POP server for Novell Servers. It should be located on any ftp sites that carry Charon, as they have the same Author. Gopher: Gopher clients for DOS, Unix, Mac, and other platforms can be found on boombox.micro.umn.edu. nntp NewsReader: Trumpet is a NNTP newsreader. Version 1.04 is FreeWare and Version 1.05 is ShareWare (modest donation). The only requirement is that there be a NNTP server accessable from your network. Version 1.5h will run under LWP. System machines: EMail: Pegasus Mail in conjunction with Charon will transport mail in and out from a Novell network to a SMTP server. Charon also requires a dedicated machine for the email gateway. Mercury.NLM is also a SMTP gateway, but without the lpr/lpd gateway. It also has the added functionality of a full POP server. UUCP: UUCP is a dial-up standard that can handle both news and mail. Many shareware packages exist, and one such is called FSUUCP (see question 20). Most of these alternatives will require that you save all mail and news messages locally, so this will require varied amounts of disk space depending on how much news and mail traffic you handle. UUCP requires one machine, a modem, and a phone line at least once per night, if not more frequently. Many places also allow UUCP over a network connection (versus dial-up). 06. What is FSUUCP and where can I get it? ---------- FSUUCP is a shareware package that will handle both news and mail through a UUCP feed, whether it be a dial-up or a network connection. Send email to fsuucp-request@zeus.calpoly.edu for more information about FSUUCP. 07. What alternatives are there for *nix boxes to connect with Novell? ---------- NOVIX from Firefox Communications allows workstations to run only IPX letting the server (VAP or NLM) do the IPX <--> TCP/IP translation. Puzzle Systems in Morgan Hill, CA provides us with: ----------8<-----8<---------- Thank you for the email you sent me today. We make something very different and very NetWare-related. This email will acquaint you with our SoftNet product family of emulation and NetWare complementary products. Although SoftNet is designed to provide NetWare functionality to UNIX platforms, there are also DOS product members too. Specifically, SoftNet Term which allows a wide variety of terminal emulation programs to conduct UNIX host sessions. Significantly, it uses IPX as the transport protocol (no more TCP/IP needed.) SoftNet has four family members (for now, and it's growing): 1) SoftNet Utilities is the NetWare SERVER emulator for UNIX platforms, SoftNet Client is the NetWare CLIENT emulator for UNIX platforms, SoftNet Term allows NetWare PC clients to conduct remote logins to UNIX hosts using IPX as the transport protocol, and SoftNet Print is bi-directional printing utility between UNIX and NetWare environments. Briefly, SoftNet Utilities is a MUCH higher performance (and significantly less costly) alternative to NetWare for UNIX (formerly known as Portable NetWare) and is designed to be complementary to existing Intel-based NetWare environments. This product allows a UNIX platform to also emulate a NetWare 2.2 and 3.11 file server. We have also announced SoftNet Client. This is UNIX software which allows the workstation to directly access and mount Novell NetWare servers as well as send print jobs to the NetWare printers. The U.S. unit list price is $395 and five packs are available for $1495. Below is some information which describes SoftNet Utilities and SoftNet Client feature sets in greater detail. Please feel free to pass this information on to any interested parties. Complimentary evaluation software is also available by calling us at (408) 778-6966. If there are additional questions or we can assist you further, please contact us anytime. -------------------------------------------------------------- I. SoftNet Utilities Described - The first member of the SoftNet product family, SoftNet Utilities is a MUCH higher performance (and significantly less costly) alternative to NetWare for UNIX (formerly known as Portable NetWare) and is designed to be complementary to existing Intel-based NetWare environments. This product allows a UNIX platform, without interfering with existing capabilities, to also emulate a NetWare 2.2 and 3.11 file server to PC NetWare clients. SoftNet Utilities, like all SoftNet products, is architected to be complementary to existing Intel-based NetWare environments which are integrating UNIX platforms. Presently, Silicon Graphics, HP9000, and SPARC platforms are supported with SCO UNIX coming in March/April 1993. IBM RS/6000 support is planned for release in the May/June 1993 timeframe. IMPORTANT NOTE: SoftNet Utilities is NOT a derivitive of NetWare for UNIX (formerly known as Portable NetWare); Puzzle Systems has developed all code in-house. It's fast, easy to install (5-10 mins.) and costs 65-75% LESS per connection than Sun's NetWare SunLink, Prime's Connection NetWare or other NetWare for UNIX implementations. In addition to performance issues, both users and systems administrators of UNIX and NetWare will appreciate installation, administration and operation as the product fits into existing PC-based NetWare procedures and practices. Product fit - SoftNet Utilities is designed to be sold into existing Intel-based NetWare environments that are integrating UNIX platforms. Typically, customers would be looking for common file access by both NetWare and UNIX users and bi-directional printer sharing. SoftNet Utilities also comes with a simple IPX-based DOS VT52 terminal emulator. What makes this little emulator interesting is that it uses IPX as the transport protocol for UNIX host access and does NOT require the PC NetWare client to also have TCP/IP or install additional products from Novell or other companies for this purpose. If customers want a more robust terminal emulator yet still have the IPX transport, SoftNet Term (the third SoftNet product member and described later in this email) will fill these needs. Even the included T52 terminal type comes in very handy for starting UNIX jobs and editing files. Again, SoftNet Utilities provides these solutions at high performance and at very reasonable price points. It does so with the absolute minimum of tasking to UNIX and NetWare systems administrators. System Requirements: UNIX systems - A. Operating System/Memory/Disk/Kernel (SPARC-based systems): SunOS 4.1 through 4.1.3, 1 MB of RAM (plus 450K for each concurrent NetWare connection), 2 MB of disk space, and a generic kernel. (HP 9000 Series 8xx and 9xx): HP-UX 8.02 and later (Series 8xx), HP-UX 8.07 and later (Series 7xx). The rest is the same as for SPARC-based systems. (Silicon Graphics IRIS/Indigo/Crimson families): IRIX 4.0.5 and later. 7 MB of disk space is required due to the included libraries. The rest is the same as SPARC and HP described above. An additional Ethernet port is also NOT required by the UNIX host; the existing Ethernet port is utilized. B. GUI On SPARC-based systems, Open Windows is required if you want to use our installation menus, but it can be installed from the command line if you have SunView or Motif. The HP versions support the MOTIF/VUE windowing environment while the SGI versions support MOTIF/WorkSpace. System Requirements: PC NetWare clients - The NetWare client simply loads IPX and NetX (or Net3, etc.) as they normally would. They can then access PC-based NetWare servers, SoftNet Utilities-based UNIX platforms as well as conduct terminal sessions to the UNIX hosts using the included IPX-based DOS terminal emulator. In order to conduct IPX-based terminal sessions, a small TSR is loaded by the PC called PVT. Installation Features Installation is menu-driven and simple. It can be accomplished in 15 minutes PROVIDED the installer(s) is familiar with UNIX and NetWare at the administrative level. The installer does NOT have to be an expert at TCP/IP, NFS, etc. Significantly, UNIX kernel reconfiguration and disk partitioning are NOT required (SoftNet Utilities runs as a process) for ANY of the UNIX platforms supported and nothing but the PVT TSR is required on the PC NetWare client side. If no terminal emulation is to be done, the PVT TSR does not need to be loaded. (It' worth restating that SoftNet Utilities does NOT interfere with the UNIX host's standard TCP/IP activities or in any way dedicate the machine to NetWare-only file serving. In addition, an additional Ethernet port is, likewise, NOT required on the UNIX host.) The graphical menu system presents six or so "housekeeping" questions (i.e. "What's the network address?", "Do you desire NetWare 2.2 or 3.11 emulation?", etc.). After these have been answered, the SoftNet Utilities server application is then started as a UNIX process. Administration of the SoftNet Utilities NetWare emulation process - After process start on the UNIX host, the SoftNet Utilities-equipped UNIX platform appears and behaves like a NetWare 2.2 or 3.11 server. NetWare administration is done from the NetWare administrator's PC using standard PC NetWare admin utilities (i.e. syscon, pconsole, fconsole, etc.). VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The UNIX host appears as a NetWare server only to PC NetWare clients/adminstrators and other NetWare servers. The UNIX host continues to be able to perform all its native UNIX-TCP/IP capabilities whether or not the SoftNet Utilities application is running. To clarify, SoftNet Utilities is installed and configured on the UNIX side and is then administered from the PC NetWare side. Special Features SoftNet Utilities is "multi-processor ready" by design. If multiple processors are resident in the UNIX host, they will automatically be taken advantage of with no action required for this. Terminal emulation - Besides providing concurrent NetWare connections, IPX-based terminal emulation is also included in each SoftNet Utilities package. The included terminal emulator is a simple IPX-based VT52 terminal emulator. What makes this little emulator interesting is that it uses IPX as the Ethernet transport protocol for UNIX host access. It frees the PC NetWare client from needing to buy TCP/IP support products from Novell or other companies for this purpose. If customers want a more robust terminal emulator yet still have the benefits of IPX transport, SoftNet Term (the third SoftNet product member and described later in this email) will fill these needs. Even the included T52 terminal type comes in very handy for starting UNIX jobs and editing files. Capabilities provided, a summary - SoftNet Utilities enable PC NetWare clients to access UNIX printers and directories directly as well as their normal NetWare file and print resources. Remote terminal sessions to UNIX hosts (all NFS hosts, not just the one that SoftNet Utilities is running on) can also be conducted. All these services are available using ONLY IPX at the PC. To access UNIX resources as a NetWare client, the PC simply "attaches" and "maps" the UNIX directories and printers just as they would volumes and printers on a standard NetWare server. MAJOR POINT: This eliminates the requirement for PC NetWare clients to have PC-NFS or similar products for UNIX file access. (Don't forget, PC-NFS lists for about $300 (US$) per PC!) On the UNIX side, UNIX users can share UNIX files and directories with PC NetWare users as well as send their print jobs to NetWare printers. Again, these capabilities are provided without any special user procedures to be followed by either the NetWare or UNIX users. Each side simply uses their respective systems as they normally would. Product Cost The product price is dependent on the number of concurrent user licenses and is the same for all UNIX platforms supported. The U.S. list price for the 16 user version is $1295; the 32 user version is $1995; the 64 user version is $2995; the 100 user version is $3995; the 250 user version is $5495. The attractiveness of SoftNet Utilities is further enhanced when customers realize that each package supports BOTH an equal number of concurrent NetWare connections AND terminal sessions. For example, the 32 user package would support 32 concurrent NetWare connections AND 32 concurrent terminal sessions. One connection type does not interfere with or subtract from the other. Therefore the 32 user package allows for 64 TOTAL connections, 32 NetWare and 32 terminal. All SoftNet Utilities packages follow this model. As is evident, the cost of SoftNet Utilities SIGNIFICANTLY less than that of NetWare for UNIX and its derivitives (i.e. Sun's NetWare SunLink, Prime's Connection NetWare, etc.). At its most economical price/connection point, the 250 user version (even at list price!) costs $11.00 per connection. As well as having a lower product cost, what is especially nice is that our product is both faster and much less administratively demanding. Product Reviews - SoftNet Utilities has been reviewed in Open Systems Today (Aug 31, 1992 issue, pp. 68-70), LAN Magazine (December issue, pp. 65-70), LAN Computing (November 1992 issue, pp. 43-44). The HP version was reviewed in HP Professional (December 1992, pp. 46-48). If you have questions, contact us anytime; if you know someone else who may be interested, please pass this e-mail along. ======================================== II. SoftNet Client Described - SoftNet Client is the second member of the SoftNet product family. Whereas SoftNet Utilities enables a UNIX platform to emulate a NetWare server, SoftNet Client allows the reverse in that the UNIX workstation can access and mount NetWare servers as a NetWare-compatible CLIENT. SoftNet Client, like all SoftNet products, is architected to be complementary to existing Intel-based NetWare environments which are integrating UNIX platforms. Presently, Silicon Graphics, HP9000, and SPARC platforms are supported with SCO UNIX coming in March/April 1993. IBM RS/6000 support is planned for release in the May/June 1993 timeframe. SoftNet Client and SoftNet Utilities availability will occur at the same time for all future UNIX platform releases. IMPORTANT NOTE: SoftNet Client, like all SoftNet products does NOT contain any Novell code. Puzzle Systems has developed all code in-house. It's fast, easy to install and inexpensive. Both users and systems administrators of UNIX and NetWare will appreciate the seamless interoperability and easy installation. Product fit - SoftNet Client is designed to be sold into existing Intel-based NetWare environments that are integrating UNIX platforms. The customer preference is more likely for the UNIX workstation to access NetWare file servers as the main repositories of data (servers) rather than having the UNIX platform act as a NetWare-compatible server to the PC installed base (which is what the SoftNet Utilities product allows). Typically, customers would be looking to access files stored on the NetWare servers as well as utilize the NetWare servers' disk and printing resources. System Requirements: UNIX systems - A. Operating System/Memory/Disk/Kernel (SPARC-based systems): SunOS 4.1 through 4.1.3, 1 MB of RAM, 1 MB of disk space, and a generic kernel. (HP 9000 Series 8xx and 9xx): HP-UX 8.02 and later (Series 8xx), HP-UX 8.07 and later (Series 7xx). The rest is the same as for SPARC-based systems. (Silicon Graphics IRIS/Indigo/Crimson families): IRIX 4.0.5 and later. 3 MB of disk space is required due to the included libraries. The rest is the same as SPARC and HP described above. An additional Ethernet port is also NOT required by the UNIX host; the existing Ethernet port is utilized. B. GUI On SPARC-based systems, Open Windows is required if you want to use our installation and logon menus, but it can be installed and used from the command line if you have SunView or Motif. The HP versions support the MOTIF/VUE windowing environment while the SGI versions support MOTIF/WorkSpace. An easy-to-use menu prompts the UNIX workstation user with a few simple questions to enter the desired NetWare server`s name, his password, etc. and the connection is made. System Requirements: Target NetWare servers - The target NetWare server must be running either NetWare 2.2 or 3.11. VERY IMPORTANT: The Novell NFS NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) does NOT, repeat does NOT, have to be running on the target NetWare server to be accessed by the UNIX workstation running SoftNet Client !!!!! Installation Features An easy-to-use menu prompts the UNIX workstation user with a few simple questions to enter the desired NetWare server`s name, his password, etc. and the connection is made. For those used to command line operations, this too can be done. The menus just make it a bit easier. Significantly, UNIX kernel reconfiguration and disk partitioning are NOT required (SoftNet Client runs as a process) for ANY of the UNIX platforms supported and nothing but the PVT TSR is required on the PC NetWare client side. If no terminal emulation is to be done, the PVT TSR does not need to be loaded. (It' worth restating that SoftNet Client does NOT interfere with TCP/IP activities or in any way dedicate the workstation to NetWare-only operation. An additional Ethernet port is, likewise, NOT required.) Special Features - The UNIX workstation user need not worry whether the target NetWare server is at the 2.2 or 3.11 revision. The SoftNet Client software on the UNIX workstation will automatically sense the requested NetWare server`s software version and log in accordingly. This is true even if some NetWare servers being logged onto are at 2.2 and others are at 3.11. IMPORTANT: All UNIX file permissions are maintained for UNIX files stored on NetWare file servers. When UNIX files and directories, located on NetWare servers, are being examined, they appear just as they would if they were located on an actual UNIX platform. (And isn't that the whole purpose of our software?....you don't know it's there!) Capabilities provided, a summary - SoftNet Client enables UNIX users to access and mount NetWare file servers and their print resources. To access NetWare file servers, the UNIX user logs onto the target NetWare server following the steps presented by a simple menu. Once logged on, standard UNIX commands are procedures are used. Product Cost SoftNet Client is available in single user and five-pack pricing and is the same across all platforms. The U.S. list price for the single user version is $395; the five pack is $1495. 08. Can I print from *nix -> Novell? ---------- Yes. Options include: Shareware: Charon 2.0a strictly a lpd gateway. Charon 4.0 lpd gateway and SMTP gateway. Commercial: Flex/IP from Novell (as of 07/92, apx $1995 list) which includes lpr, lpd, and ftpd, nlms A Hardware solution is a printserver called AXIS. It supports a maximum of two paralell and two serial printers. It works as both a Novell print server as well as an lpr printserver. It supports no/fixed/dynamic translation of ascii to Postscript to be setup seperately for each printer. Prices in Denmark are approx 10 kkr. or 1500$ AXIS is swedish. (Anyone have an address on these guys?) There is also a lpd type program that will sit on a PC and spool to any number of serial devices (printers, plotters, etc) hooked upto it. look for the "comd" program from sunee.uwaterloo.ca:pub/wattcp ********** Section 03. NetWare shells & network card drivers (packet drivers, shims, ODI) 01. What are Packet, ODI and NDIS drivers? ---------- Packet Drivers, ODI drivers, and NDIS drivers share a common purpose of recognizing packets coming in and distributing them to the appropriate piece of networking software as well as sending pre-built packets. Packet Driver was first on the block once FTP Software realized the difficulty of writing complete drivers for every Ethernet board on the market. It's a short specification that does little more than hand out packets; consequently a Packet Driver is very small (about 2.5K in memory) but highly effective. 3Com/Microsoft came out with the NDIS specification to accomplish the same goal, but with many enhancements. The specification itself is very large and difficult to understand, and the code was the same way. NDIS is most commonly seen on Lan Manager systems (3Com, Microsoft, DEC, AT&T, and so on). Then, most recently, Novell decided to tackle the board variety problem, but by starting from the top and looking down toward the hardware. Their ODI specification is the largest and most elaborate, and yet in many ways is the "best" of the bunch. Both NDIS and ODI drivers are commercial endeavors, but their specifications are public. However, neither NDIS or ODI makes any effort to accommodate alternate ("competing") protocol stacks. This is changing with the appearance of small software converter "shims" which have a Packet Driver interface as the common denominator. Novell's Lan WorkPlace for DOS is a shining example of providing an ODI driver supporting both NetWare and TCP/IP. You can see the pressures here: software vendors want a cheap way of using many boards because drivers are expensive to write, and users want everything, including the ability to run things requiring dual protocol stacks on a single board. The commercial NDIS and ODI drivers should be more solid than the volunteer effort Packet Drivers, and correspondingly harder to get changed when bugs are found. NDIS and ODI drivers need to come from board vendors; Packet Drivers come, normally, from individuals and are distributed via Clarkson University (you may get them by anonymous ftp from omnigate.clarkson.edu). Currently, Packet Drivers have the widest acceptance and support base. NDIS is probably next and ODI is too new to be counted. It takes considerable time to fully understand a specification and produce an acceptable quality driver. [Thanks to Joe Doupnik for the substance of this answer.] 02. What is Burst Mode and where can I get it? ---------- Burst mode is a protocol that will allow your server to send larger-than-normal packets in essentially a continuous stream. This will increase throughput when accesing large files. Applications include databases, backups, and similar. You can get Burst mode protocol (PBURST.NLM and BNETX.COM) by purchasing a disk called Windows Workstation Diskette from 800-Netware and asking for Updates and Upgrades. Cost is about $30. 03. Where can I get Packet drivers? ---------- Crynwr Packet drivers (previously known as Clarkson packet drivers) can be found on Simtel-20 and its mirrors If you are running Windows, you cannot run standard packet drivers if you desire to run any programs that use the packet driver while in enhanced mode. See Windows section for more details and a workaround. ODIPKT by Dan Lanciani is now two primary versions. The older 1.3 which contains support for PhoneNet and other things, and the newer 2.0 which supports dynamic send/recieve buffers. ftp from: hsdndev.harvard.edu:pub/odipkt ODITRPKT is based on ODIPKT, and converts token ring packets (token-ring_SNAP to Ethernet class 1) to a format that is recognizable by a majority of tcp/ip software. It can be ftp'd from datacomm.ucc.okstate.edu:pub/oditrpkt. 04. How can I use Packet driver utilities with my Token-Ring card? ---------- One must understand that the token ring boards use a different frame type, so standard packet drivers will not work. The second procedure described here also will currently *NOT* support ODI. In short, you will be loading the IBMTOKEN packet driver which will emulate a 3-Com ethernet board, and since you "look" like an ethernet board, the packet types will match up properly. FIRST METHOD: ODITRPKT, the Token-Ring Packet Shim for ODI. The official ftp source for oditrpkt is datacomm.ucc.okstate.edu:pub/oditrpkt. ODITRPKT is a modified version of odipkt so that it would act as a class 1 packet driver for Token-Ring. So far it has been in beta test for several Months. There are a few bugs in beta8 (trumpet and Kermit don't work) but they do work with some other versions. SECOND METHOD: Load the IBM LAN Support Program modules as such: Config.sys: device=dmxa0mod.sys device=dmxc0mod.sys (note: you do not need the dmxt0mod.sys driver) Autoexec.bat: IBMTOKEN 0x60 0 (0x60 is the port number) IPX (version explained below) NETX make SURE that you use the IPX linked with the IBM LAN Support Program Driver v2.60. Version 2.62 will re-initialize the board and wipe out the packet driver!!!! You can probably find V2.60 on the original WSGEN disks that came in the NetWare package. Your ipx should be gen'ed as follows: Novell IPX/SPX v3.10 (911121) (C) Copyright 1985, 1991 Novell Inc. All Rights Reserved. LAN Option: IBM LAN Support Program Driver v2.60 (901031) Hardware Configuration: Self Configurable The setup you will end up with will be something like this: Token-Ring Card | IBM LAN Support Program (dx??????.sys files) | | | Packet Token Ring Driver | (IBMTOKEN) IPX (gen'd for LANSUP) | | | NETX | | | (Charon 4.0, standard logins, and other packet driver programs) If you want, there is also one other alternative, which works, but is a bit more restrictive. Using MS-Kermit 3.12, the latest version, you can go directly through ODI to the network card. The previous setup is still required if you want to use Charon, Trumpet, or any other packet-driver utilities. Some additional topics supplied by (Fill in the blank): Software Development Joe Doupnik has published commented assembly language sources to directly interface with ODI. Since his TCP/IP code in MS-Kermit is said to base on the (also publicly available) Waterloo TCP sources, it should be possible to get those two together working. Maybe you convince the Waterloo folks to incorporate ODI support into their sources...:-) 05. What are the protocol numbers for the NET.CFG? ---------- protocol ipx 0000 protocol ip 0800 protocol arp 0806 protocol rarp 8035 + 06. How can I tell if Packet Burst is running? How much am I improving? ---------- Dirk Howard from novell.com tells us: >From the NetWare console, type in the command: SET ENABLE PACKET BURST STATISTICS SCREEN = ON Setting this settable parameter on a 3.11 server will result in a screen to which you can switch from the NetWare console screen. Besides the rows of zeros in the lower portion of the screen (which are not meaningful at present), there will appear in the upper left hand portion of the screen two numbers in the format xxx:yyy. The xxx number represents the connection number. Each workstation has a unique connection number. This connection number does not relate to any of the other connection numbers we are familiar with; it is unique to the Burst protocol. The yyy number is a hexadecimal value representing the Burst Gap Time. The value is usually low, around 0Eh. This number changes until it finds its optimal value. It should only take a moment for this number to settle to its final value, if it keeps getting higher and higher, this is evidence of a bug in the current version of the protocol. There will be a separate xxx:yyy for every workstation which is running Burst Mode and is connected to that server. Switching to the Packet Burst Statistics Screen is helpful when no perceptible performance increase is noted - it may be that the client is not actually running Burst Mode. This is usually due to neglecting to add the PB Buffers = [2-10] line to the NET.CFG. ********** Section 04. Printing 01. RPRINTER prints EXTREMEly slow, i.e. one line per 3-10 minutes ---------- If you're using OS/2, you will have to use the RPrinter that comes with the OS/2 Requester. Most of the problems that have come up with rprinter either deal with a corrupted/bad binary (92K in size) or the lack of a "proper" paralell port card. The first (corrupted binary) usually causes a working rprinter to suddenly stop. Simply recopy the RPRINTER.EXE and all will be well. The "proper" size for RPRINTER is 60-70K. The second (hardware paralell port problem) is caused by printer cards that do not actually use IRQ7 to indicate that the port is ready, thus RPRINTER sits there waiting and waiting. Two solutions are available to you: 1) You can get the non-interrupt driver version of RPRINTER 2) You can purchase a "better" paralell port. Mono/paralell cards are notorious for not having IRQ7. 02. What neat Printer Tricks can I do? (PCL/Postscript switching, etc) ---------- One option to use your printer in PCL/Postscript switching mode using Charon 4.0 is described by Shane Merritt: We keep our HP3SI in PCL mode all the time and have it switch to Postscript when needed. I setup a printer definition in Charon that uses the postscript translator and sends the contents of the initfile "sw2ps", prints the data, and then sends the reset file "sw2pcl." Below are the relevant portions of CHARON.DAT: incoming "HP3SI" ; the name of an incoming queue ; (matches pconsole name) name "HP3SI_PS" translate "postscript" ; uses the standard text ; translate list initfile "sw2ps" ; an initialization file which lives ; under the master spool directory in ; the PDATA subdirectory resetfile "sw2pcl" ; a file sent at the end of the job ; useful if the reset sequence is long The file sw2ps contains the following: %-12345X@PJL enter language = POSTSCRIPT The file sw2pcl contains: %-12345X@PJL PCL I haven't tried this extensively, but it appears to work. I hope this helps. Also: From: medici@dorm.rutgers.edu (Mark Medici) For UNIX, you'll have to make some changes to your printcap and filters to send the commands: duplex on: statusdict begin true set duplexmode end duplex off: statusdict begin false set duplexmode end As for Macs, the only solution is to obtain the HP3si printer driver and install it on all the Macs. Apple's LaserWriter drivers don't know anything about duplexing. 03. How can I setup a global PRINTCON.DAT? ---------- First, change the NetWare search mode for CAPTURE.EXE, NPRINT.EXE, and PRINTCON.EXE to mode 5 (search on all opens) by running SMODE filename.EXE 5 Then create a working PRINTCON.DAT and then copy it to SYS:PUBLIC, or another directory that will always be in the search path, and flag it SRO To use this global PRINTCON.DAT, the user(s) must delete any existing PRINTCON.DAT from their mail directory. Note that if a user uses PRINTCON to modify/change their print configuration, a new copy will be inserted into their mail directory, which means that from that point on, they will no longer use the global PRINTCON.DAT file. * 04. What replacements (HW & SW) for rprinter and pserver exist? ---------- There are two primary types of hardware solutions. The first is a card that plugs a laser printer directly to the Ethernet. The second is a box that will emulate pserver. The network cards for laser printers tend to support one or two printers in remote locations, while the pserver-type boxes can support clusters of printers, usualy in large numbers. In the PC Magazine Vol.12 No.2, Jan 26, 1993 issue, there is an article on eighteen third-party print servers. The MiLan FastPort supports both TCP/IP and IPX, and is a separate box which attaches to the network and then talks to the printer through either a parallel or serial port (or to two printers, one of each simultaneously). IMC Data Manager. They sell a multi-port box which can serve up to 16 ports (maybe more) It also supports TCP/IP. I think it only does RPRINTER mode right now. Rose Electronics, MicroServ 713-933-7673 This box operates in RPRINTER or PSERVER mode and is the size of a pack of cigarettes. (ie: quite small) it supports one parallel and one serial port. Castelle makes a print box that will support up 4 printers (1 paralell/3 serial or 2 paralell/ 2 serial) A Hardware solution is a printserver called AXIS. It supports a maximum of two paralell and two serial printers. It works as both a Novell print server as well as an lpr printserver. It supports no/fixed/dynamic translation of ascii to Postscript to be setup seperately for each printer. Prices in Denmark are approx 10 kkr. or 1500$ AXIS can be easiest reached by email: info@axis.se (Denmark) or info@axisinc.com (USA) NetSprint and JetSprint are two products from ASP. This box *should* support multiple servers. On the software side, to replace RPRINTER and PSERVER, you have: Infinite Technologies has a fast, low cost ($149/file server) RPRINTER alternative that is compatible with Windows, and is 2 to 4 times faster than RPRINTER. I-Queue! Server (a.k.a., IQS) runs as a TSR on a workstation with one or more printers attached. It can therefore replace either RPRINTER, or a workstation running PSERVER.EXE (to service multiple printers, multiple copies of IQS are loaded on the workstation). The one best part of IQS is that it runs Windows in 386 enhanced mode. It costs $149 per server. Infinite Technologies: 1-800-678-1097 or 410-363-1097 or Sales@Infinite.mhs.compuserve.com. Q Assist from Fresh Technologies: 602-497-4200 QueueIT! from Brightwork (bundled with PS-Print): 1-800-552-9876 PS-Print from Brightworks 800-552-9876. ExtendedNet Their ESI-2866A board, which goes into an HP Laserjet 4 prints both Mac and PC jobs. 208-322-7575 05. How can I control printing? (Charge per page, etc) ---------- 1) turn on accounting 2) Novell Accounting Print Server by Hamish Marson at h.marson@waikato.ac.nz pserver.zip or paccount.zip there's also PCNT*.zip PSERV*.zip but are these the above or different? try Archie 06. Why does pserver.nlm print out garbage when a print job is > 1k? ---------- The original version of pserver.nlm shipped with novell 3.11 was buggy. You need to upgrade to the latest version. It can be ftp'd from netlab2.usu.edu or ftp.novell.com ********** Section 05. Where can I get help from? Listservs, phone #'s, tech support #'s. 01. How can I reach Novell by phone? ---------- This list comes from a mailing from Sarah Peterson (Novell) to Larry Bradly, which he posted to the novell listserv. These numbers are valid as of 10/18/91. Department/Group Toll-Free Regular After Market Products (AMP) 800-346-7177 801-568-8856 Anthem/Eagle (Ethernet) 800-733-2453 408-453-1200 API Development/Austin 800-RED-WORD 512-794-1795 Authorized Reseller Information 800-828-3362 Contract Inquires/AMP 800-346-7177 801-568-8856 Contract (for those who have them) 800-51-3184 Corporate Headquarters 800-453-1267 801-429-7000 Customer Success Portfolios 800-UPDATE1 801-429-5155 Developer Assistance 800-729-4357 Reseller Authorization 800-828-3362 LANalyzer Products 800-243-8526 408-473-8324 Literature Orders 800-UPDATE1 801-429-5155 NetWare Users International 800-228-4NUI OURS Program 800-237-OURS Professional Developers Program(PDP) 800-RED-WORD 512-794-1795 Piracy 800-PIRATES 801-429-7600 Product Information 800-NETWARE 801-429-5155 Promotional Products 800-526-4483 RMA 800-NETWARE Technical Marketing Support 800-733-9673 Technical Support 800-NETWARE 801-429-5588 Technical Support/PDP 800-SAY-HELP 512-794-1795 Upgrades/Updates 800-UPDATE1 801-429-5155 Warranty Registration 800-458-7773 02. Where can I go for more help with: Charon, CDROMs, PMail, Novell, etc? ---------- There are a few mailing lists that deal with Novell, Pmail, Charon, and related issues. Subject: Novell Netware and related products and problems. Subscription requests to: LISTSERV@suvm.acs.syr.edu or LISTSERV@SUVM.BITNET List name is NOVELL Average traffic: 100+ messages per day (BUSY!) Subject: AVGate asynchronous email transfer gateway Subscription requests to: avgate-l@musicnet.ua.edu Subject: CDROMs on LANs Subscription requests to: listserv@idbsu.bitnet List name is CDROMLAN Subject: DougMenu, a Novell menu replacement Subscription requests to: listserv@nic.rhij.nl use in body: SUBSCRIBE DMENU-L Subject: Pegasus Mail and the Charon/Mercury e-mail SMTP gateway Subscription requests to: LISTSERV@ua1vm.ua.edu Average traffic: 10-20 messages per day r-joyner@uiuc.edu has setup a Gopher Client that has the PMail updates mailing list archived in plain text and with WAIS. Here's an exerpt from his message: From: r-joyner@uiuc.edu >I now have a bunch of the mail that has crossed the list on my Gopher >server. It is also indexed with WAIS. > >This is now available to the civilized world through your local Gopher >client. The server is Cyberdyne.ece.uiuc.edu on Port 70 > >BUT.....please don't bombard my server with anonymous clients. If the >load is too great, the Gopher server will shut-down until the CPU load >decreases. > >P.S. Please send any feedback on this to me at: r-joyner@uiuc.edu 03. Where can I reach companies for info about their network products? ---------- Here are some BBS, ftp, and tech support numbers where you can get the latest and greatest ROMs, drivers, and help for your networking hardware (HD controllers, lan cards, etc), as well as product info. 3Com Fax-back:408-727-7021 BBS:408-980-8204 @9600, 8-N-1 AT&T/NCR: (Ethernet and Token Ring drivers) 612-638-2854 Adaptec Voice:408-945-8600 BBS:408-945-7727. AXIS Communications AB, Sweeden, Voice:+4646191800 Fax:+4646136130 AXIS Communications Inc., USA: Voice 508-777-7957 Fax:508-777-9905 BISCOM (fax sever) Voice 608-670-5521 Fax:508-671-0095 Brightwork Dev. (Sitelock) Sales:800-552-9876 & 908-530-0440 Fax:530-0622 Calculas, Inc (fax server) Voice:408-733-7800 Fax:408-733-8594 Castelle (FaxPress) Fax:408-492-1338 Cheyanne (ArcServe) Voice:800-243-9462 and 516-484-5110 BBS:516-484-3445 Cisco Systems Voice:415-326-1941 or 800-553-NETS(6387) or 800-553-2447 Cogent Voice: 800-426-4368 (WinNET Plus) Computer Mail Services (S-Bridge) Voice: 313-352-6700 Cross Comm (Cross Connect) Voice:303-444-7799 Fax:303-444-4687 BBS:303-444-9003 D-Link USA: Voice:714-455-1688 Fax:714-455-2521 Dayna Comms, Inc (LocalTalk cards) Voice:801-531-0600 Fax:801-359-9135 Desktop Products Voice: 800-433-7587 & 510-428-1035 Digital Products, Inc (NetSprint) Voice:617-647-1234 Fax:800-243-2333 Diversified Computer Systems, Inc(EM320 for MicroVAX): Voice 303-447-9251 Eagle Tech (NE* cards) BBS: 408-453-0734 Extended Systems (ipx/ethertalk printserv) Voice:208-322-7575 Fax:208-377-1906 Farrallon (LocalTalk cards): 800-344-7489 Firefox (Novix) Voice:206-827-9066 Fresh Technology Group (MapAssist) Voice: 602-497-4200 Fax: 602-487-4242 Frye Computer Systems, Inc: 800-234-3793 Funk Software: Voice:617-497-6339 Fax:617-547-1031 Tech Supp:617-491-6503 Futurus, Corp Voice:404-392-7979 Gateway 2000 BBS:605-232-2109(for <= 2400), 605-232-2224(for > 2400) HP: HPFirst (FaxBack): 208-344-4809 & 1-800-333-1917 IBM: (gasp!) BBS:404-835-6600 Intel (Lanschool): 800-538-3373 Intel: Voice:800-738-3373, 503-629-7000 BBS:503-645-6275 Fax:800-458-6231 Intel: Fax-back service: 1-800-525-3019 Intel UK: (+44)793-432-955 Intel Sales: 800-538-3373 LanSmith: 800-522-4567 and 805-687-1271 McAfee BBS: 408-988-4004 McGraw-Hill (ordering books) Voice: 1-800-2-MCGRAW Micro Design International (SCSI Express): 407-677-8333 Fax: 407-677-8365 Micro Integration Voice:800-832-4526 Mustang Software (Wildcat! BBS, QModem) Voice:805-334-2240 Mustang Software Order:800-999-9619 Info:805-395-0223 Mylex BBS: 510-793-3491 Novastor Corp: 818-707-9900 fax: -9902 ONLINE Computer Systems (OPTI-NET) 800-922-9204 Fax: 301-428-2903 Palidrome (Network Archivist): 708-505-3300 Proteon BBS:508-366-7827 Racal-Interlan BBS:508-264-4345 Tech Support:800-LAN-TALK Saber Software Corporation Sales: 800-338-8754, 214-361-8086 Saber Software Corporation Support: 800-526-8086, 214-361-5284 Smart System (IGate) Voice:+64 6-3561484 SMC Voice:800-NET-LEADer BBS:714-707-2481 & 516-434-3162 Support: 714-707-5607 & 800-992-4762 SMC UK BBS:(+44)372-745-900 Software Management Group (Lazarus) Voice:800-395-0209 Fax:515-284-5147 Supro Network Software Inc.(SNSI) (Everywhere Access) Voice:705-652-1572 Systems Enhancement Corp (PowerMon) Voice:314-532-2855 Fax:314-537-2791 Telebit Corp. Voice: 800-835-3248 UltraStor:714-581-4100 tech:510-623-8955 Valitek (paralell port tape backup) Voice:413-586-7408 Virtual Microsystems (InfoServer):800-722-8299 Wangtek:805-583-5255 Western Digital:714-707-2481 Xircom BBS: 818-878-7618 8N1 Email contacts: AXIS: info@axis.se (NON USA and Canada) AXIS: info@axisinc.com (USA and Canada) Brightwork Devlopment, Inc: 75300.1415@compuserve.com (GO BRIGHT) Brightwork Devlopment, Inc: customer_service@brightwork.com Dayna Communications, Inc: dayna@c.utah.edu Infinite Technology: brett@infinite.mhs.compuserve.com Intel CIS: (GO INTEL) Kermit: Info-Kermit@watsun.cc.columbia.edu Legato Systems Inc: ???@legato.com McAfee anon ftp: ftp.mcafee.com Micro Design International (SCSI Express): 74736.3627@compuserve.com Murkworks: info@murkworks.com PC Anywhere(UK): telsys@cix.compulink.co.uk PKTMUX: gwr@ib.rl.ac.uk Packet Drivers: info@crynwr.com Pegasus Mail: dave@pmail.gen.nz SMC on CIS: (GO SMC) Smart Systems (IGate): smart@actrix.gen.nz Supro Network Software Inc.(SNSI): info@snsi.com, tech@snsi.com WD/SMC: techsupt@ccmail.west.smc.com daVinci: support@davinci.mhs.compuserve.com, support.davinci@mhs.unc.edu SnailMail: AXIS Communcations INC: 99 Rosewood Dr, Suite 170, Danvers, MA 01923 BISCOM: Billerica, Massachusetts Brightworks: 766 Shrewsbury Ave, Jerral Center West, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 Calculas Inc: 522 Mercury Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94086-4018 Castelle: 3255-3 Scott Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054 Cross Comm: Canyon Centre, 1881 Ninth St, Suite 302, Boulder, CO 80302-5151 D-Link: 5 Musick, Irvine, CA. 92718 Dayna Comms Inc: 50 S. Main St, 5th Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84144-0402 Desktop Products: 1316 63rd Street, Emeryville, CA 94608 Extended Systems: 5777 N. Meeker Ave, Boise, Idaho 83704 Extended Systems: 6123 N. Meeker Ave, Boise, Idaho 83704 Firefox: 401 Park Place, Suite 301, Kirkland, WA 98033 Firefox: P.O. Box 8165, Kirkland, WA 98034-0165 Fresh Technology: 1478 N. Tech Blvd., Suite 101, Gilbert, Arizona 85234 Funk Software Inc: 222 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 Futurus, Corp: 211 Perimeter Center Pkwy, Suite 910, Atlanta, GA 30346 INTEL Corp: 3311 North University Avenue, Suite 200, Provo, UT 84604 Mustang Software: POBox 2264, Bakersfield, CA 93303 Saber Software Corporation: PO Box 9088, Dallas, TX 75209 Smart Systems: PO Box 5017, Wellington, New Zealand Systems Enhancement Corp: 761 Spirit of St.Louis Blvd, Chesterfield, MO 63005 International Mail addresses: AXIS Communications AB: Schlevagen 16, 223 70 Lund, Sweeden Supro Network Software, PO Box 18, Warsaw, Ontario, Canada, KOL 3AO 04. What publications & magazines might be helpful? ---------- 3TECH, The 3Com Technical Journal, a free to qualified individuals magazine. Call 408-764-6626 and ask for Linda Webb for information. Subscriptions to InfoWorld are available in Europe for a price of $495 per year. By special arrangement, copies are sent by air freight to and redistributed from London, with arrival generally within three days of publication date. For more information, contact Parkway Gordon, Westwood House, Elmhurst Road, Goring-on-Thames, Reading, RG8 9BN England. Telephone: 44 (0) 491-875386. Facsimile: 44 (0) 491-875524 There is also a possibility of getting a free subscription by filling out a questionairre. email Barbara_Ruffner@infoworld.com for details. Archive-name: novell-faq/part2 ********** Section 06. FTP retrieval of patches, utilities, tools. 01. Where can I anonymous FTP Netware utilities, programs, etc? ---------- Official and Unofficial Novell patches, updates, and information are available from Novell on their anonymous ftp server. (See ftp list) There are also a number of Official Novell mirror sites scattered around the globe. On the anonymous ftp servers (below) you can find the latest versions of Telnet, Charon, Trumpet, and other utilities. Archie and Gopher can be helpful in finding anonymous ftp sites that carry the programs you seek. If you are not familiar with anonymous ftp, you can RTFM, ask your local administrators, or better yet, a friendly *nix guru. 8> A partial list of ftp sites with Novell stuff is: Changes: Novell's ftp site: ftp.novell.com 137.65.4.1 ftp.novell.de 193.97.1.1 Novell's ftp Mirrors: netlab2.usu.edu 129.123.1.44 risc.ua.edu 130.160.4.7 bnug.proteon.com 128.185.17.201 ftp.salford.ac.uk 146.87.0.201 ftp.rug.nl 129.125.4.15 tu1.lincoln.ac.nz 138.75.10.31 inf.nw.nrc.ca 132.246.160.4 Misc ftp sites: vax.ftp.com 128.127.2.100 newsun.novell.com 130.57.4.1 sjf-lwp.novell.com 130.57.11.140 barnacle.erc.clarkson.edu 128.153.28.12, Alias: grape.ecs.clarkson.edu omnigate.clarkson.edu 128.153.4.2 sun.soe.clarkson.edu 128.153.12.3 splicer2.cba.hawaii.edu 128.171.17.2 datacomm.ucc.okstate.edu 139.78.1.2, ODITRPKT monk.proteon.com 128.185.123.16 spdcc.com 140.186.80.3 cbaux.cba.hawaii.edu cc.usu.edu 129.123.1.1 chaos.cc.ncsu.edu 152.1.10.23 cs.ep.utexas.edu 129.108.1.41 cyberdyne.ece.uiuc.edu 128.174.115.18, Gopher server only, port 70 das.harvard.edu 128.103.50.55 dcsprod.byu.edu 128.187.7.3 gatekeeper.3Com.COM 129.213.128.5, Alias: ftp.3com.com harvard.harvard.edu 128.103.1.1 info.umd.edu 128.8.10.29 netlab.usu.edu 129.123.1.11 netlab1.usu.edu 129.123.1.43 noc.byu.edu 128.187.7.2, Alias: dcsprod.byu.edu shasta.scl.cwru.edu 129.22.32.7 syr.edu 128.230.1.49, Alias: icarus.cns.syr.edu ucs_wcc.ucs.indiana.edu 129.79.16.96, Alias: lan_stuff.ucs.indiana.edu ucselx.sdsu.edu 130.191.1.10 watsun.cc.columbia.edu 128.59.39.2 zaphod.ncsa.uiuc.edu 141.142.20.50, Alias: ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu wsmr-simtel20.army.mil 192.88.110.20 International ftp sites: nestroy.wu-wien.ac.at 137.208.3.4 kirk.bu.oz.au 131.244.1.1 sunee.uwaterloo.ca 129.97.50.50 dorm.rutgers.edu 128.6.18.15 hamster.business.uwo.ca 129.100.22.100 ftp.uni-koeln.de 134.95.80.1 iraun1.ira.uka.de 192.13.10.90, Alias: ftp.ira.uka.de sun0.urz.uni-heidelberg.de 129.206.100.126, Alias: ftp.urz.uni-heidelberg.de ftp.uni-kl.de 131.246.9.95 garbo.uwasa.fi 128.214.87.1 novell.felk.cvut.cs 147.32.14.5 WARNING: 64-kb link simtel20 mirrors: rigel.acs.oakland.edu 141.210.10.117, Alias: oak.oakland.edu wuarchive.wustl.edu 128.252.135.4 ftp.uu.net 137.39.1.9 nic.funet.fi 128.214.6.100 src.doc.ic.ac.uk 146.169.3.7 archie.au 139.130.4.6 nic.switch.ch 130.59.1.40 Companies' ftp sites: ftpserv.interlan.com 130.204.8.16, Interlan card drivers 02. Is there an official Novell FTP site for patches and updates? ---------- The official anonymous ftp server is at ftp.novell.com. The official Novell ftp Mirror sites (per Novell!) are: netlab2.usu.edu risc.ua.edu bnug.proteon.com ftp.salford.ac.uk tu1.lincoln.ac.nz ftp.rug.nl inf.nw.nrc.ca In /novlib you will find a structure similar to that on CompuServe. However, Novell cannot offer anything other than its own uploads to the internet, due to legalities. Janet Perry has pointed out that "while CompuServe libraries allow the posting of third party information, Novell does not hold the copyright to that information and it will not be found on Novell's FTP server." 1. Novell new uploads 2. General Information (General Information, Press Releases, Education) 3. NetWare 2.x specific files 4. NetWare 3.x specific files 5. Client/shell drivers (workstation shells, drivers, Windows files, etc) 6. NetWare utilities 7. Btrieve/XQL Novell 8. Mac/UNIX/LANalyzer 9. Communications Products 10. NetWare Lite 11. Tech Info/IMSP (Tech Bulletins, IMSP, APNotes) 03. How can I ftp things if I don't have a direct Internet connection? ---------- Try using the BITFTP-FTP/Email gateway. Just send e-mail containing HELP as the BODY (not a subject) to BITFTP@PUCC.BITNET. It will send more info to you. Internet gateways are: ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com ftpmail@cs.uow.edu.au ********** Section 07. Windows & Netware 01. Windows won't print properly to Novell print queues/redirection ---------- Two problems. By default, Windows will try and print directly to the hardware, but of course, that won't work. solution: print to file "LPT1" or set the "print to hardware" off. If you are running Windows 3.0, then using an aliased port (LPTx.yyy) is the only way for a DOS redirector to redirect print output under Windows. Under Windows 3.1 you can turn off what MicroSoft refers to as "Fast printing direct to port." With this off, there is no need to use an aliased port. Below messsage from: Richard Brett Frankenberger The above will work, but is not the preferred method. If you tell Windows what kind of network you have (during install, or if it is already installed by re-running SETUP (from either DOS or Windows) - just pick NOVELL NETWORK - if NETx is loaded when you run install, it will pick it automatically), it will then look for CAPTUREd ports, and send the jobs directly to the queue (using Novell API type calls rather than BIOS, so the Job Title will contain the name of the application that sent the print instead of LPT1 CATCH). This method is preferred, because it lets windows work with your Network shell for all services (file sharing, Broadcast messaging, etc, as well as printing). This applies to Win 3.0 as well as Win 3.1 02. How do I setup Windows 3.1 for Packet Drivers? ---------- The most common set of telnet and ftp utilities are the WinQVTnet programs. They can be found on various ftp sites (such as ftp.cica.indiana.edu:/pub/pc/win3/util), and can be found through Archie. You will also need WINPKT which is the "Windows aware" go-between between the REAL packet driver (ODIPKT) and any program running under Windows. LSL ODIPKT 1 96 REM Where 1 refers to the second frame type (ETHERNET_II) REM as listed in net.cfg and REM 96 is the packet interrupt vector, 0x60. WINPKT 99 96 REM Where 99, i.e. 0x63, is the virtual interrupt vector and REM 96 is the original used by the ODIPKT shim. PKTINT REM MUST be after the packet drivers IPXODI NETX WINPKT and PKTINT only allow ONE program to access the packet driver at once. This means that you could only run WinQVTnet, and CANNOT concurrently load up NCSA telnet, any telnetd, any other ftpd, or whatever. I suppose that's why WinQVTnet has them all bundled into one program... PKTMUX, solves this problem and gives a user upto 8 simultaneous packet driver sessions, but I have heard it is not 100% reliable, however, many report that it is 99.99% reliable. PKTMUX can be found at sunee.waterloo.edu, although it actually originates in Oxford somewhere. 03. How do I get Windows for WorkGroups to run on Novell? ---------- Run ODI, use ODINSUP and the NDIS stack on top of that. Within the NDIS stack, run DIS_PKT shim. This whole pile actually works (usually). 04. How do I get Windows NT to interface with Novell? ---------- Novell now has the following disk available: NetWare Client for Windows NT Pre-Release 1-21-93 (Install) You can also ftp the file, NWNT.ZIP from any of the Novell Mirrors. 05. How can I reliably receive messages and broadcasts under Windows? ---------- Answer-Machine will intercept incomming system messages and will put them in a separate box on the screen. It should also beep you when it receives any messages. It should be on cica... (now where can I officially ftp it from?) WinPopup will also grab any incomming messages and pop them up in a box, or store them until you ask for them. (now where can I ftp it from?) 06. How can I manage Windows users who login on different workstations? ---------- WinLogin from Microsoft allows central control over Windows startup based on groups, workstation type, and user and environment variables. Cost is a mere $30 per server. 07. How can I get RPRINTER to co-exist with Windows? ---------- Here are some tidbits: run Windows from your local drive rather the network make sure HIMEM.SYS correctly id's your machine (A20 #) use ODI drivers instead of the WSGEN'ed use the latest version of RPRINTER start RPRINTER before you bring up Windows add to your NET.CFG: SPX ABORT TIMEOUT=1000 IPX RETRY COUNT=35 avoid using a base I/O address of 360 with NICs. avoid using other TSRs with RPRINTER and Windows. also, Brett Warthen has provided: Send a message to Library@Infinite.mhs.compuserve.com with a subject line of WINTIPS. This will have my mail server return a copy of this document to you. The best solution thusfar, though is to get RPRINTER version 1.22w in polling mode. the suggested command line is thus: rprinter print_server printer_number timing_strobe_value example: rprinter ps1 3 4 (the strobe value should be between 2 and 4). This version has been put in RPRTPOL.ZIP on netlab2.usu.edu 08. How can I get started writing Windows programs for NetWare? ---------- The preferred method is to purchase Novell's NetWare Client SDK which documents the NetWare APIs for DOS, Windows, and OS/2. The DLLs are therein documented. One recommended book is "Windows Network Programming" by Ralph Davis, from Addison-Wesley. ********** Section 08. Macintosh Problems 01. How do I setup my HP LaserJet IIIsi with PostScript to use with MACs? ---------- Q. I have an HP LaserJet IIIsi printer with the HP PostScript and Ethernet/Novell options. I also have NetWare 3.11 and NetWare for Mac v3.01x. How should I configure the printer and server to handle both PC and Mac users? Answer: 1. Configure your LJ3si as outlined in HP's manaul "Network Printer Interface for Novell Networks", including creating the NetWare print queues and modifying PSERVER's settings if you will be using the printer in Remote Printer mode. 2. Change the default LJ3si page description language to PostScript as explained in the manual noted above (not PCL as the manual seems to imply). 3. Use PRINTDEF.EXE to edit the device functions and modes for the LJ3si. Make sure that the printer re-initialize mode sends the correct commands to put the printer back into PostScript at the end of each job, and that at least one print mode (often more) will switch the printer into PCL mode. 4. Use PRINTCON to create a working PRINTCON.DAT for PC users (Mac users do not have the benefit of this file, which is why the printer is in PostScript mode by default and all configuration focuses on PC clients). Create at least two print job configurations for PC users: one for HP-PCL mode, the other for PostScript mode. Each job should turn-off banners and set the file type to "Byte stream". The PCL job(s) should have, in the last field, a device mode that puts the printer into PCL mode, while the PS job can be left for "(Re-initialize)". The PS job MUST have form-feeds turned-off. Copy this PRINTCON.DAT to each user's mail directory, or put it in sys:system (or other shared directory) for use as a global file, as described elsewhere in this FAQ. 5. In your sys:system\ATPS.CFG, include (at minimum) the following options: -o "queuename" -wb -l -f hplaser Replace "queuename" with the actual queue name you defined for this printer (surrounded with quotes as shown). An explaination of the options can be found in chapter 8 of Novell's "NetWare for Macintosh v3.01 Installation and Maintenance" manual. 6. Restart PSERVER if necessary to implement changes for remote printer mode, then load ATPS.NLM (AppleTalk Print Services). Shortly thereafter, a new printer "queuename" will be listed as a LaserWriter device in all Macs' choosers, in the same zone as the file server. PC users will also be able to use the printer for either PCL or PS through use of the correct PRINTCON print job configuration (specified on the command line of NPRINT and CAPTURE). For more information, refer to the manuals: Hewlett-Packard, "Network Printer Interface for Novell Networks". Novell, "NetWare for Macintosh v3.01 Installation and Maintenance", chapter 8, "Managing AppleTalk Print Services". Novell, "NetWare Version 3.11 Print Server" Novell, "NetWare Version 3.11 Utilities" (capture, printdef, printcon, pconsole, nprint). Thanks go to Mark Medici for the substance of this answer 02. How do I rebuild the desktop on a Mac? ---------- First you need to get all mac users off of the network, since the files will be "in use" and not modifiable. From: dseeman@novell.com (Daniel Seeman) >With the LOAD AFP CDT, you are just CLEARING THE DESKTOP. To re-build >it, you must login to that server (as SUPERVISOR, while no one else is >using AFP) from a system 6.x Macintosh. As you mount the volume(s) >hold down the shift and option keys to re-build the volumes. > >System 7 cannot re-build external volumes. To check that the desktop has been regenerated, use NDIR to scan the hidden DESKTOP.AFP directory at the root of each volume. You should see the new files with their new dates and sizes. It is further noted that you should be in Finder mode, not MultiFinder. + 03. How can I get printers to stay hidden? ---------- There is a known problems with LaserWriter IIg's with older ROMs. the currently two known solutions are: (1) We have heard that Apple does have a PROM upgrade to the LaserWriter IIg which reportedly addresses this problem. (2) Novell has included PostScript patch code from Apple in NetWare for Macintosh v3.011 (ATPS v3.11) that allows it to successfully hide the LaserWriter IIg. The upgrade to version 3.011 can be ordered from Novell- After Market Products 1-800-346-7177 and is also available from many Novell Authorized Resellers. + 04. How can I use networked non-postscript printers? ---------- If the printers are non-postscript printers, then you need to get the GDI product "PowerPrint/NW". It supposedly lets you print directly from a Mac to "any" Novell print queue from dot-matrix to bubble jet to laser printers of many types. The list price for 50 users is approximately $500, but you can surely get it somewhere on sale. ********** Section 09. Programming under Novell 01. How can I get started programming with Novell (Client APIs)? ---------- You can purchase Novell's API for C, or you can pick up a book describing how to access the same functions through DOS interrupt calls. There are also many libraries that you can find at various anonymous FTP sites that have essentially the same functionality as Novell's API. One such pascal API is located on hamster.business.uwo.ca:tp6_api.zip. I think it comes with source, and is supposed to work with versions 5, 6, and 7. Try the Simtel Mirrors and Archie, if you can't find it. However, Novell's API is strictly for DOS, so if you are writing for Windows, you will need to find Novell's Netware Windows SDK, which documents their DLL's. There are several books you can pick up that describe how to use the interrupt calls "Programmer's Guide to NetWare" by Charles Rose from McGraw Hill, New York, Lan Times Book Series. ISBN 0-007-607029-8 Extensive documentaion on how everything works. Includes VAP information (but not NLM) Covers up through ver 3.x "Netware System Calls - DOS" from Novell, documents the API call (it is reported to be incomplete for some new Netware 3.x API) "PC Interrupts" by Ralf Brown & Jim Kyle from Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. It documents basic API calls and many other interrupt calls besides Novell alone. ISBN 0-201-57797-6 Some ftp'able listings of the Novell Interrupts are: HOST wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4) Location: /mirrors3/archive.umich.edu/msdos/info FILE 245887 Nov 18 1991 inter28a.zip FILE 196927 Nov 18 1991 inter28b.zip FILE 135096 Nov 18 1991 inter28c.zip HOST ccadfa.cc.adfa.oz.au Location: /pub/pc/progdev/docs FILE ?inter.txt 02. How can I get started programming NLMs? ---------- You can purchase the NLM development kit from Novell, I believe that you have no other option. Here's a post from krussel about programming NLMs: ---------------8<---------- cut here ----------8<--------------- NLM DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES ETC. Over the past two years I have written about five different NLMs. Usually it goes pretty well but I have run into quite a few little things. First you should join Novell's Professional Developers Program. This enables you to buy their 'Software Developers Kits.' These are the latest and greatest development tools that they have available and are much further along than their standard 'Red Box' products. You can call Novell and just ask for the Professional Developers Group. You fill out some papers and then your in. The greatest advantage is unlimited free technical support for all of the Novell development products that you own. The next big issue is the fact that NLMs run with absolutely no protection from each other. If you write an NLM that messes with memory it can crash itself, affect other NLMs, or abend the server. You can also abend the server by not closing semaphores on unload, and various other little things. You must be 'resource responsible' when writing NLMs. The server will complain about anything that you use and then don't return to it when your NLM is unloaded. In some cases this can be just a message that you didn't free some memory. In other cases it can cause an abend. In the code that I have written I would say that at least 25% of the actual code is required to be 'resource responsible.' Just as your NLM can affect others you are not alone in the server. At one installation where several of my NLMs are in use they use TCP/IP, PSERVER, UPS monitoring, BTRIEVE, and several other NLMS. I have had a few instances where I have had problems and they turned out to be some little quirk in NW3.XX itself. These can be very hard to track down and Novell support can help but often don't have the ability to duplicate your code for testing etc. As a general rule I would say that it takes someone who has been writing NLMs for a while at least twice as long to write an NLM version of an application as it would to write a similiar application under more mature development environments. The good news is that NLMs are very fast and have much greater resources available than DOS. The libraries that come with the Novell SDK 2.0 include built in support for the following in addition to the usual 'C' libary stuff: Remote File Server Support - access resources on remote servers Accounting Services Advanced Services - very low level interface to server processes AppleTalk Filing Protocol Services Bindery Services Bit Array Services Communications Services - IPX/SPX transports Connection Number and Task Management Services Device I/O Services Directory Services DOS Partition Services Execution Thread Services File Engine Services File Server Environment Services File Services Library API - for creating CLIB like NLMs Message Services - console broadcasts etc. Queue Management Services Screen Handling Services - primitive at best Service Advertising Protocol Services Stream I/O Services Synchronization Services - Semaphores & record locking Transaction Tracking System Services Transport Interfaces - TCP/IP using sockets or TLI UNIX STREAMS services It is probably a good idea to allow for a lot more test time for NLMs than you do for DOS products. You need to run all kinds of tests with various other NLMs running and throw as many variables at your code as you can. It is not a good idea to debug NLMs on servers that are in use by people in an existing network. When you join the developers group mentioned above you can buy a 250 user NW3.11 license for development use for only $500. I would highly recommend getting the additional Netware licenses and setting up a test server. I use the same system for development and test. I have a 486 with 8MB and a 200MB drive. I partition the drive for 150MB dos and 50MB NW386. Then I do the development on the dos partition and when I am ready to test I just load NW386 from the dos partition and load my app and go. This works best for what I have developed. You can also get Netware NFS for $500 for development use only. Here are examples of some of the NLMs I have written and their actual development times. You can use this to get an idea of what your looking at. Broadcast Operations Supervisor 4 months This is used on air at CBS's broadcast origination center in NYC. It is a replacement for BSERVER that provides btrieve services to DOS based clients running a client module instead of BREQUEST. In addition to the normal btrieve services it notifies all stations that have a btrieve file open of any changes that are made to that file at the time they occur. It communicates with the client stations using SPX. They have two servers and this application runs in 'active mode' in one and 'standby mode' on the other. As changes are made to databases on the active server they are automatically copied to the stand-by server. A keep alive ethernet broadcast is sent by the active server once a second. When the standby server does not see the keep alive for 15 seconds it goes active and reboots all stations on the network. They then connect to what was the standby server and resume operation using the automatically backed up databases. A central logging service is provided that allows all the client applications to log status information and messages to a single database that is used to track system activity when problems arise. Facilities Assignment 2 months This is also used at CBS in NYC. A schedule is created on DOS based platforms using btrieve files that hold events to be executed at certain times throught the day. The NLM periodically checks the schedule and executes any events that are pending. For each event the NLM initiates 1-3 TCP/IP connections to various control systems (about 40) on the ether. Commands are sent and then the connection is closed. In addition when a control system first is restarted for whatever reason it must find out its current assignment. This NLM listens on a well known port for requests of this nature and accepts connections from these clients. Assignments are given and then the client goes away. All activities are logged in the schedule file as being completed, having errors etc. This application actually consists of three seperate NLMs. ---------------8<---------- cut here ----------8<-------------- 03. How can I use Encrypted Passwords? ---------- Novell provides a login.obj, a C Object file that can be linked in with your program. It is called alogin.zip, and can be found under novlib/01 or any novell.com mirrors. 04. How do I write Windows programs using the NETWARE.DRV files? ---------- You setup your registers, as you would in a DOS program, but instead of calling DOS Int 0x21, you call the NetWareRequest() function. For Pascal: define a prototype for the function "extern long FAR PASCAL NetWareRequest(void)" and import the function from NETWARE.DRV. More For Turbo Pascal: unit NWGLOBAL interface {$IFDEF WINDOWS} Uses WinDos; {$ELSEIF} Uses DOS; {$ENDIF} Function NWIntr(ReqAH, ReqAL:byte;Request,Reply:Pointer):Byte; {$IFDEF WINDOWS} Procedure NetWareRequest; {$ENDIF} Implementation {$IFDEF WINDOWS} Porcedure NetWareRequest; External 'NETWARE' Index 1000; {$ENDIF} Function NWIntr(ReqAH, ReqAL:Byte; Request, Reply: Pointer):byte; {$IFDEF WINDOWS} var rc : Byte; Begin asm push ds push es mov ah, ReqAH mov al, ReqAL lds si, Request les di, Reply end; NetWareRequest; asm pop es pop ds mov rc, al end; NwIntr := rc; end; {$ELSE} var regs: registers; begin Regs.AH := ReqAH; Regs.AL := ReqAL; Regs.DS := Seg(Request^); Regs.SI := Ofs(Request^); Regs.ES := Seg(Reply^); Regs.DI := Ofs(Reply^); MsDos(Regs); NWIntr := Regs.AL; end; {$ENDIF} begin end. ----------------------------------------------- now all you have to do is compile this into your units where you origionally had to use a register and the MS-DOS procedure. in it's place you can say something like.. Function GetConnectionNumber : Word; Begin GetConnectionNumber := NWIntr($DC,0,nil,nil); end; <-- OR --> Function ANYTHING_YOU_WANT : Word; var Request,Reply : Things; Begin {Setup Request buffer} result := NWIntr($FF,$00,@Request, @Reply); {Mess with results in reply buffer} end; This way, you compile the above function for DOS and Windows. BTY, the versions that I am using this with are (DOS) TP6 and (Windows) TP1.5 Sorry, I have not had a chance to try this under TP7. Stephen Herzog, herzogs@ ********** Section 10. Utility programs 01. What utilities can I find for my Novell server(s)? ---------- One of the most popular collection of utilities is written by J.Baird, better known as the JRB Utilities. They can be ftp'd from a number of anymous ftp sites, officially from netlab2.usu.edu and risc.ua.edu 02. How can I remotely control my PC/remotely login to my network? ---------- For a telnet compatible solution, get pub/wattcp/telnetd.zip via anonymous FTP from sunee.uwaterloo.ca or dorm.rutgers.edu. It works really well with CUTCP Telnet, NCSA Telnet, and also works fine with MacTCP Telnet and most other versions of telnet. SNSI (Supro Network Software, Inc.) sells a commercial PC Telnet server called Everywhere Access which works with Novell's LWP and FTP's PC/TCP, or just packet drivers or ODI drivers with the ODI_PKT shim. It provides color or simulated color, and is good for remote access or multiplatform access to Netware management tools and text based applications like WordPerfect, databases, CD-ROMs and mail software. Provides multiple telnet sessions under Windows or Desqview. Contact snsi!info@uunet.ca for details. Proxy - from Funk SoftWare supports 8 simultaneous Windows/DOS sessions through telnet. Funk: 617-497-6339 Beame&Whiteside - BW-NFS 3.0 was recently released with the usual telnet and nfs and other applications, and with a DOS and Windows/DOS telnetd You are buying the whole TCP kit. contact beame@bws.com for details. Essex - includes a multi session TELNET server in their complete TCP/2 kit (telnet, nfs, etc.) For non-telnet based remote PC control solutions: NetRemote - NetRemote 5.00 allows mouse support remotley as well as your keyboard, and WILL control a PC running Windows. Their sales staff can be reached at: 1-800-552-9876. U.S. Robotics is bundling the remote control software they purchased with the LAN server modems, remote access workstations, etc. The host side, only works with their modems. However, they give the right to freely distribute the client side. This strategy makes the hardware a great investment. Even at $25.00 a copy for shareware, the one time cost of even $1,000 for a high end modem, would be paid for by the distribution of just 40 copies of the Blast remote control software. You might want to give Intel's LANSight a try. It does Windows. Call them and ask for a demo. PC ANYWHERE/LAN (From Norton/Symantec). There is a single-user standalong version, as well, if your needs are small. The LAN version, however, will support an IPX/SPX connection??? (help?). Remote LANnode from DCA/Crosstalk Communications. Call Ed Walton at 800-274-6633 for an evaluation copy. LAN Assist from Fresh Technology Group 602-497-4200 or 800-793-7374 TeleReplica. No Graphics, but cost effective shareware. Further details are available from author Douglas Thomson (doug@giaeb.cc.monash.edu.au) anonymous ftp: garbo.uwasa.fi. Look on simtel mirror sites in .../msdos/modem for tr4-23.zip. Cross Connect by Cross Communications will supposedly do: Up to 20 simultaneous dial-in/out sessions Non-dedicated mode Chat mode Remote printing and rebooting Security in the form of password and auto dial-back Compatibility with INT14 comms packages can work with Pathworks, Lan Manager, Lantasic, and (of course) Novell. Other packages I have heard of are: LANfast LANmodem Netware Access Server from Novell, requires dedicated 386 Close Up and Close Up Lan (from Novell?) Shiva makes NetModem-E, a Ethernet based solution. 03. How can I boot my server without running STARTUP.NCF/AUTOEXEC.NCF? ---------- For Netware ver 3.xx, use these command-line options: SERVER -NS To skip STARTUP.NCF, and SERVER -NA To skip AUTOEXEC.NCF NetWare 2.x does not HAVE the files STARTUP.NCF and AUTOEXEC.NCF. Instead they hard-code all the information into NET$OS.EXE, so you will have to rebuild it to change anything. 04. How can I login *without* running login scripts? ---------- To avoid running the user login scripts: Have "EXIT" as the last line in your system login script. This prevents the system from running a user's login script or the default if a user does not have one. To avoid running any login scripts at all: 1. Use ATTACH instead of LOGIN to connect to a server. ATTACH will not run the login script, whereas LOGIN will. ATTACH.EXE will either have to copied to a local HD or put in sys:login. 2. Use the /s option for LOGIN. Using "LOGIN /S NUL " will cause LOGIN to load the DOS device NUL which will always seem like an empty file. 05. How can I get user-ids (and other information) into programs? ---------- There are many ways to import Novell information into programs you have written, each of which is appropriate for some solutions: A. Environment variables Use the login script command: dos set VARIABLE="Value" to put the user-id (%LOGIN_NAME), station number, etc. (the documentation for the list of available values), into an environment variable. Now, you will be able to retrieve the environment variable, both in batch files, and in programs. In Turbo Pascal, C, and C++ use the expression GetEnv("VARIABLE") to retrieve an environment variable. This technique is good for simply programs which only need a few Novell values, and for batch files. B. Piping in information from WHOAMI Write your program to read its input in the form that WHOAMI types, and then pipe in the output from WHOAMI: WHOAMI [/a] | YOURPROGRAM You will have to program to ignore lines that contain only / - \ because these still appear at the head of the file while the program is scanning the bindery information. This is inefficient, but it is the only way to get group arbitrary group memberships if you cannot use any of the below options. C. Novell API's Purchase the Novell API's, available in both C, C++, (including all Borland products) and assembly language. With these you can retrieve directly almost any information that the account running the program has access to. The API's provide not only basic services like user-names and connection number, but advanced ones like print queues and IPX/SPX communications, among others. This is the best and most efficient solution, but requires investment in the API's as well as programming knowledge. D. Third Party API's Libraries are available that are virtual duplicates of Novell's API's. Some are commercial, some are shareware, and some are even freeware. Try looking around at some of the ftp sites, and see what you can dig up. Here's one anymous ftp location with a Turbo Pascal library: hamster.business.uwo.ca:tp6_api.zip It's source so works fine for Versions 5, 6, or 7. E. Using Novell's API's through interrupt calls You can also pick up any number of books that will show you how to access all of the API functions through system interrupt calls, thus requiring only investment in a compiler and a book, with the appropriate programming knowledge. F. Third Party Utilities Obtain a commercial or shareware utility to enhance batch files with Novell information. You could also write your own (see solutions C, D, E). 06. Why won't RPL (remote boot) work? ---------- There is a known problem with DOS 5 and remote boot. You will need to get rplfix.exe. It will patch the disk images so that it will boot properly. You can find this program in dosup5.zip on Novell's ftp site, among others. There have been some people that have reported that an incompatible system BIOS does not allow RPL to work. Try a different DOS version (non DOS 5) and see if that works. If you are trying to use ODI under RPL, you need to get RPLODI and load it IMMEDEATELY after you load xxx. RPLODI is available on Novell's ftp site, among others. 08. What software metering packages are available? ---------- For IBM platforms, try these: Sitelock from Brightworks - Requires a TSR on client. Difficult to bypass. Includes virus protection. Can also be configured to prevent usage of the floppy drives Saber Meter from Saber Software - No memory overhead. Platform independent. Direct Access Network Fifth Generation Systems 10049 N. Reiger Rd. Baton Rouge, LA 70809 AppMeter - from Funk Software, it will support DOS and Windows metering. It is a NLM based solution. NetLock - This is a shareware package available from the anonymous ftp site simtel, in the LAN directory. It is written by Julian Byrne from Monash University, Australia. Requested cost is $75. LanLock - it works on a client-server database system, such that it will meter applications for the whole lan, not for a single file server. You can have multiple copies of the actual software, so that you don't have to remote load the whole program, just the actual "metering control" is done from one server. You can find the program from the FTP site ftp.uni-kl.de and look for LANLOC11.ZIP. The asking price is $80. A 60 day trial period is given. 09. What products are available for networking a CD-ROM drive? ---------- There was an article on networking CD-ROMs way back in the December 31, 1991 issue of PC Magazine. SCSI Express from Micro Design International came out on top and it sounds like a good product. Runs as an NLM, twice the throughput as the next rated product, easy install, etc. PC Magazine reviewed Meridian, Opti-net, Corel, and CBIS, with the Meridian and SCSI Express getting the ed. choice -- SCSI Express SCSI Express is a comprehensive set of Disk drivers, VAP's, and NLM's for running fixed disks, CD-ROMs, WORM's, removable disks and juke boxes under NW 3.11. The drivers can be loaded at boot time to support SCSI SYS volumes, or can be loaded later for other SCSI hardware. With CD-ROMs, the drive is attached to the file server and the CD becomes another disk volume, which can be mapped by users. The software is fast and reliable, although it may use large amounts of memory with big CD-ROMs, as the directory structure is cached when mounting the drive. CD drives available directly from MDI come in these flavors: Single $895, Dual $1995, Tri $2995, Quad $3995 A bug in version 1.1 requires that to change CDs, all CDs must be dismounted. This may be a problem for users with multiple CD drives. This may be fixed in later releases, and I have not checked with MDI to see if a patch is avaliable. MDI: 407-677-8333, -8365 List price is $795 -- OPTI-NET OPTI-NET is made by ONLINE Computer Systems Inc. This package is supposed to work as either as a dedicated CD-server or as a NON-dedicated CD-server. It requires the CD-ROM driver at the CD-server to be Microsoft (MSCDEX) compatible. ONLINE Computer Systems Voice: 301-428-3700 and 1-800-922-9204. Fax: 301-428-2903 -- Map Assist Map Assist by Fresh Technology permits you to access workstation drives from other workstations. Version 1.4, which I have, doesn't support MSDOS5 file structures however. It works fine with DOS 3.3 and all versions of DRDOS up to 6.0. I've used it only with SFT. Fresh's phone number is 602-827-9971 (Arizona) List is around $300 -- InfoServer Virtual Microsystems makes a product called "InfoServer" that they claim can hang off a LAN and serve multiple CD-ROMs over a network. It's built on a microvax, and uses PATHWORKS, but they claim that it's a simple matter to hang it off a Novell LAN running IPX. The number is (maybe) 1-800-722-8299. -- CorelSCSI This package includes the NLM for CDROM, jukeboxes, WORMS, rewriteables, and software for same on your workstation. They also include worksation backup and SitBack backup software. Disadvantage of CorelSCSI is you still have to use MSCDEX for CDROMs. List is about $99 -- Other products Names that I've only seen, but I do not have any information: Wilson Lotus Bluefish --- Additional help The bitnet listserv CDROMLAN@IDBSU.BITNET could be useful. Mail LISTSERV@IDBSU.BITNET with a body containing "help" for directions how to subscribe. 10. What is IPTUNNEL and what is it used for? ---------- IPTUNNEL will allow two servers to form a link between themselves when the only connection between the two servers is a TCP/IP network. If you have Lan Workplace, you can also link lonely workstations with Novell servers, when the only intermediate network is TCP/IP. Naturally, since you're using smaller IPX packets than you usually would, and also there's more overhead in dealing with the added layer of IP protocols, the net drop in performance has been said to be a 30-40% drop. Burst mode has been reported to have no effect on the IPTUNNEL. If your local network administrators want to make all of your Novell servers tlak to each other through IPTUNNELs, absolutely refuse, unless you only have one or two machines to link. IPTUNNEL was never designed for multiple servers, although it can be used for such. The total sum load on the TCP/IP backbone would be greater than if IPX routing was activated. IPTUNNEL.NLM is provided with Novell 3.11 and the manual you should refer to is the "TCP/IP Transport Supervisor's Guide", one of the skinny books. 11. What different Tape Backup manufacturers are out there? ---------- Below are a few companies that I know of, but a few notes about backups. You will probably want a system that can backup your entire server in one pass, or at least be able to backup each HD in one pass. Your Binderies are important, as are the directory ownerships and rights. Therefore, you want to get a package that is Novell-Aware, lest you lose all of these permissions. Also, SBACKUP provided by Novell is flaky and prone to crash every few uses. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you NOT use them. Emerald Mountain Cheyenne Palendrome Tallgrass Maynard Mountain Systems tape backup systems come with software that will allow you to backup workstations as well as the server. Valitek makes portable tape backup units that plug into a parallel port, if you prefer/need that method of workstation backup. Cheyanne ARCserve Legato Networker can backup not only your Novell server, but can backup Unix, macs, DECs, all on a single tape drive. It is also compatible with multiple drives and jukeboxes. Colorado Trakker Colorado Jumbo NovaBack 12. What networking Fax products are available? ---------- Most of these products are workstation based, so they may or may not require a dedicated machine... Intel has both a Fax Server (Net SatisFAXion) for in-and-out faxing, and a print server (LANSpool) that recognizes an individual workstation's fax card as a "printer." OAZ Communications and Alcom also have fax server setups. There use dedicated fax modems that can be set up to capture a printer port for sending outbound faxes and route inbound faxes to an attached laser printer. Microsoft Mail 3.0 and Microsoft Fax Gateway. Requires a dedicated PC and, currently, there are only three fax cards supported; I think they are coProcessor, SatisFAXion and GammaFax. David Fox later announced: Due to the large number of requests for the FAX Server info I referenced last week, and the size of the review (20 pages), I am including the address to the Netware Users International organization, who publish the NetWare Connection. The referenced review is from the Nov/Dec 92 issue. I'm sure those nice folks can send you copies and perhaps register you as a member of this organization. Sorry I can't accomodate your requests for copies personally and I do hope you are successful in obtaining this info. Netware Connection P.O. Box 19007 Provo, UT 84605-9007 You can contact NUI at 800 228-4NUI. Other products I know very little about: BISCOM in Billerica, Massachusetts has a FAX server. Call for more info. Voice: 508-670-5521 Fax: 508-671-0095. Castelle's FaxPress acts like a print server(PCL4 and/or Postscript), and will handle both in and out faxing. FACSys from Optus Alcom's Lan Fax Redirector Crachiolo & Feder's RightFAX Cheyenne's ARCserve, a NLM based FAXer. Currently only supports the Intel SatisFAXtion board. Calculas has a fax board for single user or fax server. Call for more info. Voice:408-733-7800 Fax:408-733-8594 One of the best network fax setups is apparently from P&G Associates in England. The address is Paul Cawthorne@ P&G Associates, Apex House 2 Quarry Park Road Cheam, Sutton Surrey, SM1 2DN, ENGLAND Telephone: 081-642-8765 FAX: 081-770-7634 13. How do I setup OS/2 for Novell? ---------- When installing the requester (now called Workstation Kit, and a VERY decent interface) choose YES to install support for DOS and Windows. Then, you must go into the DOS Settings menu and make sure you have Netware resources set to private for each session that you want to be separate from the OS/2 sessions or other Global DOS sessions on Novell (different id or drive mappings). If the Netware resources are Global, then any drive mapped in one session will affect all other Global sessions and OS/2 sessions. This also applies to the CAPTURE command. Once OS/2 boots, open a DOS session. OS/2 provides IPX for DOS so all you need to do is invoke the shell (NETX). You can do this for as many as DOS windows as you want (I believe there is a limit of 8). You can login with a different name in each DOS session. Basically what that does is that NETX will get a different connection number for each session. OS/2 sessions however cannot do this! Additional OS/2 notes: For all those with SMC/WD using OS/2 2.0, Netware IPX/SPX and TCP/IP work together! You need the latest releases of the SMC ODI drivers for OS/2 2.0 and ODINSUP. ODINSUP.SYS is available from ucselx.sdsu.edu:/pub/os2 14. What free/shareware menu programs can I replace Novell's? ---------- DougMenu is one of the most commonly used menu replacements for Novell's menuing system. Its syntax is almost identical to Novell's menuing file syntax, so if you want to switch, it requires next to no changes to your menus. DougMenu also has many improvements, such as the capability to lock a user into the menuing system; very useful for public access labs and student labs. It is available from shasta.scl.cwru.edu in /dos/menu/DougMenu. 15. Where can I find the legendary 110 Usefull NLMs list? ---------- You can find that list in two places. First, the January 11 issue of Network World, and from the original source::: NetWorth's list of industry NLMS (An overview of software services available for NetWare V.3.11 servers) NetWorth, Inc. has compiled a comprehensive database of NetWare Loadable Modules (NLM), which it has agreed to allow Network World to publish on a semi-annual basis as an industry service. Dallas-based NetWorth makes the NetWare Applications Engine (NAE), a 486DX-based application server module for its Series 4000 LAN hub that can be delivered with NetWare Runtime preinstalled. The NAE adds flexibility to network design by enabling administrators to dedicate servers to file and print services while offloading additional NLM-based network services to the NAE. The company created the database to help customers identify useful NLMs -- only some of which have been certified by Novell, Inc. (as noted in the chart). NetWorth updates the database regularly and will distribute updates free to anyone who requests them. Contact NetWorth at 8404 Esters Rd., Irving, Texas 75063, or call (800) 544-5255. They will fax or send (post office or FEDEX) the list to those who request it ... around the world. The following summarizes the categories and in ( ) the number of products listed. Accounting software (1) Performance (3) Backup and storage systems (12) Printing (3) CD ROM (4) Program development s/w (3) Client services (4) Routers (8) Communications (10) Security & virus protection (8) Database (9) System fault tolerance (1) Imaging (2) Uninterruptible pwr supplies (6) Messaging (4) Workgroup applications (4) Network management (28) 16. What BBS software will run over Novell? (i.e. access from workstation) ---------- Wildcat apparently runs without any trouble... Mustang Software in Bakersfield, CA. 805-334-2240 17. What does the output of STAT.NLM mean? ---------- The columns outputted by STAT.NLM are: 1. CPU Utilization 2. Bytes Received (bytes read from LAN com channel) 3. Bytes Transmitted (bytes written to the LAN com channel) 4. Bytes Read ( bytes read from the disk I/O) 5. Bytes Written (bytes written through cache to the disk channel) 6. Packets Routed (# packets using the router servives of the server) 7. Number of Connections Also of interest is: STAT records a data point once a second and writes to disk once a minute to minimize its effect on the server. The DUMPSTAT utility outputs the STAT data in a usable format. The Syntax of this utility is: DUMPSTAT inputPath [outputPath) [-L | -X | -S | -Nnum | -Mnum] Where: -L Lotus format (comma delimted) -X Excel format (tab delimeted) -S Screen format (column justified -N Output file size (default is 7200 points or 2 hours... you can make it larger if you want to put a days worth in one file, etc. A file with 8 hours of data would therefore have -N28800 -M Data reduction factor... Or you really do not want that much data. This is the number ofd records that will be averaged and output to a single record. So, putting in 60 here, would give you a point every minute, not every second. 300 would give you a point every 5 minutes. 18. Where can I find a cron-like utility? ---------- Several cron-like utilities exist on wuarchive.wustl.edu via anonymous ftp: wincron.zip cron16.zip cron28.zip Many others surely exist, so try these, and if you don't like them, you can search for some more. If you are looking for a server based cron program, I doubt you will find anything, since the server cannot actualy run any DOS program. 19. Help! I lost the Supervisor password! ---------- You can reset the supervisor password with the NLM utility available from MurkWorks via anonymous ftp. ftp.msen.com:/pub/vendor/murkworks/freebies/setspass/* ********** Section 11. Other topics 01. How do I become a CNE (Certified NetWare Engineer)? ---------- For detailed information and flyers, call 1-800-NETWARE. The rest of the information is too voluminous to include here. NetWare User's Internation can be reached at 800-228-4NUI & 801-429-7177 CNE Professional Association (SNEPA) can be reached at: CNEPA Administration Mail Stop #-31-1 122 East 1700 South Provo, UT 84606 Voice: 800-9CNEPRO & 801-429-7227 Fax: 802-419-5565 Membership for CNEs is $150/yr and Interim membership is $100/6 months. Novell has a fax-back service where you can get basic CNE information (and other stuff). call 800-233-3382 The basic requirements is that you take a series of tests. The CNE/CNA classes are *NOT*, however, required. It is highly suggested that you get your hands on a set of the class materials, though. A slight help is also the sample "test" program, available somewhere on netlab2.usu.edu (so I hear). 02. How can I remotely control my PC/remotely login to my network? ---------- For a telnet compatible solution, get pub/wattcp/telnetd.zip via anonymous FTP from sunee.uwaterloo.ca or dorm.rutgers.edu. It works really well with CUTCP Telnet, NCSA Telnet, and also works fine with MacTCP Telnet and most other versions of telnet. SNSI (Supro Network Software, Inc.) sells a commercial PC Telnet server called Everywhere Access which works with Novell's LWP and FTP's PC/TCP, or just packet drivers or ODI drivers with the ODI_PKT shim. It provides color or simulated color, and is good for remote access or multiplatform access to Netware management tools and text based applications like WordPerfect, databases, CD-ROMs and mail software. Provides multiple telnet sessions under Windows or Desqview. Contact snsi!info@uunet.ca for details. Proxy - from Funk SoftWare supports 8 simultaneous Windows/DOS sessions through telnet. Funk: 617-497-6339 Beame&Whiteside - BW-NFS 3.0 was recently released with the usual telnet and nfs and other applications, and with a DOS and Windows/DOS telnetd You are buying the whole TCP kit. contact beame@bws.com for details. Essex - includes a multi session TELNET server in their complete TCP/2 kit (telnet, nfs, etc.) For non-telnet based remote PC control solutions: NetRemote - NetRemote 5.00 allows mouse support remotley as well as your keyboard, and WILL control a PC running Windows. Their sales staff can be reached at: 1-800-552-9876. U.S. Robotics is bundling the remote control software they purchased with the LAN server modems, remote access workstations, etc. The host side, only works with their modems. However, they give the right to freely distribute the client side. This strategy makes the hardware a great investment. Even at $25.00 a copy for shareware, the one time cost of even $1,000 for a high end modem, would be paid for by the distribution of just 40 copies of the Blast remote control software. You might want to give Intel's LANSight a try. It does Windows. Call them and ask for a demo. PC ANYWHERE/LAN (From Norton/Symantec). There is a single-user standalong version, as well, if your needs are small. The LAN version, however, can run through an IPX/SPX connection (across your network, workstation-to-workstation), Windows, and can also provide a gateway out of the network, via a shared modem. Remote LANnode from DCA/Crosstalk Communications. Call Ed Walton at 800-274-6633 for an evaluation copy. LAN Assist from Fresh Technology Group 602-497-4200 or 800-793-7374 TeleReplica. No Graphics, but cost effective shareware. Further details are available from author Douglas Thomson (doug@giaeb.cc.monash.edu.au) anonymous ftp: garbo.uwasa.fi. Look on simtel mirror sites in .../msdos/modem for tr4-23.zip. Cross Connect by Cross Communications will supposedly do: Up to 20 simultaneous dial-in/out sessions Non-dedicated mode Chat mode Remote printing and rebooting Security in the form of password and auto dial-back Compatibility with INT14 comms packages can work with Pathworks, Lan Manager, Lantasic, and (of course) Novell. Other packages I have heard of are: LANfast LANmodem Netware Access Server from Novell, requires dedicated 386 Close Up and Close Up Lan (from Novell?) Shiva makes NetModem-E, a Ethernet based solution. 03. How can I boot my server without running STARTUP.NCF/AUTOEXEC.NCF? ---------- For Netware ver 3.xx, use these command-line options: SERVER -NS To skip STARTUP.NCF, and SERVER -NA To skip AUTOEXEC.NCF NetWare 2.x does not HAVE the files STARTUP.NCF and AUTOEXEC.NCF. Instead they hard-code all the information into NET$OS.EXE, so you will have to rebuild it to change anything. 04. How can I login *without* running login scripts? ---------- To avoid running the user login scripts: Have "EXIT" as the last line in your system login script. This prevents the system from running a user's login script or the default if a user does not have one. To avoid running any login scripts at all: 1. Use ATTACH instead of LOGIN to connect to a server. ATTACH will not run the login script, whereas LOGIN will. ATTACH.EXE will either have to copied to a local HD or put in sys:login. 2. Use the /s option for LOGIN. Using "LOGIN /S NUL " will cause LOGIN to load the DOS device NUL which will always seem like an empty file. 05. How can I get user-ids (and other information) into programs? ---------- There are many ways to import Novell information into programs you have written, each of which is appropriate for some solutions: A. Environment variables Use the login script command: dos set VARIABLE="Value" to put the user-id (%LOGIN_NAME), station number, etc. (the documentation for the list of available values), into an environment variable. Now, you will be able to retrieve the environment variable, both in batch files, and in programs. In Turbo Pascal, C, and C++ use the expression GetEnv("VARIABLE") to retrieve an environment variable. This technique is good for simply programs which only need a few Novell values, and for batch files. B. Piping in information from WHOAMI Write your program to read its input in the form that WHOAMI types, and then pipe in the output from WHOAMI: WHOAMI [/a] | YOURPROGRAM You will have to program to ignore lines that contain only / - \ because these still appear at the head of the file while the program is scanning the bindery information. This is inefficient, but it is the only way to get group arbitrary group memberships if you cannot use any of the below options. C. Novell API's Purchase the Novell API's, available in both C, C++, (including all Borland products) and assembly language. With these you can retrieve directly almost any information that the account running the program has access to. The API's provide not only basic services like user-names and connection number, but advanced ones like print queues and IPX/SPX communications, among others. This is the best and most efficient solution, but requires investment in the API's as well as programming knowledge. D. Third Party API's Libraries are available that are virtual duplicates of Novell's API's. Some are commercial, some are shareware, and some are even freeware. Try looking around at some of the ftp sites, and see what you can dig up. Here's one anymous ftp location with a Turbo Pascal library: hamster.business.uwo.ca:tp6_api.zip It's source so works fine for Versions 5, 6, or 7. E. Using Novell's API's through interrupt calls You can also pick up any number of books that will show you how to access all of the API functions through system interrupt calls, thus requiring only investment in a compiler and a book, with the appropriate programming knowledge. F. Third Party Utilities Obtain a commercial or shareware utility to enhance batch files with Novell information. You could also write your own (see solutions C, D, E). 06. Why won't RPL (remote boot) work? ---------- There is a known problem with DOS 5 and remote boot. You will need to get rplfix.exe. It will patch the disk images so that it will boot properly. You can find this program in dosup5.zip on Novell's ftp site, among others. There have been some people that have reported that an incompatible system BIOS does not allow RPL to work. Try a different DOS version (non DOS 5) and see if that works. If you are trying to use ODI under RPL, you need to get RPLODI and load it IMMEDEATELY after you load xxx. RPLODI is available on Novell's ftp site, among others. 08. What software metering packages are available? ---------- For IBM platforms, try these: Sitelock from Brightworks - Requires a TSR on client. Difficult to bypass. Includes virus protection. Can also be configured to prevent usage of the floppy drives Saber Meter from Saber Software - No memory overhead. Platform independent. Direct Access Network Fifth Generation Systems 10049 N. Reiger Rd. Baton Rouge, LA 70809 AppMeter - from Funk Software, it will support DOS and Windows metering. It is a NLM based solution. NetLock - This is a shareware package available from the anonymous ftp site simtel, in the LAN directory. It is written by Julian Byrne from Monash University, Australia. Requested cost is $75. LanLock - it works on a client-server database system, such that it will meter applications for the whole lan, not for a single file server. You can have multiple copies of the actual software, so that you don't have to remote load the whole program, just the actual "metering control" is done from one server. You can find the program from the FTP site ftp.uni-kl.de and look for LANLOC11.ZIP. The asking price is $80. A 60 day trial period is given. 09. What products are available for networking a CD-ROM drive? ---------- There was an article on networking CD-ROMs way back in the December 31, 1991 issue of PC Magazine. SCSI Express from Micro Design International came out on top and it sounds like a good product. Runs as an NLM, twice the throughput as the next rated product, easy install, etc. PC Magazine reviewed Meridian, Opti-net, Corel, and CBIS, with the Meridian and SCSI Express getting the ed. choice -- SCSI Express SCSI Express is a comprehensive set of Disk drivers, VAP's, and NLM's for running fixed disks, CD-ROMs, WORM's, removable disks and juke boxes under NW 3.11. The drivers can be loaded at boot time to support SCSI SYS volumes, or can be loaded later for other SCSI hardware. With CD-ROMs, the drive is attached to the file server and the CD becomes another disk volume, which can be mapped by users. The software is fast and reliable, although it may use large amounts of memory with big CD-ROMs, as the directory structure is cached when mounting the drive. CD drives available directly from MDI come in these flavors: Single $895, Dual $1995, Tri $2995, Quad $3995 A bug in version 1.1 requires that to change CDs, all CDs must be dismounted. This may be a problem for users with multiple CD drives. This may be fixed in later releases, and I have not checked with MDI to see if a patch is avaliable. MDI: 407-677-8333, -8365 List price is $795 -- OPTI-NET OPTI-NET is made by ONLINE Computer Systems Inc. This package is supposed to work as either as a dedicated CD-server or as a NON-dedicated CD-server. It requires the CD-ROM driver at the CD-server to be Microsoft (MSCDEX) compatible. ONLINE Computer Systems Voice: 301-428-3700 and 1-800-922-9204. Fax: 301-428-2903 -- Map Assist Map Assist by Fresh Technology permits you to access workstation drives from other workstations. Version 1.4, which I have, doesn't support MSDOS5 file structures however. It works fine with DOS 3.3 and all versions of DRDOS up to 6.0. I've used it only with SFT. Fresh's phone number is 602-827-9971 (Arizona) List is around $300 -- InfoServer Virtual Microsystems makes a product called "InfoServer" that they claim can hang off a LAN and serve multiple CD-ROMs over a network. It's built on a microvax, and uses PATHWORKS, but they claim that it's a simple matter to hang it off a Novell LAN running IPX. The number is (maybe) 1-800-722-8299. -- CorelSCSI This package includes the NLM for CDROM, jukeboxes, WORMS, rewriteables, and software for same on your workstation. They also include worksation backup and SitBack backup software. Disadvantage of CorelSCSI is you still have to use MSCDEX for CDROMs. List is about $99 -- Other products Names that I've only seen, but I do not have any information: Wilson Lotus Bluefish --- Additional help The bitnet listserv CDROMLAN@IDBSU.BITNET could be useful. Mail LISTSERV@IDBSU.BITNET with a body containing "help" for directions how to subscribe. 10. What is IPTUNNEL and what is it used for? ---------- IPTUNNEL will allow two servers to form a link between themselves when the only connection between the two servers is a TCP/IP network. If you have Lan Workplace, you can also link lonely workstations with Novell servers, when the only intermediate network is TCP/IP. Naturally, since you're using smaller IPX packets than you usually would, and also there's more overhead in dealing with the added layer of IP protocols, the net drop in performance has been said to be a 30-40% drop. Burst mode has been reported to have no effect on the IPTUNNEL. If your local network administrators want to make all of your Novell servers tlak to each other through IPTUNNELs, absolutely refuse, unless you only have one or two machines to link. IPTUNNEL was never designed for multiple servers, although it can be used for such. The total sum load on the TCP/IP backbone would be greater than if IPX routing was activated. IPTUNNEL.NLM is provided with Novell 3.11 and the manual you should refer to is the "TCP/IP Transport Supervisor's Guide", one of the skinny books. 11. What different Tape Backup manufacturers are out there? ---------- Below are a few companies that I know of, but a few notes about backups. You will probably want a system that can backup your entire server in one pass, or at least be able to backup each HD in one pass. Your Binderies are important, as are the directory ownerships and rights. Therefore, you want to get a package that is Novell-Aware, lest you lose all of these permissions. Also, SBACKUP provided by Novell is flaky and prone to crash every few uses. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you NOT use them. Emerald Mountain Cheyenne Palendrome Tallgrass Maynard Mountain Systems tape backup systems come with software that will allow you to backup workstations as well as the server. Valitek makes portable tape backup units that plug into a parallel port, if you prefer/need that method of workstation backup. Cheyanne ARCserve Legato Networker can backup not only your Novell server, but can backup Unix, macs, DECs, all on a single tape drive. It is also compatible with multiple drives and jukeboxes. Colorado Trakker Colorado Jumbo NovaBack 12. What networking Fax products are available? ---------- Most of these products are workstation based, so they may or may not require a dedicated machine... Intel has both a Fax Server (Net SatisFAXion) for in-and-out faxing, and a print server (LANSpool) that recognizes an individual workstation's fax card as a "printer." OAZ Communications and Alcom also have fax server setups. There use dedicated fax modems that can be set up to capture a printer port for sending outbound faxes and route inbound faxes to an attached laser printer. Microsoft Mail 3.0 and Microsoft Fax Gateway. Requires a dedicated PC and, currently, there are only three fax cards supported; I think they are coProcessor, SatisFAXion and GammaFax. David Fox later announced: Due to the large number of requests for the FAX Server info I referenced last week, and the size of the review (20 pages), I am including the address to the Netware Users International organization, who publish the NetWare Connection. The referenced review is from the Nov/Dec 92 issue. I'm sure those nice folks can send you copies and perhaps register you as a member of this organization. Sorry I can't accomodate your requests for copies personally and I do hope you are successful in obtaining this info. Netware Connection P.O. Box 19007 Provo, UT 84605-9007 You can contact NUI at 800 228-4NUI. Other products I know very little about: BISCOM in Billerica, Massachusetts has a FAX server. Call for more info. Voice: 508-670-5521 Fax: 508-671-0095. Castelle's FaxPress acts like a print server(PCL4 and/or Postscript), and will handle both in and out faxing. FACSys from Optus Alcom's Lan Fax Redirector Crachiolo & Feder's RightFAX Cheyenne's ARCserve, a NLM based FAXer. Currently only supports the Intel SatisFAXtion board. Calculas has a fax board for single user or fax server. Call for more info. Voice:408-733-7800 Fax:408-733-8594 One of the best network fax setups is apparently from P&G Associates in England. The address is Paul Cawthorne@ P&G Associates, Apex House 2 Quarry Park Road Cheam, Sutton Surrey, SM1 2DN, ENGLAND Telephone: 081-642-8765 FAX: 081-770-7634 13. How do I setup OS/2 for Novell? ---------- When installing the requester (now called Workstation Kit, and a VERY decent interface) choose YES to install support for DOS and Windows. Then, you must go into the DOS Settings menu and make sure you have Netware resources set to private for each session that you want to be separate from the OS/2 sessions or other Global DOS sessions on Novell (different id or drive mappings). If the Netware resources are Global, then any drive mapped in one session will affect all other Global sessions and OS/2 sessions. This also applies to the CAPTURE command. Once OS/2 boots, open a DOS session. OS/2 provides IPX for DOS so all you need to do is invoke the shell (NETX). You can do this for as many as DOS windows as you want (I believe there is a limit of 8). You can login with a different name in each DOS session. Basically what that does is that NETX will get a different connection number for each session. OS/2 sessions however cannot do this! Additional OS/2 notes: For all those with SMC/WD using OS/2 2.0, Netware IPX/SPX and TCP/IP work together! You need the latest releases of the SMC ODI drivers for OS/2 2.0 and ODINSUP. ODINSUP.SYS is available from ucselx.sdsu.edu:/pub/os2 14. What free/shareware menu programs can I replace Novell's? ---------- DougMenu is one of the most commonly used menu replacements for Novell's menuing system. Its syntax is almost identical to Novell's menuing file syntax, so if you want to switch, it requires next to no changes to your menus. DougMenu also has many improvements, such as the capability to lock a user into the menuing system; very useful for public access labs and student labs. It is available from shasta.scl.cwru.edu in /dos/menu/DougMenu. 15. Where can I find the legendary 110 Usefull NLMs list? ---------- You can find that list in two places. First, the January 11 issue of Network World, and from the original source::: NetWorth's list of industry NLMS (An overview of software services available for NetWare V.3.11 servers) NetWorth, Inc. has compiled a comprehensive database of NetWare Loadable Modules (NLM), which it has agreed to allow Network World to publish on a semi-annual basis as an industry service. Dallas-based NetWorth makes the NetWare Applications Engine (NAE), a 486DX-based application server module for its Series 4000 LAN hub that can be delivered with NetWare Runtime preinstalled. The NAE adds flexibility to network design by enabling administrators to dedicate servers to file and print services while offloading additional NLM-based network services to the NAE. The company created the database to help customers identify useful NLMs -- only some of which have been certified by Novell, Inc. (as noted in the chart). NetWorth updates the database regularly and will distribute updates free to anyone who requests them. Contact NetWorth at 8404 Esters Rd., Irving, Texas 75063, or call (800) 544-5255. They will fax or send (post office or FEDEX) the list to those who request it ... around the world. The following summarizes the categories and in ( ) the number of products listed. Accounting software (1) Performance (3) Backup and storage systems (12) Printing (3) CD ROM (4) Program development s/w (3) Client services (4) Routers (8) Communications (10) Security & virus protection (8) Database (9) System fault tolerance (1) Imaging (2) Uninterruptible pwr supplies (6) Messaging (4) Workgroup applications (4) Network management (28) 16. What BBS software will run over Novell? (i.e. access from workstation) ---------- Wildcat apparently runs without any trouble... Mustang Software in Bakersfield, CA. 805-334-2240 Maximus-CBCS apparently runs fine as well. It even allows users at any workstation to login over the network. 17. What does the output of STAT.NLM mean? ---------- The columns outputted by STAT.NLM are: 1. CPU Utilization 2. Bytes Received (bytes read from LAN com channel) 3. Bytes Transmitted (bytes written to the LAN com channel) 4. Bytes Read ( bytes read from the disk I/O) 5. Bytes Written (bytes written through cache to the disk channel) 6. Packets Routed (# packets using the router servives of the server) 7. Number of Connections Also of interest is: STAT records a data point once a second and writes to disk once a minute to minimize its effect on the server. The DUMPSTAT utility outputs the STAT data in a usable format. The Syntax of this utility is: DUMPSTAT inputPath [outputPath) [-L | -X | -S | -Nnum | -Mnum] Where: -L Lotus format (comma delimted) -X Excel format (tab delimeted) -S Screen format (column justified -N Output file size (default is 7200 points or 2 hours... you can make it larger if you want to put a days worth in one file, etc. A file with 8 hours of data would therefore have -N28800 -M Data reduction factor... Or you really do not want that much data. This is the number ofd records that will be averaged and output to a single record. So, putting in 60 here, would give you a point every minute, not every second. 300 would give you a point every 5 minutes. 18. Where can I find a cron-like utility? ---------- Several cron-like utilities exist on wuarchive.wustl.edu via anonymous ftp: wincron.zip cron16.zip cron28.zip Many others surely exist, so try these, and if you don't like them, you can search for some more. If you are looking for a server based cron program, I doubt you will find anything, since the server cannot actualy run any DOS program. 19. Help! I lost the Supervisor password! ---------- You can reset the supervisor password with the NLM utility available from MurkWorks via anonymous ftp. ftp.msen.com:/pub/vendor/murkworks/freebies/setspass/* 20. How can I capture all the messages that are scrolled off the console? ---------- Console logger can be found as: sjf-lwp.sjf.novell.com:nw386/conlog/conlog.nlm It will create a new sys:etc\console.log every time the NLM is started. However, be careful since the log file will grow without bounds! 21. Why aren't NetWare messages sent to my screen are not being seen? ---------- If you are running Windows, see that question. Often times, programs now jump into a graphics mode to provide the user with the capability of WYSIWYG. However, the Novell workstation shells are not smart enough to display a graphic window. Instead, they wait for you to go back to a text mode, and sometimes (for example, MS Word) the message will be triggered, but there is nothing displayed onscreen. pressing ctrl-enter will allow you to continue, but luckily there are some other alternatives: CastAway!, by Infinite Technologies, is a small TSR that will intercept the NetWare message broadcasts, and adds a number of enhancements: Display message while IN any graphics mode Send broadcast messages Let the cpu continue to run without waiting for ctrl-enter