Novell Netware/NDS Tips

 

Glossary

Term Definition
Active Directory (AD) Microsoft's directory service
backlink backlinks keep track of external references
Directory Agent (DA) Maintains a list of services that are available in the directory.
Directory Service Agent (DSA) servers that holds the directory service
eDirectory Novell's update and enhancement of the NDS
external reference references to objects that are not actually on the current server, but are located on another server
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) internet standard protocol for accessing information in directories such as NDS and AD
multi-master replication the ability to allow changes to any replica of a partition and being able to synchronize those changes to the other replicas.
Novell Directory Access Protocol (NDAP) proprietary protocol by Novell for accessing information in the NDS
Novell Directory Service (NDS) Novell's directory service
Obituary Attribute of an NDS object that is used to hold placeholder information when the object is changed.  This can be useful if an operation must be undone because it doesn't make sense after replication occurs (such as moving an object that someone else had already deleted).
partition Breaking up of the directory database in smaller databases that are related via parent/child relationships.
replica A copy of a partition.  Novell supports master, read/write, read only and subordinate reference replica types.
replication The process of copying changes to a partition from one replica to another replica of that partition.
Scoped Network A network which registers it's services into predefined groups
Service Agent (SA) Identifies services that run on that server and responds to multicast requests from User Agents (UA).
Service Location Protocol (SLP) TCP/IP protocol that is used to locate services on a network.
synchronization The process of making sure that all replicas of a partition have the same information.  When the replicas all contain the same current data, they are said to  be in sync.
time synchronization The process of making sure that all servers in the network have the same time.  This is done with Reference, Primary and Secondary time servers.
Unscoped Network A network which does not register it's services into groups, all services are grouped together.
User Agent (UA) Makes a multicast request for a service from a client workstation.
virtual replica Also known as a sparse or fractional replica.  This replica does not contain all of the data from the partition, only a subset.

 

Server

 

How do I start the server?

Boot the server.  If it stops at a dos prompt, CD to C:\NWSERVER.  Type the command "server" to start the server (note:  many sites automate the server startup, so that all that is required is to power on the server and it will automatically startup).

How do I stop the server?

There are 3 commands to stop the server:

Down will stop the server and leave you at a dos prompt.

Restart Serverwill stop the server and restart it - the same as typing "down", and then typing "server"

Reset Server will do a "warm" reboot of the server.  Unless the server is configured to start automatically, reset server will leave the server at the DOS prompt.

Change the server name:

edit sys:system\autoexec.ncf using either edit.nlm or nwconfig utility

Change the server id (internal ip address):

edit sys:system\autoexec.ncf using either edit.nlm or nwconfig utility
 

Change the server ip address:

inetcfg utility -> bindings option

Check to see if there is enough ram

monitor utility -> system resources option

Available cache buffers should be 50% or greater
 

DSREPAIR Switches

DSREPAIR -a

advanced options - allows you to declare a new epoch to cure synthetic time error messages

DSREPAIR -rd

makes an archive copy of the DS database on that server.
 

DSTRACE Switches

SET DSTRACE = on  <- turns of dstrace

set ttf = on        <- output is placed in SYS:SYSTEM\DSTRACE.DBG
 

Display Commands:

set dstrace + <command>

authen - ds authentication trace
audit -
backlink (blink) -
janitor -
limber
resname - resolve name
skulker
timevector (tv)
vclient (vc) - virtual client

Action Commands

set dstrace=*<command>

*B  - backlink process
*F - Janitor process
*H - Sync Now
*L - Limber Up process
*R - reset dstrace.dbg file size
*S - skulker
*U - reset -625 flag so that communications will be attempted
 

INETCFG

creates a file called:  SYS:ETC\NETINFO.CFG

NDS Traffic

backlink process - this process verifies external references.  It runs 2 hours after the database is opened and then by default every 780 mins (13 hours).  Configurable from 2 mins to 10,080 mins (7 days).

flat cleaner - removes obitiuaries that are purgeable

janitor process - this process purges objects that are marked for deletion.

limber up process - verifies the tree name and server names

skulker - messages related to the synchronization process
 

NetBasic

How do you get  to a shell on the server?

At the server console type:

load netbasic
shell

<enter the netbasic commands such as copy,dir, etc.

How do you quit the NetBasic shell?

unload netbasic at the console prompt
 
 

Support Packs


To install a support  pack -> nwconfig -> product options -> install -> browse to the location of the support pack
 
 
 

Console One


To run console one from the server:

startx
novell menu -> console one

To run console one from the workstation:

C:\novell\consoleone\1.2\bin\ConsoleOne.exe

LDIF Files

To create an LDIF file using ICE

In Console1 select the wizards menu -> NDS Import/Export, then select create an export file and follow the prompts to configure what data to export.

How do I specifiy a container using X.500 format?

LDIF uses X.500 format, this is different than a fully distinguished name.  The fully distinguished name of ".cn=bill.ou=user.ou=branch office.o=company" becomes:  "cn=bill,ou=user,ou=branch office,o=company" using X.500 format.
 

Timesync

Where are timesync parameters set?

monitory utility -> server parameters -> time

from the server prompt:

set timesync <options> = <value>
 

How do timesync changes get applied?

monitor utility -> server parameters -> time -> timesync restart flag = on

or

set timesync restart flag = on

How do I set the server to get time from an NTP server?

SET TIMESYNC TIME SOURCE = 192.168.1.55:123

Note: UDP port 123 is used by NTP.
 
 

Troubleshooting


How do I enable timesync debugging?

SET TIMESYNC DEBUG = 7

How do I disable timesync debugging?

SET TIMESYNC DEBUG = 0

What do I do if the time is not in sync?

Go into the monitor->server parameters->time.  Verify that the time sync parameters are correct (especially time sources and time server type).  After checking/correcting this information then restart the time sync restart flag (set = yes).  After a few seconds, type "time" on the console to verify that the time in now synchronized to the network.

How do I capture the messages displayed on the server console?

The conlog.nlm will capture the screen output and save it to a file called sys:etc\console.log.

How can I monitor tcp packets?

SET TCP IP DEBUG = 1  (1/0 to enable/disable)

How can I check to see if I am connected/authenticated?

Right mouse click on the Red N in the system tray and select "Netware Connections".

How can I troubleshoot server boot problems?

LISTSTAGE

This console command will list the nlms that are loaded in the different stages of the server bootup (stages 0 - 5).

load stage

This console command will load all of the nlms that are associated with a particular stage or stages of the server bootup (stages 0 -5).  By starting the server up with the following command you will be in stage 0:

server -NA -NS -NL

This command loads the server in stage 0 with no autoexec.ncf or startup.ncf being executed and no log being displayed.  Before you can load stage 1 nlms, you must execute the startup.ncf.

What is the process of steps to manually start each stage of the server boot process?

server -NA -NS -NL
startup.ncf
LOADSTAGE 1
LOADSTAGE 2
LOADSTAGE 3
LOADSTAGE 4
autoexec.ncf
LOADSTAGE 5
 

How can I print out a configuration report of the server?

LOAD CONFIG.NLM

This will create SYS:SYSTEM\config.txt

LOAD CONFIG /d

includes SYS:SYSTEM and the local drive listings

LOAD CONFIG /s

includes the SET paramaters

LOAD CONFIG /a

appends rather than overwriting CONFIG.TXT

LOAD CONFIG /ads

appends, gets SET parameters and includes SYS:SYSTEM and local drives
 

Useful Commands

dsrepair    NDS repair tool
dstrace    NDS debugging utility
inetcfg    utility that allows you to change the TCP/IP configuration
monitor     classic utility for monitoring the server
nwconfig    updated utility for configuring the server
ping
rconsole - map a drive letter to sys:public and run rconsole.exe
tping
tcpcon    utility that show TCP/IP statistics and configuration information
iptrace.nlm    trace the route a packet takes.

 

Recovering from a "hung" console:

1.  <ctrl><alt><esc> - This allows you to shutdown the server and return to dos.

2.  <LShift><RShift><ALT><ESC>  Will put you in the dugger.  Then "q" will exit.  This is the abrupt way to down a server.


 


Copyright 2003 Bill Etter all rights reserved
Last Revised March 15, 2003
For more information, contact billetter@networktechnologist.com
http://www.networktechnologist.com/sysadmin/novell.html