NetWare 6.5 - Apr/May '04

NetWare 6.5

Microsoft has made mincemeat of several companies in the server environment, and the once dominant Novell platform has seen its market share ripped away. Yet it continues to produce one of the best server products out there. NetWare is not only robust, but, more importantly, it’s stable.

At the end of 2003, Novell introduced its latest version of this server platform, NetWare 6.5. This should not, however, be viewed as an incremental upgrade. Novell really has gone far to improve its core product and extend its services. In fact, it has begun porting its entire network services to Linux.

The immediately observable differences in NetWare 6.5 include reliance on Web interfaces and increased ties to open-source programs such as the Amp suite’s Apache, MySQL, Perl and PHP. This focus supports entry into an environment for building and running Web-based applications. Existing applications, utilities and modules built on these technologies now can run in NetWare. Full porting to a Linux kernel will occur with the 7.0 release.

Novell now offers a more cohesive management and administrative tool. A Web-based management tool provides dynamic and integrated control over every aspect of the system. This is well illustrated in the browser-based Virtual Office application that allows robust access to files, applications, print services, communications services and collaboration services over the Internet. Virtual Office also includes Novell’s amazingly advanced data synchronization application, iFolder 2.0. IFolder lets you use a centralized file repository to access files over the Internet and automatically synchronize them.

For those with multiple offices, Novell might provide cost savings with its Nterprise Branch Office, an efficient way to control remote servers. Nterprise Branch Office also permits a centralized information technology operation by turning remote NetWare servers into very powerful Network Attached Storage systems. This is done with an advanced synchronization process that occurs over secure socket layer Internet connections, liberating organizations from dedicated connections, which will result in significant savings.

Novell also put SilverStream products into its system. These include the Applications Server and Workbench, which are standards-based solutions for developing and deploying Web services and creating J2EE and other standards-based applications.

In short, Novell NetWare has grown up and has appeal for organizations of all sizes. But before you implement this system, consider which installation strategy will work best for you. With NetWare 6.5, installation procedures have been simplified and provide the flexibility to create different server configurations. So where do you begin? Will you perform an in-place upgrade of an existing server or carry out a new installation? The answer depends on whether your server’s hardware meets minimum upgrade requirements.

The minimum hardware requirements for NetWare 6.5 are:

A server-class PC with a Pentium II or AMD K7 processor
512MB RAM
A Super Video Graphics Array display adapter
A DOS partition of at least 200MB with 200MB available space
2GB of available disk space for volume SYS (unpartitioned space outside the DOS partition)
One or more network adapters
A CD drive
Universal serial bus PS/2 or serial mouse is recommended.

We chose to upgrade an existing NetWare 6 server, which exceeded the requirements listed above.

To upgrade to NetWare 6.5, the existing server must be running NetWare 5.1 with Support Pack 6 or NetWare 6.0 with Support Pack 3. Also, all servers in a tree must be NetWare 4.11 or later.

The NetWare 6.5 upgrade is definitely a challenging process and should not be taken lightly. You should be forewarned there is a substantial difference between upgrading a server to NetWare 6.5 and performing a new installation. The upgrade path requires a considerable amount of preparation and isn’t for the novice. In fact, if you choose this method I strongly recommend you enlist the services of a Certified Novell Engineer. If, however, you aim to do this yourself, look at the Novell upgrade documentation provided online at www.novell.com/documentation/lg/nw65.

Novell Inc.
(800) 346-7177

www.novell.com

Price: $185 for one new user. Contact company for additional prices and options.

Reviewed by Jonathan Franklin, an attorney based in Miami, and Mark A. Akins, IT director for Becker & Poliakoff in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., www.becker-pliakoff.com. Akins also is a Certified Novell Instructor and Master Certified Novell Engineer.

Apr/May '04 Issue

PROS
Open-source direction, customer focus, stability, newly added Web-centric features, reliability.

CONS
It’s not free. The upgrade is a challenging process and should not be taken lightly.

VERDICT
Firms that understand security, reliability and stability will want to look at this new version.