Version Control
The December 1997/January 1998 issue of NetWare Connection mentions that the latest version of the DS NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) is DS.NLM 5.81, which is available in intraNetWare Support Pack 4.0 ("The Doctor Is In: Performing an NDS Health Check," pp. 3341). Because I had already installed intraNetWare Support Pack 4.0, I assumed that my servers were running DS.NLM 5.81. However, when I verified the version on these servers, I found that all of the servers are running DS.NLM 5.73.
Where can I get the latest version of the DS NLM? I'm experiencing some Novell Directory Services (NDS) problems, and I'm wondering if DS.NLM 5.81 might help.
Barry McGrady
After the December 1997/January 1998 issue went to press, Novell pulled DS.NLM 5.81 from intraNetWare Support Pack 4.0 due to conflicts between this version and versions of the DSREPAIR NLM prior to version 4.47F. The problem was that old versions of the DSREPAIR NLM changed a partition attribute on servers running DS.NLM 5.81. If you are still using DS.NLM 5.81, you must ensure that you are also using DSREPAIR.NLM 4.47F.
Although DS.NLM 5.81 is no longer available, Novell has released an even newer version of this NLM for intraNetWare and NetWare 4.11. The latest version is DS.NLM 5.95, which is included in the DS411h.EXE file. To download this file, go to http://support.novell.com, and click the Minimum Patch List button, followed by the intraNetWare and NetWare 4.11 hypertext link and the DS411h.EXE hypertext link. In addition to DS.NLM 5.95, the DS411h.EXE file includes other updated NLMs, such as DSREPAIR.NLM 4.53.
Jeffrey F. Hughes, senior consultant for Novell Consulting
Waiting for NSS
I just read an article in the November 1997 issue of NetWare Connection that mentions Novell Storage Services (NSS) ("Storage Space: Will Bigger and Faster Mass Storage Solutions Be Enough?", pp. 621). Although I am looking forward to NSS, I have one question: The current file system stores File Allocation Tables (FATs) and Directory Entry Tables (DETs) in memory, which Novell says speeds up access time to data. According to the article, NSS uses a different architecture. How does NSS maintain quick data access with this architecture?
Dan Pollak
Storing FATs and DETs in memory does make the file system run faster. However, this approach can cause problems as you try to scale up: You cannot fit everything you need into memory. NSS, on the other hand, includes improved data structures and algorithms that provide more efficient access behaviors and smaller memory footprints. For example, NSS loads only the data you are actually referencing into memory. In addition, NSS reduces the amount of memory necessary to store this data, thus increasing memory payload.
The bottom line is that the superior architecture of NSS provides massive scalability. And because less data remains resident in memory, NSS can access this data faster than the current file system can. The improved data structures and algorithms even enable NSS to offer performance comparable to that of the current file system when accessing data out of memory.
Edward R. Zayas, architect in Novell's Advanced Services group
Client Confusion
Thank you for the interesting article about Novell Distributed Print Services (NDPS) in the October 1997 issue of NetWare Connection ("NDPS: Good-bye, Queue World!", pp. 622). I'm still wondering about the client side, however. This article mentioned the term NDPS client several times. Do I have to load an NDPS client component on users' workstations? If so, can I automate the installation of the client component through the Novell client software already running on these workstations?
Franck Bonnet
The NDPS client component comes with intraNetWare Client 2.2 for DOS/Windows 3.x and intraNetWare Client 2.2 for Windows 95, both of which you can download from http://www.novell.com/novellsw/platform.html. To enable the NDPS client component, you must select the NDPS option when installing the Novell client software. You can enable this component on multiple workstations by using the automatic client upgrade (ACU) feature, which is part of the Novell client software, to install this software on the workstations.
Craig T. Whittle, NDPS product manager at Novell
NetWare Connection, February 1998, p. 4