Netware 7

[iolair]

A while back, maybe even a year or two ago, there was talk about Netware 7. There was also some info on Novell's website. I can't find that anymore, and a search for Netware 7 on Novell's site points you to pages on OES. Have they dropped Netware 7 development in favor of Linux? If so, does that mean we can use Netware 6.x indefinitely or, until hardware vendors stop supporting Netware?

Iolair MacWalter

 

[LawnBoy]

AFAIK, NW7 = OES. In fact, NW6.5sp4 = OES without the linux core.

 

[iolair]

So, there will be no version 7 developed?

Iolair MacWalter

 

[marvhuffaker]

There will be no NetWare 7 Kernel. NetWare 6.5 will be supported for several more years. But 6.5 is the last planned NetWare kernel as far as I am told. Additionally, Newly developed apps are only being written for OES Linux. For example, iFolder 3, which is now available on OES SP1, but only on the Linux kernel. Never on NetWare. iFolder 3 allows you to have multiple ifolders on one machine, and share them between groups. I am also told that when you see the stuff Novell is developing for the OES kernel, you won't want to even run Netware anymore.

Now, there will be a 'virtual' netware kernel that runs on the next version of OES. That's some inside info that I came across recently. This virtual netware will allow you to run traditional netware services and apps, but it plugs into linux so you will have full support for hardware. I am told that many vendors are stopping development of NetWare drivers. But with the Virtual Netware on Linux kernel, this won't be a problem.



Marvin Huffaker, MCNE

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[bytehd]

Oh great
So now netware will be slower due to the faster kernel
running on the slower.

The end of an age.

I always told myself id leave the IT business when Novell did.

Maybe its time.


George Walkey
Senior Geek in charge

http://www.insyncva.com

 

[marvhuffaker]

Well, if you've seen how things over the past few years have changed (not just in the Novell world), things are moving from being 'server-centric' to 'service-centric'. So its the services that are being provided that are becoming more important. The platform you're running on doesn't matter. MOst novell stuff now is cross platform. Zen. GroupWise. Messenger. Stuff businesses use to be more efficient. And IDM integrates OS's and directories. who cares if it's netware, windblows, or Linux.



Marvin Huffaker, MCNE

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[bytehd]

Yeah i know.
Novell will always be the better kernel.
But they never did make it easy to write apps for it.
Serves em right.

Linux is so frikkin modular and Open.
Just hate to see NSS going thru another file system.
Unless NSS on Linux(Suse) is native.
guess it didnt take that long to port the LIBC stuff over
to GCC eh?


George Walkey
Senior Geek in charge

http://www.insyncva.com

 

[iolair]

Marvin,
Thanks for the info. I have worked with the Linux kernel since 1995, but I have kept all my servers running basic file/print services on Netware for reliability and stability. I have built a test server, and so far, it looks pretty good. Do you know if the management tools like NWAdmin, Salvage, and Purge all work on Linux like they do on Netware? How long do you plan on supporting Netware for your clients? Thanks.

Iolair MacWalter

 

[marvhuffaker]

Iolair, to answer your questions..

- The management tools. ConsoleOne and iManager. I guess NWADMIN would still work to manage certain NDS objects but less and less stuff works with it anymore.

- Salvage, purge - I haven't done too much on the linux side, but traditional linux doesn't have those functions. You need to use NSS volumes on Linux to perform the tasks you're used to now, like salvage, purge, trustee assignments, etc.

- Our strategy: We have no intention of discontinuing NetWare support. People will still be running NetWare 10 years from now. We are aligning ourselves closely with Novell as they shift into the Linux space, but we are staying true to our roots at least for now.

Marvin Huffaker, MCNE

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[bytehd]

Marv
does this mean Netware in 2015 will still be 6.5 Service Pack 25?

George Walkey
Senior Geek in charge

http://www.insyncva.com

 

[marvhuffaker]

Idunno, but we still have people that call us occasionally that need help with their NetWare 3.12 system. So we usually try to get them back into this century by offering an upgrade path. But some people are stubborn and NetWare 3.12 is solid, and they don't want to change anything.

Marvin Huffaker, MCNE

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[bytehd]

so no new development

George Walkey
Senior Geek in charge

http://www.insyncva.com

 

[iolair]

Thanks again, Marvin. I have no plans to change, unless I can not get drivers for new hardware. Even so, I may just "refurbish" older hardware by changing out disks, nics, and power supplies for now. I could technically run my 75 node network on 3.12, but I'm using 6.0 for now, and have no problems, especially since you're always so willing to help out. As this year comes to a close, I hope you had a good year, and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, if I don't type to the forum anymore.

Iolair MacWalter

 

[bytehd]

im scanning SP5 for new features...........

http://www.novell.com/documentation/oes/oes_sp2_fixes.html

George Walkey
Senior Geek in charge

http://www.insyncva.com

 

[bytehd]

im tempted to get two identical servers to run
OES and NW 6.5 side-by-side since the vendors wont.......

George Walkey
Senior Geek in charge

http://www.insyncva.com

 

[Novelli]

Hi,

novell says, there will be a Version 7 or OES 2 codename Cypress

See here

http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/netware/2005/0131nw2.html

Cheers
Novelli

 

[bytehd]

OES2:
SATA300 support
No Execute (DEP) Support
Samba server

SP2 supposedly in Feb 2006....
Well get cracking already.

SATA 300 should be nice...
How about the long-awaited USB printer?

George Walkey
Senior Geek in charge

http://www.insyncva.com

 

[LawnBoy]

SATA300 support

Bah. Screw SATA. I've had so many problems with SATA desktops I wouldn't dream of sticking that cheap crap in a server.

 

[iolair]

LawnBoy,
Thanks for the SATA "opinion". I've been using SCSI on my servers for years and haven't had any problems. Several desktops with SATA have mysteriously "failed" this year, and these machines are less than a year old. I never really had a problem with ATA drives on desktops.



Iolair MacWalter
Director of IT

 

[LawnBoy]

We're running about 40% failure on SATA drives in desktops. All machines less than 1 year old. Good thing we started using Ghost before that batch came in...