New hardware for upgrading Netware 5.0 1

[UTTech]

I just recently bought a Dell PowerEdge 2500 server to upgrade my Netware 5.0 server, which is connected to 5 other servers. I don't have a clue to what to do!

I need to first find out the Support Pack my old server is running but I don't know how.

I read an article from Netware that says I need to copy backup.nds from sys:system file from old server to new server and I know how to do that.

It then says edit the Autoexec.ncf file and change the server to be a SECONDARY time source? What does that mean?

I then have to install ARCserve Backup software. Then do I need to restore the SYS volume? Can I just restore the other volume only?


Anyone who has experience migrating Netware...PLEASE HELP!!!

 

[DrGreen26]

Ok Ok, this is something that most people struggle through the first time.

Question 1: Is this server a replacement for the existing server?
Question 2: Would you prefer to bring this server online as a new server, then migrate the data? and point the users to the new server?
Question 3: Make your life easier and just use Novell's migrations wizard, do you know what this is?

Easiest thing to do: Create 2 backups of the server in which all the data and user info resides on, including NDS.

Review the documentation for the Novell Upgrade Wizard and read and re-read the migration documentation.

If you have a test environment, test a migration from old to new.

Novell has been able to upgrade some 200 servers by migrating from an old server to new (4.11 to 5.x, and 5.0 to 5.1 etc) using this program.

Once you perform the migration, the old server will shutdown, and the new server will now have all the NDS info and files etc.

IF you have another Netware server in the tree somewhere, I would make sure you have the Master Replica on it, and not on the server you are upgrading.

If this is the only server in the tree, then don't worry, the migration wizard will work. My only recommendation is that you have the latest service pack installed on the old server before you migrate it to teh new.

If you have more questions, feel free to let me know.



Mark C. Greenwood, CNE
m_jgreenwood@yahoo.com

CNE 4.11 and CNE 5 certified. BS Degree in MIS. Working in the industry for 8 years.

I work with NT servers, NDS for NT as well.

 

[UTTech]

Thank you so much for responding!!

Question 1: It is a replacement for the existing server.
Question 2: I would like to take the existing server down then bring the new server up using the same server name and id. I need the users to poing to the same server.
Question 3: I have no clue what Novell Migration Wizard does or how it works.

Unfortunately, I don't have a test environment.
I have about 5 other servers at remote locations that has Support Pack 4 installed which is why I can't ( or I don't think I can ) upgrade my server's support pack to 6a because it said on the article that the servers won't communicate if all are not upgraded?

I was going to install Support Pack 4 on the new server, then copy backup.dns to the new server, take old server down, edit autoexec.ncf and change server name and id to match the existing server, then replace it with a new server. I was going to then restore the 2nd volume only. Do you think that'll work?

 

[novell5]

Hi Mark,
this must be very elementary - but i wanted an experienced Novell perspective - so here goes.

We run novell 5 and since the present server is aging, we bought a new box, pentium 933 mhz with 32 gb scsi (fujitsu maj3364mp) hard drive, 512 mb ram which will replace the old box.

During the install process, I noticed that novell does not recognise more than 8 gb on the drive. How do i get around this ?

Also, I am planning to make two partitions - one for DOS and one for Novell and within the Novell partition have two volumes - sys for default system files, and data for data files. Though according to the novell manual 600 mb for the dos partition in this case should be sufficient, i was thinking more in terms of making the dos partition 1 gb and use the rest for netware. Would this be okay ?

 

[DaveBrown]

Janny
It sounds to me like you need to use Novells DSMAINT utility NOvell TID 10027322 explains what to do.
I've used it when replacing hardware on a Netware4.11 server.
I set up the new hardware as a netware 4.11 server in its own tree (with a temporary tree name) then migrated all the data from the old server to the new server. Run DSMAINT from the server console of the source server to backup the NDS info - it is this which creates backup.nds file and "locks" the NDS database
Copy this backup.nds file to the new server and run DSMAINT at the server console on the destination server to "restore NDS". which unlocks NDS and gives the new server the same name and context etc as the original.
When the new server is reloaded it has the same name as the original and user worksations are able to login without any workstation modifictions.You need to remember to move the connections licence to the new server

Hope this helps

Dave