STUPID QUESTION: Updating drivers

[pixiepoet]

HOW WOULD I GO ABOUT UPDATING A DRIVER FOR A DEVICE? (Like a tape drive or a SCSI Controller?)

I am a novice to Novell so I know this might be stupid, but I can't find it in any of my books. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place? If you think this is stupid of me, please at least refer me to a Chapter or something I can read in one of the Novell Books.

I don't have a web browser on my NetWare 6. I can't find one that is NLM. So how do I get the driver into the NetWare? That GUI environment doesn't seem to work like a Windows GUI!

1) Where do I get the driver and how do I get it from there to my server?

2) If I need a Web Browser, where do I get one?

3) Can I do all of this at a Workstation or do I need to do it on the server?

Thanks you. Any input would be appreciated!

 

[Chewie71]

It really depends on the hardware type and manufacturer. Usually if you download their NetWare driver it will include a readme or some other doc that explains how to install it...this may not be true for all though.

Sometimes you can copy the NLM, NCF, HAM, or other such file over the old one on the server and reboot. Sometimes you can go into NWCONFIG and there's a menu option in there to install new drivers. Put the driver onto a floppy and update it from there. That may be the easiest way.

One final note...be very careful...installing a new driver can really screw up a system. Is this on a live system or just on something your testing?

Matt

 

[Provogeek]

Okay, Pixipoet I will be honest with you, from this description of your issue, I would have to say you are in way over your head. Hire out side help if you can.

It sounds like you are confused on the differences in operating systems. Windows runs from GUI, you can not get rid of it and that is the only interface 99% of the NT/2K admins out there use on their NT/2K networks. Admins that know what they are doing put the video to it's lowest setting and administer it remotely through server manager utilties and/or telnet, aka command line.

Netware is command line, and until NetWare 5.0, it was command line only. Novell built a java GUI for NetWare 5.0, and made a Java admin utiltiy called ConsoleOne. Witht he GUI you can administer the network from the server console (something netware admins have never been able to do before). NetWare 6 GUI got faster and better, infact when you open up Remote Manager from the menu bar in the GUI, that is actually a web browser. But the GUI does take up resources, so unload it when it not needed, use only when you do need it.

To copy the driver to the server SYS volume?, well with out familurarity with NETBASIC or Compaq File Manager then you won't be able to do it. You can install NEW drivers from the console when you install a new NIC or install the NOS it's self, you just can't up date it from the console, there just isn't an easy to use built in tool (would be a nice java app that can be added to the gui to be able to drag and drop files between volumes from with in the GUI using an Explorer like interface). Basicly the NetWare console is usless, which is actully the way a real server should be, GUIs take up way to much resources.


To update your NLM:
First be sure the NLM you have for your hardware is the correct driver. All manufactures have their NLM clearly marked for what it is for. Most drivers are updated when you install a service pack (6 is up to SP2 now).

I am taking the impression you already have the driver you want to install. Just to make sure it is actually needed, type in MODULES and press enter at the server console. NLM modules will start to list on the screen, find your NLM and check the date, make sure you actually need it.

So to get down to installing the driver, Go to a workstation and log in as ADMIN. Browse the network and go to your server. Go to the SYS volume. Go to the SYSTEM directory. Locate the old file you wish to replace, rename it to .old, .bku or move it to a backup directory (incase you need to go back). Then copy your new driver to the SYS:SYSTEM directory and reboot your server to complete the update.



Brent Schmidt CNE, Network +
Senior Network Engineer
provogeek@hotmail.com
East Bay, California; USA

 

[pixiepoet]

Provogeek,

If you are still there, I have a few questions.

1) I tried and could not find the "Remote Manager" web browsing utility you mentioned. I couldn't even find it in the index of any of my NetWare Books. How do I get to it?

2) I am trying to install the service packs onto my server. I found them on the Novell Website, but how do I get the exe file onto my Novell server?

Thanks. I would be so grateful if you could help me!
Pixiepoet

 

[DeadTired78]

The service packs come compressed in self extracting .exe files.
[ul][li]First you should decompress them at a windows workstation. For whatever reason novell compresses them in a weird way that decompresses them in a dos window, so don't just double click the .exe. Instead put the exe in a directory on your workstation. Then open a dos prompt and navigate to that directory. Run the executable, and let it decompress.[/li]
[li]The decompression probably created a sub-directory like nw6sp2 or something like that. Close the dos window and copy that directory up to the sys: volume of the server you want to update.[/li]
[li]At the server:
[ul][li]Run "nwconfig"[/li]
[li]Choose "Product Options"[/li]
[li]Choose "Install a product not listed"[/li]
[li]This will pop up a list of previously specified paths. Pick one, it doesn't matter which.[/li]
[li]Then it will prompt you to hit <ENTER> to continue or <F3> to specify a different path. Hit F3 and type in SYS:/NW6SP2 or whatever the directory is that you copied the service pack to. This is case sensitive so if it says that directory doesnt exist, try all caps or all lowercase.[/li]
[li]This will bring up a list of options, choose the ones you want(I suggest backing up old files if you have the space) and hit F10. And like magic the service pack begins installing[/li][/ul][/ul]

Also, for ProvoGeek. There is a GUI tool with an &quot;Explorer&quot; like interface for use at the server console that lets you drag and drop files from volume to volume. It is the File Browser tool under Utilities in the GUI. It is great for copying install stuff of CD's onto the server

 

[Chewie71]

Execute it in a temporary location on your local workstation and it will unpack to a folder (NW6SP1 or NW6SP2)...copy it to a volume on the server....you'll have to map a drive first...or browse to a volume in Network Neighborhood.

Run NWCONFIG. Products option. Install a new product.

For example if you unpack it to the SYS: volume it will probably be at SYS:NW6SP1 or SYS:NW6SP2 depending on which service pack you're dealing with. So SYS:NW6SP1 (or SP2)will be the path you give when it asks where the service pack is located.

If you're just starting with NetWare a lot of those books pretty much assume you know the basic commands and how to do certain things so they sometimes don't explain things very well for new NetWare users. Just ask here and we'll see if we can help.

Matt

 

[Beaghler]

Remote Manager is at <Server IP>:8008 from your workstation browser. It used to be called Portal, but that is something else now.

Provogeek is right, until you get more familiar with the system, try to bring in some outside help. What's been posted here is good, but one slip can lead problems. The potential for accidents is there. Be aware that on Compaq and some other brands of servers, using the Novell supplied drivers (Ilearned this the hard way)in the service pack can leave your server unable to communicate, or even unable to boot. There are a couple of other caveats in patching a NetWare server. Once you've done it a couple of times it's easy, but the first time, get someone to come in and help if at all possible. The cost of a consultant for a service pack will be a lot less than having someone come in and rebuild your system. Always be sure to have a verified good backup before making changes to the server.

It sounds like you are expecting NetWare to be like MicroSoft. It isn't. If you have to go it alone, use care and back up everything.