Article

Problem

Loading and unloading eDirectory modules on Windows is performed using a GUI by either running “Novell eDirectory Services" from the Control Panel or invoking NDSCons.exe.

Using the GUI will not help in the following cases:

• Load or unload of eDirectory module from the command line
• To automate backup of eDirectory
• Automate loading and unloading of modules
• To list loaded modules of eDirectory

Solution

There is an easy way of loading and unloading eDirectory modules using dhostcon.exe, dhostcon.exe helps in overcoming problem of using GUI.

dhostcon.exe is installed by default along with eDirectory (by default at C:\Novell\NDS\).

• Load or Unload of eDirectory Module from the Command Line

  Usage:
  dhostcon.exe <Loacal IP Address> <load/unload> <eDirectory module>

  example: Loading and Unloading of Repair module of eDirectory:
  c:\novell\nds\dhostcon.exe 192.168.1.1 load dsrepair.dlm
  c:\novell\nds\dhostcon.exe 192.168.1.1 unload dsrepair.dlm

• To Automate Backup of eDirectory

  Usage:
  dhostcon.exe 192.168.1.1 load dsbk backup -b -f <Backup File> -l <Log File> -t -w

  example:
  c:\novell\nds\dhostcon.exe 192.168.1.1 load dsbk backup -b -f edirbackup.bak -l c:\novell\edir-backup.log -t -w

  Above can be automated by writing a command into the batch file at eDirectory installed location (by default C:\Novell\NDS). Run the created batch file when ever there is a requirement of backup of eDirectory.

• Automate Loading and Unloading of Modules

  Write a batch script using the commands suggested in the case of loading/unloading of modules. Run the batch file when ever modules are required to be loaded. Similarly, the batch file can be written for unloading of modules.

  example:

  1. Create C:\Novell\NDS\auto_ld.bat.
  2. Add the following commands to the file:
     C:\Novell\NDS\dhostcon.exe 192.168.1.1 load dsrepair.dlm
     C:\Novell\NDS\dhostcon.exe 192.168.1.1 load dstrace.dlm
  3. Run the batch file auto_ld_unld.bat at the command line.
• To list loaded modules of eDirectory

  Usage:
  dhostcon.exe <IP Address> modules

  example:
  C:\Novell\NDS\dhostcon.exe 192.168.1.1 modules