Editing Your Express Installation
Novell Cool Solutions: Feature
By Alan Reay
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Posted: 12 May 2000 |
So you think you need to do a Custom server installation in order to change Protocols, IP addresses, or Volume settings? Think again. You can actually edit your Express Installation, so you can get all the benefits and still customize a few of the default settings.
The Express installation is the recommended way of installing the NSBS5 server because it takes care of many of the difficult and tricky parts of setting up a server. For example, when you use the Express server installation you will get:
- A faster, much more streamlined, installation
- Many of Novell's products such as DNSDHCP, LDAP, and NDPS will be automatically installed
- Automatic DOS Partition, NetWare Partition, and Volume creation
- Automatic Pure IP setup and configuration
However, sometimes you want to change some of the things the Express server installation does, such as:
- Making a smaller SYS volume so you have space left on the drive for other volumes.
- Changing from a pure IP system to a IP and IPX compatibility or IP and IPX system
- Changing your IP address to something other than 192.168.0.1
Here's the scoop on how to tweak a few things and still use the Express server installation.
On the License Diskette there are two files. One is called NSBS.1, the other NSBS.2. These files are used by the Express Installation to know what things to install and what questions not to ask. NSBS.2 is on the disk as shipped, but not NSBS.1. NSBS.1 is generated after you answer all of the questions in the Express Install. Which of these files you edit will depend on what you want to change. So, which file do you need to edit? NSBS.1 contains the protocol options, NSBS.2 contains the volume options. You can edit them with any text editor. Making the changes to NSBS.1 is a little tricky since it isn't generated until after you've already started but here's an easy way to do it.
Editing NSBS.1
During the Express Install, select Create a New DOS Partition. When you are finished answering all of the questions (about five), PowerQuest will run and place a new 100MB DOS partition on your drive. When the machine reboots, remove the diskette and take it to a machine with a text editor. Make your changes, put the disk back in the server, and reboot. It will pick up right where it left off.
Editing NSBS.2
NSBS.2 is easy to edit since it already exists. Before you start the installation process, open NSBS.2 with any text editor, make your changes and save them. Insert the disk and CD into the server, then start the install. Remember to choose Express.
Changing what protocols are installed
Locate the section titled [NWI:Protocols] in NSBS.1. There are three entries under this section by default. If you want to change what protocols are installed, you only have to change the first entry to Prompt=True. Setting the value to true will cause the install to stop during the protocol setup and prompt you to manually select the protocols to install.
Changing the IP address of the server
Locate the section titled [NWI:TCPIP] in NSBS.1. There are only two entries, one for the IP Address, the other for the Subnet mask. Change them to whatever works in your environment. If you don't have a compelling reason to change these, you should leave them at their default values. By default they are:
IP Address 1=192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask 1=255.255.255.0
Changing the volume information
Locate the section titled [NWI:NW VOLUME] in NSBS.2. There are seven entries under this section, but we are really only worried about two of them.
The first of the two is Prompt=False. This tells the install process not to stop and ask you about the size of the sys volume. By default it will take all of the first drive on the first controller. So, if you want to change the size of your Sys volume, change this entry to Prompt=True. The install will now stop during the DOS portion of the install and allow you to set the size of the Sys volume.
The second entry is GUI Prompt=False. This tells the install process not to stop in the GUI portion of the install and ask you about setting up other volumes. You can either change this entry to GUI Prompt=True and setup additional volumes during the install, or leave it as is and run NWCONFIG after the install and setup additional volumes.
About the Author
Alan is an engineer on the Small Biz team, and has been working in the computer field since 1992. He has a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science from BYU, and currently lives in Spanish Fork with his wife and sons. He enjoys spending his time with his family.
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