Novell Small Business Suite Implementation Guide
Novell Cool Solutions: Feature
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Posted: 20 Oct 2004 |
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- How it Works
- Platform for Applications
- Remote Management
- System Requirements
- Estimated Setup Time
- Installation
- Summary
Introduction
Small business networks shouldn't be deprived of services available in a corporate net. Users in small offices need access to the same resources at the same speed and with the same reliability and security as an enterprise network. Novell Small Business Suite delivers the resources you need to turn your small business into a fully networked business enterprise with NetWare 6.5, GroupWise 6.5, Novell BorderManager 3.8, ZENworks for Desktops 4.01, Nterprise Branch Office 2.0, the DirXML Starter Pack and licenses for up to 100 users.
By harnessing the power of the Internet, your small business can become more responsive to the needs of customers, partners, and employees. When paired with the Internet, Small Business Suite 6.5 offers unmatched flexibility-your users can access company data from anywhere and you can swiftly capitalize on new business opportunities.
How it Works
Novell Small Business Suite is a packaged collection of Novell products with integrated installation and management. The products mentioned above can be configured on a single server or on separate servers. The foundation of Novell Small Business Suite is the NetWare 6.5 operating system. During the NetWare install process, several pre-configured or "pattern" install options are presented. Selecting one of these options automatically installs and optimizes the services required for a particular configuration.
Once installed, Novell Small Business Suite can be managed using Novell iManager. iManager provides a Web-based interface that is used to manage all the services, applications, users and resources that are part of the Novell Small Business Suite network. iManager works in conjunction with Novell eDirectory to control and manage across platforms and multiple locations. In addition, other Novell utilities are available for management including ConsoleOne, RconsoleJ and NetWare Remote Manager.
Multiple services are available with Novell Small Business Suite allowing you to configure file and print sharing, file storage, e-mail, remote access, calendaring, firewall, workstation management and much more. Here is a list of services that you can provide using Novell Small Business Suite:
| SERVICE | DESCRIPTION |
| Internet Connectivity | Connect a small business to the Internet using dial-up, ISDN, cable modem or Ethernet. |
| File | Advanced file services with Novell iFolder and NetStorage allow you to access files from any location. |
| Advanced printing services with the ability to print to any printer on the Internet. | |
| Firewall | Firewall, content filtering and VPN services-all using directory-based authentication. |
| Workstation Management | Remote control with hardware and software inventories and software and configuration management. |
| Applications | Hundreds of line-of-business applications from Novell partners are supported including accounting, ERP, legal, dental, medical, database, document management, construction, mail, restaurant, insurance, anti-virus and many more. |
| Collaboration | Powerful collaboration tools with chat, virtual teams, shared folders and favorites, calendaring and scheduling. |
| Proven e-mail with virus protection and spam filtering. | |
| Administration | Remote server and workstation administration with multiple tools for service management including iManager, ConsoleOne, NetWare Remote Manager and NetWare Administrator. |
| Licensing | Support for 100 users and the ability to distribute functionality with services running on a single server or across multiple servers. |
Novell Small Business Suite includes the following products and services:
- Novell NetWare 6.5 and its advanced network services on the industry's most secure and reliable platform, including two-node clustering and anytime/anywhere data and print access.
- Novell GroupWise 6.5 full-featured collaboration, including e-mail, junk mail handling, calendaring and instant messaging.
- Novell BorderManager 3.8 network security, including firewall and virtual private networking (VPN).
- Novell ZENworks for Desktops 4 management services, including application management, hardware inventory and remote control.
- Novell Nterprise Branch Office 2.0 for providing complete network services to branch offices securely and inexpensively.
- Novell DirXML Starter Pack securely manages the access needs for ever-changing user identity information across dissimilar systems.
- Open source software including Apache Web server, Tomcat and MySQL* to provide full support for hosting Web services or running Web-based applications.
Platform for Applications
With the inclusion of open source technology such as Apache Web server, Tomcat, MySQL and other components, Novell Small Business Suite is a powerful and reliable platform for line-of-business applications.
To learn more about supported applications, visit http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/smallbiz/ partner_solutions.html. Applications are available in the following categories:
| PARTNER SOLUTION APPLICATION CATEGORIES | ||
| Accounting and ERP Anti-Virus/Anti-Spam Backup Business Automation Calendaring/Scheduling Chiropractic Construction CRM Database Dental Disaster Recovery Dispatch Document Management/Imaging |
Fire Department/EMS Fax Server Government Hospitality Insurance Jewelry Law Maintenance and Repair Manufacturing Medical Messaging Mobility |
Modem Pooling Mortgage Ophthalmology Optometry Property Management Real Estate Restaurant Retail and Wholesale Sales Quote Service Management Storage Management Veterinary |
Novell has introduced a new Application Partner portal providing special offers (many limited-user, free trials or discounts) to Novell Small Business Suite customers. This portal requires a Novell login and the serial number of your Small Business Suite or Expansion Pack. Access this portal here.
Remote Management
Many small businesses prefer to completely outsource IT, leaving management to IT professionals so that small company owners and users can focus on company business rather than IT troubleshooting and support. Novell Small Business Suite includes unique capability that enables small business IT services to be partially or completely outsourced.
Using the following various components of Novell Small Business Suite, administrators can perform or monitor the following tasks remotely, making it possible for service providers, such as Novell resellers or a central corporate IT department, to completely manage a small office from another location:
| REMOTE MANAGEMENT TASK | DESCRIPTION |
| Software Deployment | Using ZENworks for Desktops, managers can install, update or remove software from workstations. |
| User Provisioning | Remote administrators can create user accounts, quickly providing users with access to applications, portals, e-mail, files, printers, thus provisioning them with any needed resources. |
| Backup | With Nterprise Branch Office, files from small offices are automatically synchronized to a service provider where backups can be performed. |
| Firewall | Service providers can protect small businesses providing sophisticated firewall (in and out), VPN and authentication-based access as well as impose blacklists and block unwanted traffic. |
| All mail server hosting and management can be provided by a remote service provider with user management coordinated through eDirectory. | |
| Application Management | Web-based applications and services can be easily managed and included for use in small business portals. |
| System Monitoring | Using a collection of Novell products such as ZENworks, remote administrators can monitor system health, configuration changes, user updates and much more. |
The Novell Small Business Suite Starter Pack program allows qualified Novell resellers to deploy limited-license versions of the Novell Small Business Suite at no product cost. To learn more about the Starter Pack program, visit: http://www.novell.com/products/smallbiz/ nsbs_starterpack/.
System Requirements
System requirements for platforms running Novell Small Business Suite can vary significantly depending on the type of configuration to be implemented. Please consult the product documentation (http://www.novell.com/documentation/nsbs65/ index.html) for specific details on each type of configuration. Novell Small Business Suite includes several server components which can run on a single server or run singly or combined on multiple servers. To install all the products included in the suite on a single server, make sure the server meets the following minimum requirements.
- A server-class PC with two-way Pentium* III, Pentium III Xeon*, Pentium4, or Intel* Xeon 700 MHz or higher processors.
- One or more network boards.
- A bootable CD drive that supports the El Torito specification.
- A USB or PS/2 mouse.
- A Super VGA or higher resolution display adapter.
- 1 GB of RAM (if installing BorderManager Proxy Services, an additional 1 GB of RAM is recommended)
- A boot partition with 1 GB of available space
- Disk Space:
- 8 GB of available, unpartitioned disk space outside the DOS partition for volume SYS:
- 2 GB for GroupWise (1 GB for the GroupWise file copy directories on volume sys: and 1 GB data volume or an additional 1 GB on volume sys: for user's Post Office directories)
- 2 GB minimum dedicated CACHE volume for BorderManager Proxy Services. This volume must be a Traditional volume.
- 8 GB of available, unpartitioned disk space outside the DOS partition for volume SYS:
Note: Nterprise Branch Office, DirXML Starter Pack, and Novell Cluster Services require more than one server.
Estimated Setup Time
The estimated setup time for Novell Small Business Suite again varies depending on the services installed. If you use the Novell pattern deployment install where services are pre-configured in standard options, you can set up a NetWare and Virtual Office with GroupWise in less than one hour.
Installation
Installing Novell Small Business Suite is made simple with configuration wizards and Novell pattern deployment options. Simply begin the install, select which configuration you want and follow the prompts, inserting the appropriate CDs when needed. The following CDs are included with Novell Small Business Suite:
- Novell Small Business Suite Operating System CD
- Novell Small Business Suite Products CD
- Novell Small Business Suite Documentation CD
- Novell Small Business Suite License diskette
- Novell GroupWise 6.5 Admin CD
- Novell GroupWise 6.5 Client CD
- Novell GroupWise 6.5 Messenger CD
- Novell BorderManager 3.8 CD
- Novell DirXML Starter Pack CD
- Novell Nterprise Branch Office CD
- ZENworks for Desktops 4.01 CD
- ZENworks for Desktops Companion CD
- Novell Clients Software CD
The basic steps to deploy Novell Small Business Suite are as follows:
| STEP | DESCRIPTION |
| Install NetWare | For a new install, insert the NetWare 6.5 Operating System CD and follow the instructions. You will be prompted to select a language, regional time setting and installation type. |
| Select Pattern Install | Multiple pattern install types are available. For a typical small office, Novell recommends the Novell Small Business Collaboration Server with Virtual Office option. The Novell Small Business Collaboration Server with Virtual Office option is created by copying only the files needed including the following components:
|
| Enter Server Parameters Specify the following to identify and configure the server: |
|
| Set up a Workstation | Novell Small Business Suite and component packages can be easily administered using Novell iManager. iManager is browser-based but requires that the Novell Client be installed on the administration workstation that the browser will be running on. To access Novell iManager, open a Web browser and enter:
http://server_ip_address or DNS_name/nps/iManager.html |
| Set up Novell Small Business Suite server | Use the tasks in the Small Business Setup role in iManager to quickly configure the following:
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| Configure DHCP (if required) |  |
| Configure GroupWise by selecting the "Set Up GroupWise and Messenger" option and following the prompts |  |
| Use iManager to create new users and groups as needed |  |
| Use iManager to manage NetStorage and Novell iFolder files |  |
| Use iManager to configure and mange printers through iPrinter |  |
| Use iManager to configure and manage Virtual Office |  |
Summary
Novell Small Business Suite 6.5 includes full versions of Novell's award-winning networking and collaboration products, providing customers with big-business networking on small-business budgets. A broad range of networking services and features are available allowing you (or a service provider) to pick and choose which benefits to implement and how to configure them. As a small business, you can protect digital assets while providing employees, customers and partners access to the content and information that they need to work productively. You can be confident that company information is protected and safe and that all of the services you require as a small business are available. For more information, visit www.novell.com/products/smallbiz
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