2.1 Administration Server

The Administration Server is the central administration point for Novell Linux Point of Service. It provides the following services:

The following sections provide basic information about the Administration Server structure and functions:

For information on installing and configuring the Administration Server, see Setting Up the Administration Server in the Novell Linux Point of Service 9 Installation Guide.

2.1.1 Operating System

The operating system that runs the Administration Server is built from a standard SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server 9 (SLES 9) source.

2.1.2 LDAP Directory

The Administration Server stores the Novell Linux Point of Service LDAP directory. The LDAP directory is the repository for all system information (system structure, the configuration and deployment method for each Branch Server, client image information, and Point of Service terminal types).

NOTE:The Administration Server does not have an associated object in the LDAP tree structure.

The Novell Linux Point of Service LDAP directory can run on OpenLDAP, Novell eDirectory™, or IBM* Directory Services.

For more information, see Section 5.0, The Novell Linux Point of Service LDAP Directory.

2.1.3 Administrative Tasks

The Administration Server is the central administration point for Novell Linux Point of Service. Because it maintains the LDAP directory, the Administration Server provides the information required to set up the Branch Servers and Point of Service terminals. It is also the staging point for creating and distributing client images, unless you install this functionality on a dedicated image building server.

Branch Server Setup

After Novell Linux Point of Service is installed on the Branch Server, the Branch Server must be able to connect to the Administration Server to download its own configuration settings as well as the system information and images required for its local Point of Service terminals.

For more information on Branch Server configuration, see Setting Up a Branch Server in the Novell Linux Point of Service 9 Installation Guide.

Client Image Creation and Distribution

Client images are created using the ImageBuilder tools (scr or xscr) that can be installed either on the Administration Server or on a dedicated image building server. In either case, images are typically stored on the Administration Server in the /opt/SLES/POS/image/ directory. Active images—that is, images that are available to distribute to Branch Servers—are located in the server’s RSYNC directory. Specifically, boot images are located in /opt/SLES/POS/rsync/boot/; client images are located in /opt/SLES/POS/rsync/image/.

For information on creating, storing, and distributing client images, see Section 8.0, Building Images with the scr ImageBuilder Tool or Section 9.0, Building Images with the xscr ImageBuilder Tool.

For more information on creating a dedicated image building server, see Setting Up a Dedicated Image Building Server in the Novell Linux Point of Service 9 Installation Guide.

2.1.4 Services

The Administration Server provides two important services in a Novell Linux Point of Service system:

  • LDAP is the protocol for accessing the Novell Linux Point of Service directory, which stores all system information.
  • RSYNC is a remote data synchronization service that is used to transfer images from the Administration Server to the Branch Servers.