Preparing the Computer

To prepare your computer for Novell Small Business Suite 6.6:

  1. Install computer and networking hardware.

    Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install and connect the network board and network cabling to your computer. Make sure that all storage devices are properly attached to storage adapters.

  2. Create and format a boot partition

    NetWare requires a boot partition in standard FAT format to start the computer and load NetWare. The boot partition contains the Novell Small Business Suite and NetWare startup and server files. If a boot partition already exists on your computer, skip to Accessing the Installation Files.

    IMPORTANT:  You should increase the size of your boot partition to accommodate your specific configuration requirements. See Meeting System and Software Requirements.

    To create and format a DOS boot partition:

    1. Back up any desired data to another computer or offline storage media.

    2. Insert Novell Small Business Suite 6.6 NetWare 6.5 CD 1 Operating System with SP3 CD and boot the computer.

    3. Complete one of the following:

      • If the computer boots from the CD, follow the on-screen prompts then skip to Selecting the Initial Installation Settings. During the Default or Manual installation types you have the options to create or change the existing DOS partition.
      • If you will be installing from files located on another server, continue with Step 2.d.
      • If the computer does not boot from the CD, continue with Step 2.d.

    4. Boot your computer with DOS 3.3 or later.

    5. (Conditional) If the computer already has an operating system installed, such as Windows or NetWare, completely remove the partitions and the operating system.

      You can use FDISK to remove partitions, or the partitions can be deleted at the Prepare Boot Partition screen during the server installation.

    6. (Optional) If you want to use FDISK to create an active DOS partition, enter FDISK at the DOS prompt.

      Create a primary DOS partition and make it the active partition. For minimum requirements, see Meeting System and Software Requirements.

      The computer will restart.

    7. Format and transfer DOS system files to the partition by changing to drive A: and entering FORMAT C: /S at the DOS prompt.

    8. In the config.sys file, set FILES=50.

    9. Run SCANDISK or CHKDSK /F (depending on the machine's version of DOS) on the C: drive before beginning the installation procedure.

Your computer should now have an active DOS partition that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements. Continue the installation by accessing the installation files.