9.1 Novell iManager and Storage-Related Plug-Ins

Novell iManager is a Web browser-based tool used for configuring, managing, and administering Novell eDirectory™ objects on your network. The Storage plug-in is the primary tool used to manage NSS devices, software RAIDs, pools, and volumes.

Novell iManager gives you the ability to assign specific tasks or responsibilities to user accounts and to present the user with only the tools (with the accompanying rights) necessary to perform those sets of tasks.

NOTE:The storage-related plug-ins do not support Mobile iManager.

This section describes the following:

9.1.1 Understanding Storage-Related Plug-Ins

Storage-related plug-ins share some management code in common. It is necessary to manage these plug-ins together when installing or updating any of the plug-ins.

Storage-Related Plug-Ins for iManager

Table 9-1 identifies the storage-related plug-ins for Novell iManager 2.7.2 in OES 2 SP1 and later.

Table 9-1 Storage-Related Plug-Ins for iManager

Storage-Related Plug-In

NPM File

Role in iManager

Use to Manage

Archive Versioning Management

arkmgmt.npm

Archive Versioning

Novell Archive and Version Services

Cluster Services Management

ncsmgmt.npm

Clusters

Novell Cluster Services™

Distributed File Services Management

dfsmgmt.npm

Distributed File Services

Novell Distributed File Services

AFP Management

afpmgmt.npm

File Protocols > AFP

Novell AFP for Linux

Novell AFP for NetWare

CIFS Management

cifsmgmt.npm

File Protocols > CIFS

Novell CIFS for Linux

Novell CIFS for NetWare

NSS Management

nssmgmt.npm

Storage

Novell Storage Services

Storage Management

storagemgmt.npm

No role. Required when using any combination of storage-related plug-ins

Contains common code for all storage-related plug-ins

IMPORTANT:The storage-related plug-ins share code in common in the storagemgmt.npm file. If you use more than one of these plug-ins, you should install, update, or remove them all at the same time to make sure the common code works for all plug-ins. If you remove only one of the plug-ins, it removes the common code and breaks the remaining installed plug-ins.

Archive Versioning Management

The Archive Versioning Management (arkmgmt.npm) file contains the Archive Versioning plug-in for Novell Archive and Version Services. This plug-in requires the NSS Storage Management plug-in and the Storage Management plug-in.

For information about using this plug-in, see the following:

Cluster Services Management

The Cluster Services Management (ncsmgmt.npm) file contains the Clustering plug-in for managing Novell Cluster Services. This plug-in requires the Storage Management plug-in. The NSS Storage Management plug-in is required for cluster-enabling NSS pools and volumes.

For information about using this plug-in, see the following:

Distributed File Services Management

Use the Distributed File Services plug-in to manage Novell DFS for NSS volumes. For information about using the DFS plug-in, see NW 6.5 SP8: Novell Distributed File Services Administration Guide.

The DFS plug-in also requires the NSS Storage Management and Storage Management plug-ins.

File Protocols

In OES 2 SP1, the File Protocols plug-in for the Native File Access Protocols for NetWare services has been replaced by two plug-ins: Novell AFP (afpmgmt.npm) and Novell CIFS (cifsmgmt.npm). These plug-ins support AFP and CIFS services for NSS volumes on both Linux and NetWare.

The AFP and CIFS plug-ins also require the NSS Storage Management (nssmgmt.npm) and Storage Management (storagemgmt.npm) plug-ins.

IMPORTANT:Make sure to uninstall the existing File Protocols plug-in, NSS plug-in, and Storage Management plug-in before you upgrade to these new plug-ins.

For information about managing these services, see the following guides:

NSS Management

The Novell Storage Services Management (nssmgmt.npm) plug-in allows you to manage NSS services (devices, software RAIDs, pools, and volumes) on NetWare 6.5, OES 1, and OES 2. Information about using this plug-in is the focus of this guide.

Storage Management

The Storage Management (storagemgmt.npm) file contains common code that is shared by the storage-related plug-ins. If you use more than one of these storage-related plug-ins, you should install, update, or remove the storagemgmt.npm file and all installed storage-related .npm files at the same time.

IMPORTANT:If you remove any one of the installed storage-related plug-ins, it removes the common code (storagemgmt.npm) file, which breaks the remaining installed plug-ins.

Downloading and Installing Plug-In Updates

For information, see Downloading and Installing Plug-Ins During Installation in the Novell iManager 2.7 Installation Guide.

Prerequisites for Using the Storage-Related Plug-Ins

The requirements in this section apply to the storage-related plug-ins for iManager 2.7 that are described in Storage-Related Plug-Ins for iManager.

EVMS (Linux)

NSS for Linux uses the Enterprise Volume Management Service (EVMS) version 2.5.5-24.54.5 or later to manage devices that contain NSS pools and volumes and Novell Cluster Services cluster resources. For information about upgrading EVMS, see EVMS Requirements.

NSS tools work transparently with EVMS to manage your devices, pools, and volumes.

IMPORTANT:You cannot run the EVMS graphical user interface (evmsgui), ncurses, or console commands at the same time that iManager or NSSMU is running. If you use EVMSGUI to manage NSS devices, close any instance of iManager or NSSMU, and vice versa.

NSS does not recognize devices that are being managed by non-EVMS volume managers. Only unconfigured devices or EVMS-managed devices with free unconfigured space are available to you when you create or expand NSS pools and software RAID devices.

For information about how to make EVMS the volume manager for your existing non-EVMS devices, see Section D.4, Making Devices Available to EVMS.

Web Browser Language Setting

The iManager plug-in might not operate properly if the highest priority Language setting for your Web browser is set to a language other than one of iManager’s supported languages. To avoid problems, in your Web browser, click Tools > Options > Languages, then set the first language preference in the list to a supported language.

Protocols for iManager Communications

Table 9-2 provides information about the protocols needed to use iManager to manage storage in a heterogeneous environment. A protocol annotated with an asterisk (*) is the default and is configured automatically on the servers. The protocols that you use must be loaded and running on both the iManager server and the target server that you want to manage.

Table 9-2 Interoperability of Protocols Used to Connect the iManager Server and Target Servers

iManager Server Operating Platform

Protocol Used to Connect to the Target Server Based on Its Operating Platform (* indicates the default)

OES 1 Linux and Later

OES 1 SP1 NetWare, NetWare 6.5 SP4, and Later

OES 1 NetWare and NetWare 6.5 SP3

NetWare 6.5 SP2

OES 1 Linux and Later

* WBEM

* WBEM

WBEM (Start WBEM)

 

CIFS

CIFS

CIFS

CIFS (Field Patch 2B)

OES 1 SP1 NetWare, NetWare 6.5 SP4, and Later

* WBEM

* WBEM

WBEM (Start WBEM)

 

 

NCP™

* NCP

* NCP

CIFS

CIFS

CIFS

CIFS (Field Patch 2B)

OES 1 NetWare and NetWare 6.5 SP3

*WBEM

*WBEM

WBEM (Start WBEM)

 

 

NCP

* NCP

* NCP

CIFS

CIFS

CIFS

CIFS (Field Patch 2B)

NetWare 6.5 SP2

Not available

* NCP

* NCP

* NCP

WBEM

Where WBEM is the default protocol, WBEM is loaded and runs automatically when you start the server. Otherwise, you must start WBEM to use the protocol.

For OES 2 Linux, the storage-related plug-ins for iManager require CIMOM connections for tasks that transmit sensitive information (such as a username and password) between iManager and the _admin volume on the OES 2 Linux that server you are managing. Typically, CIMOM is running, so this should be the normal condition when using the server. CIMOM connections use Secure HTTP (HTTPS) for transferring data, and this ensures that sensitive data is not exposed.

If CIMOM is not currently running when you click OK or Finish for the task that sends the sensitive information, you get an error message explaining that the connection is not secure and that CIMOM must be running before you can perform the task.

IMPORTANT:If you receive file protocol errors, it might be because WBEM is not running.

To check the status of WBEM on Linux:

  1. As root in a console shell, enter

    rcowcimomd status
    

To start WBEM on Linux:

  1. As root in a console shell, enter

    rcowcimomd start
    

To check the status of WBEM on NetWare:

  1. As the Administrator user or equivalent, enter the following at the server console:

    modules owcimomd
    

To start WBEM on NetWare:

  1. As the Administrator user or equivalent, enter the following at the server console:

    openwbem
    

For information about installing WBEM, see Setting Up OpenWBEM in the NW 6.5 SP8: OpenWBEM Services Administration Guide.

CIFS (NetWare)

Where it is available, CIFS must be configured before you can use it. An additional CIFS setup requirement for Field Patch 2B is noted where it is required. For information, see the NW 6.5 SP8: AFP, CIFS, and NFS (NFAP) Administration Guide.

NCP

NetWare Core Protocol™ (NCP) is the default protocol when the iManager server and target server are NetWare 6.5 SP3 or SP2.

Files for Storage-Related Plug-Ins

File Locations on Linux

The module files (see Table 9-1) are located in the /var/opt/novell/iManager/nps/portal/modules/ directory.

The Java* JAR files are located in the /var/opt/novell/iManager/nps/WEB-INF/lib/ directory.

The Tomcat TLD files are located in the /var/opt/novell/iManager/nps/WEB-INF/ directory.

File Locations on NetWare

The module files (see Table 9-1) are located in the \sys\tomcat\4\webapps\portal\modules\ directory.

The Java JAR files are located in the \sys\tomcat\4\webapps\WEB-INF\lib directory.

The Tomcat TLD files are located in the \sys\tomcat\4\webapps\WEB-INF\ directory.

Java and Tomcat Files

Table 9-3 Java and Tomcat Files for Storage-Related Plug-Ins

Storage-Related Plug-In

Java Files

Tomcat Files

Novell AFP

  • afpGadgets.jar
  • afpManageLib.jar
  • afpTags.jar

afp.tld

Archive and Version Services

  • arkGadgets.jar
  • arkManageLib.jar

ark.tld

Novell CIFS

  • cifsGadgets.jar
  • cifsManageLib.jar

cifs.tld

Novell Cluster Services

  • ncsGadgets.jar
  • ncsManageLib.jar
  • ncsTags.jar

ncs.tld

Novell Distributed File Services

  • dfsGadgets.jar
  • dfsManageLib.jar
  • nasGadgets.jar

dfs.tld

Novell Storage Services

  • nssGadgets.jar
  • nssManageLib.jar

nss.tld

Storage Management (common to all)

  • nssAdminClient.jar
  • nssGadgetLib.jar
  • nssTags.jar

 

9.1.2 Accessing Novell iManager

  1. Launch a Web browser.

  2. Click File > Open, then enter

    https://server-IP-address/nps/iManager.html
    

    The URL is case sensitive. Replace server-IP-address with the actual server DNS name or IP address. For example:

    https://192.168.1.1/nps/iManager.html
    

    The iManager Login page opens.

  3. Use your administrator username and password to log in to the eDirectory tree that contains the server you want to manage.

    In Novell iManager, you can access only the roles and tasks you are authorized to manage. For full access to all available Novell iManager features, you must log in as Supervisor of the tree.

9.1.3 Accessing Roles and Tasks in iManager

  1. Access iManager, then log in to the eDirectory tree where the server you want to manage resides.

    For information, see Section 9.1.2, Accessing Novell iManager.

  2. In Roles and Tasks, click the Storage role to expand its main tasks

    The iManager NSS Storage Management Role and Tasks

    As you work in the storage-related plug-ins, use the navigation links at the top of the page, referred to as “breadcrumbs,” to return to pages you recently visited, or use the links in Roles and Tasks. If you use the Refresh and Back features of your Web browser to navigate, iManager returns you to the initial page you encountered after login.

  3. To activate the options on the selected page, select a server to manage.

    For information, see Section 9.1.4, Selecting a Server to Manage.

9.1.4 Selecting a Server to Manage

Before you can access the management options on a selected task page, you must select a server to manage that is in the same Novell eDirectory tree where you are currently logged in.

  1. Use one of the following methods to select a server in the tree where you are logged in:

    Server Search Field
    • Type the Novell eDirectory distinguished server name for the server you want to manage, then press Tab or click somewhere on the page outside of the Server field to enter your selection. For example:

      svr1.company
      
    • Click the Search icon to open the eDirectory Object Selector. Browse or search the list to locate the server you want to manage, then click the server name.

    • Click the Object History icon to select a server you have recently managed.

  2. Wait for iManager to retrieve information about that server and display the appropriate information to the task page you are in.

    It might take several seconds to retrieve the information, depending on the size and complexity of your storage solution.

9.1.5 Storage Plug-In Quick Reference

The Storage role comprises seven key tasks:

Pools

You can create and manage storage pools to efficiently use all free space. For NetWare, you can also enable the Pool Snapshot feature to preserve point-in-time views of data pools and to support data backup and recovery.

Table 9-4 Pool Management Tasks

Task

Description

Reference

Pools

Displays a list of all pools on the selected server.

Viewing Pools on a Server

Details

Displays information about a selected pool.

Viewing Pool Details

New

Creates a new pool on the selected server.

Creating a Pool

Delete

Deletes a selected pool and all of its volumes and their data.

Deleting a Pool

Rename

Renames a selected pool.

Renaming a Pool

Activate

Mounts and activates a selected deactive or unmounted pool.

Activating and Deactivating Pools

Deactivate

Deactivates a selected active pool.

Activating and Deactivating Pools

Increase Size

Allows you to select one or more partitions from available devices in order to expand the size of a pool.

Increasing the Size of a Pool

Snapshot

Opens the Pool Snapshots page where you can create and manage pool snapshots.

This option is disabled for online snapshot pools, because you cannot create a snapshot of a snapshot.

Managing NSS Pool Snapshots

Update eDirectory

Updates (replaces) the eDirectory object for a selected pool. Use only if a storage object is not recognized or has been lost.

Updating eDirectory Pool Objects

Deleted Volume

Displays a list of deleted volumes in a pool, and allows you to salvage or purge them. You can also pause and resume the autopurging of deleted volumes.

Viewing, Salvaging, or Purging Deleted NSS Volumes in a Pool

Offline

For a pool snapshot that is online as an active pool, takes it offline. This does not delete the pool snapshot.

Viewing and Managing an Online Pool Snapshot

Partitions

Displays a list of the partitions comprising the pool’s storage space.

Viewing Partition Information for a Pool

Volumes

Lists all volumes on a selected pool.

Viewing Volume Information for a Pool

Devices

Displays a list of the devices that contribute space to a selected pool.

Viewing Device Information for a Pool

Volumes

You can create and manage NSS volumes, including their key attributes.

Table 9-5 Volume Management Tasks

Task

Description

Reference

Volumes

Displays a list of all volumes on the selected server.

Managing NSS Volumes

Details

Displays information about a selected volume.

Viewing the Details of an NSS Volume

New

Creates a new unencrypted volume.

To create an encrypted NSS volume, use NSSMU.

Creating Unencrypted NSS Volumes

Delete

Deletes a selected volume and all of its contents.

Deleting an NSS Volume

Rename

Renames a selected volume.

Renaming an NSS Volume

Activate

Mounts and activates a deactive or unmounted volume.

Activating and Deactivating an NSS Volume

Deactivate

Deactivates an active volume.

Activating and Deactivating an NSS Volume

Mount

Mounts an unmounted volume. A volume must be mounted to view its details.

Mounting and Dismounting an NSS Volume (Linux)

Dismount

Dismounts a mounted volume.

Mounting and Dismounting an NSS Volume (Linux)

Move

Moves a selected NSS volume for the purpose of reorganizing and redistributing storage on the same server (or to other servers) in response to changing business needs.

For requirements, guidelines, and procedures for splitting volumes, see Using DFS to Move NSS Volumes in the NW 6.5 SP8: Novell Distributed File Services Administration Guide.

Split

Splits a selected NSS volume for the purpose of reorganizing and redistributing storage on the same server (or to other servers) in response to changing business needs.

For requirements, guidelines, and procedures for splitting volumes, see Using DFS to Split NSS Volumes in the NW 6.5 SP8: Novell Distributed File Services Administration Guide.

Properties

Displays a list of volume attributes, and allows you to set the attributes and name space to use for a volume. It also displays usage statistics for a volume.

Viewing Properties of an NSS Volume

User Quotas

Displays user quotas and space consumed for users of the volume. Administrators can view and manage user quotas. Users can view their own user space quotas.

Configuring a User Space Quota

Offline

Takes a selected snapshot volume offline, where it remains active in the background.

Viewing and Managing an Online Pool Snapshot

Update eDirectory

Updates (replaces) the eDirectory object. Use only if a storage object is not recognized or has been lost.

Updating eDirectory Volume Objects

User Quotas

The User Quotas task (see Table 9-6) allows managers to view and manage user space restrictions. It can be specified as an iManager role-based task for administrators. An individual user can log in to iManager under his or her own username to view the user’s user space restrictions.

Table 9-6 User Quotas Task

Task

Description

Reference

User Quotas

For the Administrator user, displays quotas and allows the administrator user to manage user quotas for all users.

For the user, displays the user’s own space restrictions.

Configuring a User Space Quota

Partitions

NSS creates and deletes partitions for you when you work with software RAIDS and pools in iManager and NSSMU. To delete partitions manually, use the NSSMU Partitions page.

Table 9-7 Partitions Tasks

Task

Description

Reference

Partitions

Displays a list of all partitions on a selected server.

Viewing a List of Partitions

Details

Displays information about a selected partition.

Viewing Details for a Partition

Label

Adds a label for a selected partition.

Labeling a Partition

Software RAIDs

You can create and manage software RAID 0, 1, and 5 devices to improve storage performance and reliability. You can use NSSMU on NetWare to create a software RAID 10 or 15 device.

Table 9-8 Software RAID Management Tasks

Task

Description

Reference

Software RAIDs

Displays a list of software RAID devices on the selected server.

Viewing a List of Software RAID Devices on a Server

Details

Displays the details of a selected software RAID device.

Viewing Details of a Software RAID Device

New

Creates a new software RAID 0, 1, or 5 device for the selected server.

Creating Software RAID Devices with iManager

Rename

Renames a selected software RAID device.

Renaming a Software RAID Device

Increase Size

Expands an existing software RAID device by adding a partition to the RAID (up to the limit for that type of RAID). If there are no devices available, the button is disabled.

Each partition you add must reside on a different device. You can add partitions that match the shared state of current member devices. They must be all local or all shared; you cannot mix them.

Increasing the Size of a Software RAID Device

Restripe

Completes a restriping process for a RAID 0 or RAID 5 device that has been paused.

Restriping a Software RAID 0 or 5 Device

Delete

Deletes the selected software RAID device and removes the RAID relationship between member partitions and the underlying storage structures. All data on the member partitions is lost.

Deleting a Software RAID Device

Pools

Lists pools on a selected software RAID devices.

Viewing Pools on a Software RAID Device

Partitions

Lists details about partitions (member segments) in the RAID. In some cases, you can also delete a partition to repair a RAID.

Viewing Partitions on a Software RAID Device

Devices

You can configure, mount, and maintain a wide selection of storage devices, including direct-attached-storage devices, network-attached storage devices, networked storage devices in a Fibre Channel or iSCSI storage area network (SAN), and hardware device arrays.

Table 9-9 Device Management Tasks

Task

Description

Reference

Devices

Displays a list of all local and external devices available on the selected server.

Viewing Devices on a Server

Details

Displays information about a selected device.

Viewing Details for a Device

Initialize Disk

Initializes a selected device by erasing its partition table, effectively destroying all of its data. If devices are present but not showing up for creating pools and volumes, you should initialize the disk.

Initializing a Disk

Multipath (NetWare)

For network configurations with multiple paths between network devices and your NetWare server, opens the Multipath page where you can set the primary path and path failover priorities for fault tolerance of connections between host bus adapters and storage devices. You can also bring paths up and down.

Managing Multipath I/O to Devices (NetWare)

Set Default Path

Sets the connection to selected device to its user-defined default primary path.

Setting the Primary Path for a Device to Its Default Path

Reset Registry

Resets the multipath priority settings for a selected device in the server registry to its user-defined defaults.

Resetting the Server Registry with Default Priority Settings for a Device

Shareable for Clustering

Enables device sharing to support high-availability server clusters.

Sharing Devices for NSS Pools

Pools

Displays a list of the pools on a device.

Viewing Pools on a Device

Partitions

Displays information about partitions that are configured on a device.

Viewing Partitions on a Device

Scan for Devices (NetWare)

You can scan for devices on a NetWare server that were not found automatically by the Media Manager.

Table 9-10 Scan for Devices Task

Task

Description

Reference

Scan

After you select a server to manage, scans for devices added since you booted the server.

Scanning for Devices (NetWare)

9.1.6 Files and Folders Plug-In Quick Reference

The Files and Folders plug-in for iManager 2.7 provides the Files and Folders role for Linux and NetWare. It is also integrated in iManager as the View Objects option in the iManager toolbar. File browsing in iManager is available for file systems that have a Volume object defined in eDirectory, such as for NSS volumes on Linux and NetWare and for NCP volumes on Linux.

The Files and Folders Manager NPM file (filemanager.npm) is automatically installed in iManager. For information about manually installing NPM files for iManager, see the Novell iManager 2.7 Installation Guide.

Click the Files and Folders role to select tasks first, then search for the file or folder you want to manage. Click the View Objects icon to view the Tree, Browse, and Search view of a server’s eDirectory objects in the left pane. In the Tree view, click a Volume object to see the hierarchical file system tree view of the volume's folders and files. Click the plus (+) or minus (-) icon next to a directory name to expand or collapse the view of its subdirectories. Locate the file or folder you want to manage, then specify the action you want to perform for it.

The Files and Folders plug-in for Novell iManager 2.7 provides the tasks described in this section. All of the tasks and actions that are available under the Files and Folders role are also available from the View Objects tree view.

Delete

Deletes a file or folder on an NSS volume or an NCP volume (NCP share on a Linux POSIX file system). For information, see Section 28.2, Deleting a File or Folder on an NSS Volume.

Deleted Files

Salvages or purges deleted files on an NSS volume. Salvage and purge of deleted files and directories is available only for NSS volumes where the volume’s Salvage attribute is enabled. Other NSS settings determine how long deleted files and directories are available.

For information about configuring salvage and purge behavior for NSS volumes, see Section 26.0, Salvaging and Purging Deleted Volumes, Directories, and Files.

For non-NSS volumes, the Deleted Files report is empty (no deleted files).

Download

Downloads a selected file from an NSS volume or NCP volume to a specified location on your local drive or mapped network drive. For information, see Section 28.4, Downloading Files from an NSS Volume.

New Folder

Creates a folder on an NSS volume or NCP volume. For information, see Section 28.1, Creating a Folder on an NSS Volume.

Properties

Adds, removes, or modifies file system trustees, trustee rights, inherited rights filters, and file system attributes for files and folders on NSS volumes and NCP volumes. See Table 9-11 for a complete list of tasks you can perform from the Properties page.

Table 9-11 Properties Tasks

Properties Tab

Task Description

Information

Displays or modifies a directory quota for the selected folder. Directory quotas management is available only for NSS volumes where the volume’s Directory Quotas attribute is enabled. For information, see Section 25.3, Managing Directory Quotas.

Displays information about a selected file or folder, such as:

  • Current size

  • Time stamps for when the file was created, modified, accessed, and archived

Displays or modifies the owner of a selected file or folder.

Displays or modifies the file system attributes for a file or folder. For information, see Section 22.1.3, Configuring File or Folder Attributes.

Rights

Displays, adds, or removes file system trustees for a selected file or directory.

Displays, grants, or revokes file system trustee rights for trustees of the selected file or directory.

Displays or modifies the inherited rights filter for a selected file or directory.

For information, see Section 22.1, Configuring File System Trustees, Trustee Rights, Inherited Rights Filters, and Attributes.

Inherited Rights

Displays or modifies the inherited rights filters at every level of the path for a selected file or directory. For information, see Configuring the Inherited Rights Filter for a File or Directory.

Displays the effective rights for the selected file or directory. For information, see Section 22.1.5, Viewing Effective Rights for a Trustee.

Upload

Uploads a specified file from your local drive or a mapped network drive to a specified location on an NSS volume or NCP volume. For information, see Section 28.3, Uploading Files to an NSS Volume.