35.2 Planning for File Services

Functional overviews of each file service product are included in Section 35.1, Overview of File Services.

35.2.1 Deciding Which Components Match Your Needs

To decide which file service components to install, you should match service features listed in Table 35-1 to your network’s file service requirements.

Table 35-1 OES File Services Feature Breakdown

Product

Access Method Features

Back-End Storage Features

Security Features

Native File Access Protocol (NFAP) (NetWare only)

  • Linux File Managers

  • Macintosh Finder*

  • UNIX File Managers

  • Windows Explorer

  • NetWare volumes

  • Secure LDAP Authentication

NCP Server (NetWare Core Protocol)

Novell Client (NCP client)

  • Any Linux volumes (including NSS) that are defined as NCP volumes

  • NetWare volumes

  • eDirectory Authentication

NetStorage

  • Any supported browsers

  • Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

  • Remote (browser-based)

  • Web Folders (on either an Internet Explorer browser or in Windows Explorer)

  • Windows Explorer

  • iFolder server (on same machine)

  • Linux traditional volumes

  • NetWare volumes

  • NCP volumes

  • NSS volumes

  • Samba (SMB) servers

  • Windows (CIFS servers

NOTE:NetStorage provides access only to other file services.

  • Secure LDAP Authentication

Novell iFolder 2.1 x

  • Linux File Managers

  • Offline access with file synchronization (between local and network copies) on reconnect

  • Windows Explorer

  • Novell iFolder file repository on OES server

  • Files are encrypted on the Novell iFolder server and for transport as well.

  • Secure LDAP Authentication

Novell iFolder 3. x

  • Linux File Managers

  • Macintosh Chooser

  • Offline access with file synchronization (between local and network copies) on reconnect

  • Web browsers

  • Windows Explorer

  • Novell iFolder 3 Enterprise server file repository on OES Linux server

  • Files can be encrypted for transport using SSL (HTTPS).

  • Secure LDAP Authentication

Novell Samba (Linux only)

  • Any CIFS/SMB client

  • Remote access (Web Folders in the Internet Explorer browser)

  • Windows Explorer

  • Linux traditional file system on OES server

  • Secure LDAP Authentication

35.2.2 Planning Your File Services

  1. For the file services you plan to install, compute the total additional RAM required (above the basic system requirement).

    Note the following points:

  2. Record the additional required RAM in your planning notes.

  3. For the file services you plan to install, compute the total additional disk space required (above the basic system requirement).

    Note the following points:

    • Native File Access Protocols: Allocate enough disk space to meet your users’ file storage needs. Because all platforms can access the same storage space, you need only consider the total space needed, not the platform-specific requirements.

    • NCP: Allocate enough disk space to meet your users’ file storage needs. On Linux, this space must exist on partitions you have designated as NCP volumes. On NetWare, all volumes are accessible through NCP.

    • NetStorage: There are no disk space requirements because NetStorage provides access only to other file storage services.

    • Novell iFolder 2.1 x: Suggestions for calculating the additional disk space you need are contained in Preparing to Install iFolder 2.1 in the Novell iFolder 2.1 Installation and Administration Guide .

    • Novell iFolder 3. x: Suggestions for calculating the additional disk space you need are contained in Server Workload Considerations in the Novell iFolder 3.x Administration Guide .

    • Samba: Allocate enough disk space for the partition containing the /home directory to meet your users’ file storage needs.

  4. Record the additional required disk space in your planning notes.

  5. For the file services you plan to install, refer to the information in the OES installation guides indicated in the following table and note your planning choices on your planning sheet.

    File Service Product

    Linux Planning References

    NetWare Planning References

    Native File Access Protocols

    N/A

    The following sections in the OES Native File Access Protocols Guide .

    NCP

    Novell NCP Server in the OES Linux Installation Guide

    Installed by default. No planning required.

    NetStorage

    Novell NetStorage in the OES Linux Installation Guide

    NetStorage Install in the OES NetWare Installation Guide

    Novell iFolder 2.1 x

    Novell iFolder 2.x in the OES Linux Installation Guide

    iFolder Server Options in the OES NetWare Installation Guide

    Novell iFolder 3. x

    Novell iFolder 3.x in the OES Linux Installation Guide

    N/A.

    Samba

    Novell Samba in the OES Linux Installation Guide

    N/A