3.10 Configuring Opportunistic Locking for NCP Server

Opportunistic locking (oplocks) provides a way to cache file data at the client. It improves file access performance because it allows the client to read and write data using its local cache, and interact with the file server only when necessary, which reduces the amount of traffic on the network. Oplocks is enabled by default in NCP Server.

IMPORTANT:To use oplocks effectively, make sure users are running Novell Client 4.2 SP2 or later.

There are two levels of oplocks available with NCP Server. You can set oplocks to either of these levels or disable oplocks completely. By default, oplocks is set to level 2, which includes both level 1 and level 2 functionality.

For more information on oplocks with NCP Server, see Section 13.1, Understanding Opportunistic Locking for NCP Connections.

3.10.1 Using Novell Remote Manager for Linux to Configure Oplocks

  1. In a Web browser, access Novell Remote Manager for Linux on the server, then log in as the root user.

    The URL is the IP address of the server (such as 192.168.1.1) and port 8009.

    https://192.168.1.1:8009
    
  2. Select Manage NCP Services > Manage Server to view the Server Parameter Information.

  3. Click the link for the OPLOCK_SUPPORT_LEVEL setting.

  4. In New Value, type a 0 (disable) or 1 (exclusive lock) or 2 (shared lock), then click Change.

  5. On the Server Parameter Information page, verify that the new setting is displayed for the OPLOCK_SUPPORT_LEVEL parameter.

3.10.2 Editing the /etc/opt/novell/ncpserv.conf File to Configure Oplocks

You configure oplocks support in the /etc/opt/novell/ncpserv.conf configuration file. There is no need to add a line to the ncpserv.conf file to set oplocks to level 2, because it is by default set to that level. However, you do need the line in order to change it back to the default of 2.

To disable oplocks support:

  1. Open the /etc/opt/novell/ncpserv.conf configuration file in a text editor.

  2. Add the OPLOCK_SUPPORT_LEVEL option with the value of 0 as follows:

    OPLOCK_SUPPORT_LEVEL 0
    
  3. Save the file.

  4. Restart the NetIQ eDirectory (ndsd) daemon by entering the following commands:

    rcndsd stop
    
    rcndsd start
    

To set oplocks support to level 1 or 2:

  1. Open the /etc/opt/novell/ncpserv.conf configuration file in a text editor.

  2. Add the OPLOCK_SUPPORT_LEVEL option, and specify a level 1 (exclusive lock) or 2 (shared lock):

    OPLOCK_SUPPORT_LEVEL 1
    

    or

    OPLOCK_SUPPORT_LEVEL 2
    
  3. Save the file.

  4. Restart the NetIQ eDirectory (ndsd) daemon by entering the following commands:

    rcndsd stop
    
    rcndsd start