2.9 What’s New for NSS (OES 2)

In addition to bug fixes, the features described in this section were added or modified for NSS in OES 2 Linux since the NSS release for Novell Open Enterprise Server 1 Linux.

2.9.1 64-Bit Support

Selecting NSS as part of a 64-bit installation on OES 2 Linux installs 64-bit NSS.

2.9.2 Archive and Version Services

Novell Archive and Version Services is now supported for NSS volumes on OES 2 Linux. For information, see the OES 2 SP3: Novell Archive and Version Services 2.1 Administration Guide for Linux.

2.9.3 Distributed File Services

Novell Distributed File Services (DFS) is now supported for NSS volumes on OES 2 Linux. For information about using DFS, see the OES 2 SP3: Novell Distributed File Services Administration Guide for Linux.

2.9.4 Distributed File Services Plug-In

Novell Distributed File Services (DFS) can now be managed fully within the Distributed File Services plug-in for Novell iManager 2.7. The plug-in is included in the nssmgmt.nlm file. You can do the following with the new DFS plug-in:

  • Create a DFS management context.

  • Manage, monitor, and repair the Volume Location Database (VLDB) services, replica sites, and the VLDB.

  • Create, modify, or delete DFS junctions for NSS volumes.

  • Configure trustees, trustee rights, and inherited rights filters for junctions and junction target locations.

  • Manage move volume or split volume jobs.

For information about DFS for NSS volumes, see the OES 2 SP3: Novell Distributed File Services Administration Guide for Linux.

2.9.5 Encrypted Volumes

Encrypted NSS volume support was added for OES 1 SP1 Linux. Previously, encrypted volumes were supported only on NetWare. For information, see Section 19.0, Managing Encrypted NSS Volumes.

2.9.6 Enhanced Hard Links

Enhanced support for hard links is now available for NSS volumes on OES 2 Linux. For information about configuring and managing hard links for NSS volumes on Linux , see Section 24.0, Managing Hard Links.

2.9.7 Extended Attributes (XAttr)

The Extended Attributes (XAttr) extension for NSS provides accessibility into many extended attributes for NSS on Linux. It allows you to read, back up, and restore extended attributes of files on NSS. For information, see Section A.10, Extended Attributes (XAttr) Commands.

2.9.8 Files and Folders Plug-in

The Files and Folders plug-in (filemanager.npm) for Novell iManager 2.7 provides the following capabilities for NSS volumes and NCP (NetWare Core Protocol) volumes:

  • Manage trustees, trustee rights, and inherited rights filters for files and directories

  • View the inherited rights at every level in the file system tree for a given trustee of a selected file or directory

  • View the effective rights for a given trustee of a selected file or directory

  • Manage file attributes

  • Configure directory quotas (only for NSS volumes where the volume’s Directory Quotas attribute is enabled)

  • Browse directories and files

  • Create directories

  • Upload and download files

  • Delete files

  • Salvage and purge deleted files (only for NSS volumes where the volume’s Salvage attribute is enabled)

For an overview of these features for the Files and Folders plug-in, see Section 9.1.8, Files and Folders Plug-In Quick Reference.

2.9.9 Group I/O Management

In OES 2 Linux, NSS performs group writes in three categories: journal, metadata, and user data. By setting policies for group writes, you can improve the performance of the file system for your particular environment. For information, see Section 27.3, Configuring or Tuning Group I/O.

2.9.10 High Memory Management

NSS for Linux supports metadata caching in high memory for servers that are low-memory constrained. This can greatly improve metadata reads on 32-bit systems with large numbers of files. For information, see Section 27.2.3, Configuring High Memory Cache.

2.9.11 LAF Audit Log Messages

NSS for OES 2 Linux supports Lightweight Auditing Format (LAF) for NSS trustee changes for NSS volumes on OES 2 Linux. When it is enabled, NSS reports events for adding or removing trustees and setting the inherited rights filter. For information, see Section 20.4, Enabling or Disabling LAF Audit Log Messages for Trustee Events.

2.9.12 Media Upgrade for Enhanced Hard Links Support

Enhanced hard links support was added.A new metadata structure allows up to 65,535 hard links per file. A media upgrade is required to take advantage of this feature. For information about the media upgrade, see Section 4.0, Upgrading the NSS Media Format.

For information about managing hard links, see Section 24.0, Managing Hard Links.

2.9.13 Metadata Migration (METAMIG) Utility

The Metadata Migration (METAMIG, metamig) utility is available for OES 1 Linux and later. For information, see Section B.3, metamig.

2.9.14 New Location for the NSS Configuration Files

In this release, NSS configuration files have moved from the /opt/novell/nss/conf directory to the /etc/opt/novell/nss directory.

2.9.15 NOATIME and NODIRATIME Support

NSS on OES 2 Linux supports the O_NOATIME option for the Linux open(2) command, and the noatime and nodiratime options for the mount and nfsmount command and the /etc/fstab file. All of these options have the same objective—that is, to prevent the access time from being updated unless the access involves a modification of a file’s or directory’s metadata or content. For information, see Section A.23, noatime and nodiratime Support for Linux open, mount, nfsmount, and /etc/fstab.

2.9.16 Pool Snapshots

NSS now supports pool snapshots for NSS pools on OES 2 Linux. Pool snapshots were previously available only on NetWare. You can use NSSMU or the Storage plug-in for Novell iManager 2.7 to manage pool snapshots for Linux.

For information about creating, managing, or deleting snapshots on Linux , see Section 17.0, Managing NSS Pool Snapshots.

2.9.17 Software RAIDs

NSS now supports software RAIDs 5 and 15 for devices on OES 1 SP1 Linux. Previously, software RAIDs 5 and 15 were supported only on NetWare. For information, see Section 13.0, Managing NSS Software RAID Devices.

2.9.18 Storage Plug-In

The Storage plug-in to Novell iManager 2.7 requires the nssmgmt.npm file and the storagement.npm file. For information, see Section 9.1.1, Understanding Storage-Related Plug-Ins.

2.9.19 User Quotas

NSS now supports user space quotas support for NSS volumes on OES 1 SP1 Linux. Previously, user quotas were supported only on NetWare. For information, see Section 22.4, Managing User Space Quotas.

2.9.20 User Quotas and Linux User Management

Changes in NCP Server for Linux now make it possible for the file ownership to be tracked for users of NSS volumes on Linux without requiring the user to be Linux-enabled with Linux User Management.

2.9.21 User Quota Task in the Storage Plug-In

The User Quota option in the Storage plug-in for iManager 2.7 now allows users to access information via iManager about their personal user quotas on NSS volumes. For information, see Section 22.4.2, Viewing User Space Quotas.