Distributing Applications on the Network
You can install various types of network applications, such as word processing or spreadsheet programs, to make them available to users. When installing applications, keep the following in mind:
- You need the Create right in the directory where you will be installing the application.
- Follow the instructions in the application's documentation for installing the application onto a network.
- Make sure the application is designed for network (multiuser) use, and that you observe any licensing restrictions on the number of users who can access the application.
- To allow users to access network-based applications, map search drives to the directories that contain these applications. To make these search drives permanent, place them in login scripts, which are executed when users log in.
- If the application requires that it be installed at the root of a volume, but you would rather install it in a subdirectory for security reasons, you can map the directory to a fake root. (See Fake Root.)
- You can create a Directory Map object that points to an application directory.
Directory Map objects are useful in login scripts. Instead of mapping a drive to a specific directory path, you map a drive to a Directory Map object that points to a directory. (See Directory Map Objects.)
Then, if you change the directory path, you need to change only the Directory Map object's definition.
- NetWare provides the Application LauncherTM software to assist you in setting up and managing network applications through NDS® --- from a single administrative console, NetWare Administrator. Application Launcher, a component of Z.E.N.worksTM, improves ease of distribution, convenience of installation, and operational control for network applications. For more information, see ZENworks Starter Pack.
- Keeping program files separate from data files can simplify application management. Because program files seldom change, for example, you can keep a backup of program files separate from a data file backup so that network backup procedures need focus only on data directories.
Data directories for shared data files also provide for single-point backup and management of shared files.