Environment
Novell Client 2 for Windows
Situation
An application throws the error:
The version of NETWARE.DRV currently in use does not provide enough functionality to run this program in a Novell server environment. Please upgrade to a more current version of Novell Client software.
Clearing the error allows processing to proceed normally.
The version of NETWARE.DRV currently in use does not provide enough functionality to run this program in a Novell server environment. Please upgrade to a more current version of Novell Client software.
Clearing the error allows processing to proceed normally.
Resolution
Upgrade the 16-bit application to a current (32- or 64-bit) version, or continue to run the application on a version of Windows and Novell Client that support 16-bit applications.
Cause
The problem is a result of a 16-bit Windows or 16-bit DOS application being used on a platform where the Novell Client does not support such applications (Novell Client for Windows Vista and later). NETWARE.DRV is the module which supports 16-bit applications, but it is not included in Novell Client 2 for Windows.
This error is originating from the application itself and/or from some Novell- or non-Novell-provided library which is attempting to confirm that the 16-bit Novell Client support is present, and is failing to find this support in the Novell Client installed on the machine.
Note: Not even Novell's own 16-bit applications (NWADMN16.EXE, NDIR.EXE, RIGHTS.EXE, etc.) are supported on Novell Client for Windows Server 2008 R2, as documented in Novell Client 2 SP3 for Windows Administration Guide, section 1.2.1 "Novell Client for Windows XP/2003 Features Not Included in the Novell Client for Windows" as "16-bit applications and libraries."
See TID 7000667, "Support for 16-bit applications on Novell Client for Windows Vista"
This error is originating from the application itself and/or from some Novell- or non-Novell-provided library which is attempting to confirm that the 16-bit Novell Client support is present, and is failing to find this support in the Novell Client installed on the machine.
Note: Not even Novell's own 16-bit applications (NWADMN16.EXE, NDIR.EXE, RIGHTS.EXE, etc.) are supported on Novell Client for Windows Server 2008 R2, as documented in Novell Client 2 SP3 for Windows Administration Guide, section 1.2.1 "Novell Client for Windows XP/2003 Features Not Included in the Novell Client for Windows" as "16-bit applications and libraries."
See TID 7000667, "Support for 16-bit applications on Novell Client for Windows Vista"
Additional Information
Windows Server 2008 R2 is x64-only. Microsoft Windows x64 (any version) does not support or allow 16-bit applications to run. i.e. Windows itself doesn't provide that support, regardless of the Novell Client installed on the machine.
Windows Server 2008 (not R2) was available in 32-bit, and Microsoft Windows 32-bit does support and allow 16-bit applications to run.
Windows 7 x64 does not support running 16-bit Windows or 16-bit DOS applications. i.e. Windows itself doesn't provide that support, regardless of the Novell Client installed on the machine.
Windows 7 32-bit version supports running 16-bit applications, but the Novell Client running on Windows 7 does not support 16-bit applications.
On 32-bit versions of Windows, Microsoft and Windows itself does support running 16-bit applications. (Note that an extra feature download is required first, on Windows 8 and later.) But the Novell Client DOES NOT support 16-bit Novell applications, i.e. 16-bit applications that would have been attempting to invoke Novell-specific APIs or Novell-specific DOS functions.
A 16-bit application CAN still access Novell mapped drives and do other normal Windows operations through the 16-bit support that Windows itself provides. But Novell-specific 16-bit operations (such as calling NETWARE.DRV functions) are not supported even on the 32-bit versions of Windows Vista and later. Only Novell Client for Windows XP/2003 and earlier supported this.
Windows Server 2008 (not R2) was available in 32-bit, and Microsoft Windows 32-bit does support and allow 16-bit applications to run.
Windows 7 x64 does not support running 16-bit Windows or 16-bit DOS applications. i.e. Windows itself doesn't provide that support, regardless of the Novell Client installed on the machine.
Windows 7 32-bit version supports running 16-bit applications, but the Novell Client running on Windows 7 does not support 16-bit applications.
On 32-bit versions of Windows, Microsoft and Windows itself does support running 16-bit applications. (Note that an extra feature download is required first, on Windows 8 and later.) But the Novell Client DOES NOT support 16-bit Novell applications, i.e. 16-bit applications that would have been attempting to invoke Novell-specific APIs or Novell-specific DOS functions.
A 16-bit application CAN still access Novell mapped drives and do other normal Windows operations through the 16-bit support that Windows itself provides. But Novell-specific 16-bit operations (such as calling NETWARE.DRV functions) are not supported even on the 32-bit versions of Windows Vista and later. Only Novell Client for Windows XP/2003 and earlier supported this.