C.4 Preparing the Server

To prepare your existing server for the NetWare operating system, complete the following tasks:

C.4.1 Understand the Upgrade Process

When you run the upgrade program, the server is upgraded to the latest version of NetWare 6.5 and the following tasks are automatically performed:

  • Device drivers and LAN drivers for the NetWare operating system are loaded. Outdated drivers are matched with and replaced by new drivers included with NetWare 6.5.

  • eDirectory is upgraded to version 8.7.3.

  • NetWare 6.5 information is added to autoexec.ncf and startup.ncf.

  • The NetWare 6.5 files are copied to the server.

IMPORTANT:If you are prompted to overwrite newer files patches or more recent Support Packs, Novell recommends overwriting newer files when performing major OS upgrades.

C.4.2 Back Up the NetWare Server Files

Make at least one backup of your NetWare server files, including files DOS partition. Do not attempt an upgrade without a backup.

C.4.3 Log Out Users Prior to Upgrading

You should log all users off the server before upgrading it.

C.4.4 Prepare Application Files Prior to Upgrading

Some applications require that you perform certain actions prior to upgrading.

Prepare Servers Running ZENworks for Server 2 (Conditional)

If the server is running ZENworks® for Servers 2, you must install ZENworks for Servers 3 prior to upgrading the server to NetWare 6.5.

Turn Off Applications and Services

Any applications, products, or services (virus scan software, backup software, etc.) running on the server to be upgraded should be shut down before beginning the upgrade procedure.

C.4.5 Verify a Valid DOS Partition

Your NetWare server uses the DOS partition to start the computer and load NetWare. Many of the existing NetWare startup files will be replaced with new NetWare 6.5 files. In addition, the DOS partition must exceed the minimum amount of available space to accommodate new NetWare 6.5 files.

If the DOS partition does not have enough available space, you cannot upgrade the server. You must create a new DOS partition and install a new server. See Creating and Formatting a Boot Partition.

HINT:If your computer does not meet the minimum requirements, you might try using the NetWare Migration Wizard to migrate data to another computer. For more information, see the Novell Server Consolidation and Migration Toolkit documentation.

C.4.6 Locate NetWare License Files

If you are upgrading to NetWare 6.5 from a version of NetWare earlier than NetWare 6.5, you must purchase new license files from your Novell Authorized Reseller. Make sure the license files are in a location where they can be accessed by the NetWare Install program, such as on a diskette or on the server’s DOS partition. The NetWare Install program automatically updates the licenses.

If you are upgrading to NetWare 6.5 from any version of NetWare 6.5 (from FCS to SP5), you can continue to use your current license files or install a new license if you have increased the number of users on your network. The NetWare Install program detects the installed license during the upgrade and prompts you to either use the current license or install a new license.

C.4.7 Verify Your Rights

The rights required to upgrade a NetWare server vary depending on whether you use the Admin user account created during the NetWare installation or set up different user accounts as subcontainer administrators.

Rights Required for Upgrading NetWare Servers

To upgrade the first NetWare 6.0 or earlier server in an eDirectory tree to NetWare 6.5, the user must have the Supervisor right at the [Root] of the tree. The Admin user that is created during the NetWare 6.5 Install program has full rights to the root of the tree. Using the Admin account allows the installer to extend the eDirectory schema for NetWare 6.5 as necessary.

If you are upgrading the first NetWare server in an existing NDS/eDirectory tree to NetWare 6.5, be sure to run the Deployment Manager first to prepare the tree so it is compatible with the version of eDirectory that comes with NetWare 6.5. This requires access to a server with a Read/Write replica of the Root partition.

Rights Required for Subcontainer Administrators

For security reasons, you might want to create one or more subcontainer administrators with sufficient rights to install or upgrade additional NetWare 6.5 servers, without granting them full rights to the entire tree. A subcontainer administrator needs the following rights to install or upgrade a NetWare server in the tree:

  • Supervisor right to the container where the server will be installed

  • Read right to the Security container object for the eDirectory tree

  • Read right to the NDSPKI:Private Key attribute on the Organizational CA object, which is located in the Security container

  • Supervisor right to the W0 object located inside the KAP object in the Security container

These rights are typically granted by placing all administrative users in a Group or Role, and then assigning the above rights to the Group or Role.

Some of the products that can be selected to install along with NetWare 6.5 require schema extensions of their own. Currently, only an administrator with rights at [Root] can extend the schema of an eDirectory tree; a subcontainer administrator does not have sufficient rights. One way to work around this is to have a root administrator install an NetWare 6.5 server with all products selected. This would takes care of extending the schema for every possible server configuration. Subcontainer administrators can then install or upgrade subsequent NetWare 6.5 servers without worrying about schema extensions.

An easier method for extending the schema for OES products and services is to run the Schema Update task in Deployment Manager. This task extends the schema for the OES products you select for both the NetWare and Linux platforms.

By default, the first three servers installed in an eDirectory partition automatically receive a replica of the partition. To install a server into a partition that does not already contain three replica servers, the user must have either Supervisor rights at the [Root] of the tree or administrative rights to the container in which the server holding the partition resides.