6.3 Designing Application Directory Structures

Application directories are storage areas where you install applications for convenient network access by groups, users, and other applications. You can install a variety of network applications, such as word processing or spreadsheet programs, and make them available to users.

For ease of management, create a separate volume for your applications and store applications in different directories. Mixing NetWare utilities with application program files complicates the file structure when you upgrade a network. An application file might have the same filename as a NetWare utility file or another application’s program file. If filenames are the same, one file overwrites the other because two files with the same filename cannot coexist in a directory.

Keep program files separate from data files to simplify application management. For example, program files seldom change, but user data changes frequently. By creating a separate application volume and data volume, you can back up program files separately from a data files. Frequent network backup can then focus only on data directories, with application volumes being backed up as needed. Creating data directories for shared data files allows single-point backup and management of shared files.

This section describes the following examples of application directory structures:

6.3.1 Application Volume with Separate Application Directories Off Its Root

Create a separate volume for applications. Create a separate directory for each application off the root of the application volume, as shown in the following example.

Figure 6-1 Application Volume with Separate Application Directories Off Its Root

6.3.2 Sys: Volume with a Parent Application Directory Off Its Root

In the sys: volume, create a parent application directory at the root. Create a separate directory for each application in the parent application directory, as shown in the following example.

Figure 6-2 Sys: Volume with a Parent Application Directory Off Its Root

6.3.3 Sys: Volume with Separate Application Directories Off Its Root

In the sys: volume, create a separate directory for each application at the root of the volume, as shown in the following example.

Figure 6-3 Sys: Volume with Separate Application Directories Off Its Root

6.3.4 Sys:public Directory with a Parent Application Directory

Because users generally have Read and File Scan rights in sys:\public, users can see and use all applications installed in it. Use this directory structure only if you want all users to have access to all applications.

We do not recommend installing applications in the sys:\public directory. If you decide to use the sys:\public directory, create a parent directory for applications in sys:\public, as shown in the following example.

Figure 6-4 Sys:public Directory with a Parent Application Directory