18.10 Configuring the Name Space for an NSS Volume

NSS supports the Long, DOS, UNIX, and Macintosh name spaces. By default, names on the NSS file system are case insensitive, which is supported by the Long name space. The Long name space is the default setting used when mounting NSS volumes. In order to mount a volume with a different name space, you must specify the name space explicitly in the mount command, or you can specify the name space to use as a property of the NSS volume.

On Linux POSIX file systems, the UNIX name space is typically used. If your volume contains large directories with millions of files, using the default UNIX name space on NSS volumes can cause volumes to mount very slowly. Using the Long name space allows the NSS volume to mount normally. Unless you need to support case sensitive filenames, we strongly recommend using the Long name space.

The preferred name space can be set when you create the volume and set its attributes, or at any time by modifying the Lookup Namespace attribute in the volume’s properties.

You can also mount the volume by specifying the name space to use as an option of the mount command. For instructions, see Section 18.11, Mounting NSS Volumes with Linux Commands.

To view or modify the Lookup Namespace attribute for the NSS volume:

  1. In iManager, click Storage > Volumes.

    For instructions, see Section 9.1.5, Accessing Roles and Tasks in iManager.

  2. Select a server to manage to view a list of its volumes.

    For instructions, see Section 9.1.6, Selecting a Server to Manage.

  3. In the Volumes list, select a volume that you want manage.

  4. Click Properties to view the volume’s properties.

    The Properties page has three tabs: Attributes, Statistics, and Quota Usage.

  5. On the Attributes page, view the current setting of the Lookup Namespace for the selected volume.

  6. On the Attributes page, optionally modify the Lookup Namespace to use by selecting the radio button next to it.

    • Long (recommended, default)

    • DOS

    • UNIX

    • Mac

    This is the new value that is applied automatically whenever you mount the volume.

  7. Click Apply to save your changes.

  8. On the Volumes page, click Dismount to unmount the volume.

    Wait until the volume unmounts gracefully before continuing.

  9. On the Volumes page, click Mount to mount the volume to mount it the new name space.

  10. If you change the name space for an existing shared volume by using NSSMU or the NSS plug-in for iManager, you must modify the load script for the pool cluster resource to add the name space to the ncpcon mount command for the volume. Otherwise, the cluster assumes the default name space for mounting the volume. You can do this by using the /opt=ns=<long|unix|dos|mac> switch in the ncpcon mount command.

    For example, to specify the LONG name space, add the /opt=ns=long switch as follows:

    ncpcon mount /opt=ns=long <VOLUMENAME>=<VOLUMEID>

    For example, to specify the UNIX name space, add the /opt=ns=unix switch as follows:

    ncpcon mount /opt=ns=unix <VOLUMENAME>=<VOLUMEID>

    For more information, see Configuring a Load Script for the Shared NSS Pool in the OES 2 SP3: Novell Cluster Services 1.8.8 Administration Guide for Linux.