Novell DOS 7 Release Notes ========================== These release notes contain information about the following topics. This information is NOT included in the Novell DOS 7 User Guide or in DOSBook. - Using DOUBLESPACE and SUPERSTOR drives - Compressing Bernoulli drives with Stacker - Using the NWCACHE delayed write mode - Enabling CD-ROM drives - Full-screen programs on non-standard VGAs - Undeleting files across the network - Configuring the EMM386 memory manager to increase EMS handles - DOS Protected Mode Services (DPMS) loading order - Task Manager - loading LOCK as a permanent task - network drive mappings - LAN Workplace for DOS support - running 4DOS - using the task switcher and server - DOSBook corrections (DOSKEY and NET SAVE) - Setting up "one-time login" - Connecting to NetWare 2 and 3 servers - Using a network copy of MS Windows on the local server - Increasing the number of file handles when required - Using OEM-supplied network board drivers - Running Personal NetWare with other networking products - The Personal NetWare tutorial - Modifications made to MS Windows .INI files by Personal NetWare - Using remote computers on the network - Information on Remote Program Load - Getting updates to Search and Destroy anti-virus DOUBLESPACE and SUPERSTOR Drives ================================ Drives which have been compressed using Doublespace or SuperStor are supported by Novell DOS 7. However, to gain the full benefit of reduced memory consumption and more robust disk compression, it is recommended that you convert your Doublespace or SuperStor drives to Stacker. You can use the conversion option in the Novell DOS 7 SETUP program. Run SETUP after you install Novell DOS 7. Note that the conversion does not support Superstor Pro drives. For performance reasons, this conversion operates initially on the container file format only. Conversion of actual data to Stacker format is performed subsequently whenever any existing SuperStor or Doublespace compressed data is written back to the disk. If you run the DISKOPT program on a drive that is partially converted, the disk optimizer automatically performs a complete Stacker conversion by compressing all remaining data. If you run Setup to change the size of the stacker drive, or try to unstack the drive, it must have been previously converted entirely to Stacker or you may encounter error messages. Refer to the Novell DOS 7 User Guide or DOSBook for information about DISKOPT and its options. Note: Early versions of Norton Utilities 7.0 will incorrectly diagnose a converted Superstor or Doublespace drive as faulty. THIS IS NOT A FAULT ON THE DRIVE. Please contact your supplier for an updated version of the Norton Utilities. Stacker ======= Do not attempt to compress Bernoulli bootable drives. You can compress Bernoulli drives that are not bootable, however. NWCACHE ======= Delayed write mode is disabled as part of the default configuration for NWCACHE. This is a safety feature to prevent loss of data if the computer is switched off before disk writes have been completed. Enabling delayed write mode will improve performance but you must make sure you do NOT switch off your computer before all data is written to the disk. Do this in one of the following ways: 1. Perform a "soft boot" (press Ctrl+Alt+Del) before switching the computer off. A soft boot automatically flushes all pending data to disk. 2. Wait beyond the delayed write time you specified, after the disk access light goes out. 3. Wait for the system prompt to return (see below). When delayed write mode is enabled, the cache is 'flushed' (all data is written to the disk) BEFORE the system prompt returns, by default. This is a safety feature. You can disable (or re-enable) this feature by specifying the following option in the NWCACHE start-up or control command at the system prompt: /FLUSH=ON|OFF If delayed write is enabled (on a computer that is running the Personal NetWare server software), you can also save memory by setting the number of I/O buffers to zero via the NET ADMIN program. Using CD-ROM Drives =================== To use a CD-ROM drive with Novell DOS 7, the device driver for your CD-ROM drive must be loaded. CONFIG.SYS must include a DEVICE (or DEVICEHIGH) statement that loads the appropriate driver (the one that came with your CD-ROM drive). The DEVICE statement must include a /D:drivername parameter, where drivername is the 'signature' assigned to the driver. Novell DOS 7 includes the NWCDEX program to provide access to CD-ROM drives. You can load NWCDEX at the system prompt or in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Note that the device driver that came with your CD-ROM drive must be loaded BEFORE you load NWCDEX (see previous paragraph). Note: You can use MSCDEX to access CD-ROM drives, but using NWCDEX allows you to use DPMS and saves memory. The syntax of NWCDEX is as follows: NWCDEX [/?|/H] /D:drivername [/E] [/L:letter] [/M:number] [/N] [/V] /?|/H Displays help text. /D:drivername Specifies the name of the CD-ROM driver. This name matches the drivername specified in the DEVICE statement that loads the driver. /E Specifies the use of expanded memory (if available) when DPMS is not available. /L:letter Specifies the drive letter to assign to the CD-ROM drive. The default is to use the first available (unused) drive. /M:number Specifies the number of sector buffers to allocate. The default is 14. /N Disables the use of DPMS. By default, NWCDEX will use extended memory if DPMS is not available. /V Prints debug information during initialization. Example ------- The following examples show the appropriate statements in CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT to load and access a CD-ROM drive. In this example, the CD-ROM driver supplied with the drive is CDROMDRV.SYS and it is to be accessed as drive G: in CONFIG.SYS: DEVICE=C:\NWDOS\CDROMDRV.SYS /D:NWCD000 in AUTOEXEC.BAT: NWCDEX /D:NWCD000 /L:G Full-Screen Programs and Non-Standard VGAs ========================================== Some portable, laptop, and notebook computers with LCD or TFT displays support a non-standard VGA text mode known as 'Expanded' or 'Stretched' text. This mode 'stretches' the standard 80x25 (400 pixels high) text mode so that it fills the entire physical screen which is 480 pixels high. This mode, if used, may interfere with the enhanced text mode of the full screen programs, such as NET ADMIN. If you encounter problems, it is recommended that you disable the 'Stretched' text on your computer. Refer to the documentation for your computer for information about CMOS setup configuration. If you cannot disable this mode or prefer to keep 'Stretched' mode enabled, you can disable the enhanced text mode of the full screen programs in one of three ways: 1. By entering the name of the program followed by the /N switch at the system prompt 2. By selecting to disable the enhanced text mode globally from within the SETUP program 3. By editing the NWDOS.INI file to change NewUI = ON to NewUI = OFF Undeleting Files Across the Network =================================== You can use UNDELETE to recover deleted files across the network on both Personal NetWare and NetWare 2, 3, and 4 servers. To undelete a file from a Personal NetWare server, the file must have been saved as a pending delete file by DELWATCH and DELWATCH must have been run on the Personal NetWare server prior to the file being deleted. Note that it is NOT necessary to run DELWATCH on the client computer from which UNDELETE is being run. EMM386 Memory Manager ===================== For applications that require more EMS/XMS handles, add the following option to the EMM386 DEVICE statement in CONFIG.SYS to increase the number of handles available: HANDLES=n (where n is a number from 0 to 255) DOS Protected Mode Services (DPMS) ================================== Be aware that the DPMS driver must always be loaded before the software that uses it (NWCACHE, SERVER.EXE, etc.). Loading LOCK Permanently Under the Task Manager =============================================== You can load LOCK as a permanent task under the Task Manager by using the LOCK /P option with the TASKMGR /C command as follows: TASKMGR /C LOCK password /P where password is the password you use to unlock the system. Network Drive Mappings under the Task Manager ============================================= The Task Manager defaults to global NetWare drive mappings. Changes made to drive mappings in one DOS session are duplicated to ALL DOS sessions. LAN Workplace for DOS Support under the Task Manager ==================================================== The Task Manager supports LAN Workplace for DOS. To enable it, you must edit the TASKMGR.INI file. Uncomment the following two lines: vxd=c:\lwfd\vtcpip.386 and GlobalPages=2 Refer to the instructions contained in the TASKMGR.INI file for more information. Load the network drivers (including TCPIP.EXE) before loading the Task Manager. Running 4DOS under the Task Manager =================================== To run 4DOS under the Task Manager (multitasker), you must edit the TASKMGR.INI file to make the following change in the [Shell] section: Exec=FALSE to Exec=TRUE Using the Task Switcher and Personal NetWare Server =================================================== If you are using the task switcher with the Personal NetWare server, it is recommended that you add the following line to your NET.CFG file: ALTERNATE CALLDOS = ON Note: This line is required for Task Switching ONLY and will not be used in Multi-Tasking mode. DOSBook Corrections =================== DOSKEY The parameters for the DOSKEY command have changed and are incorrectly documented in the "Command Reference" chapter of DOSBook. Use DOSKEY as follows: DOSKEY [/?] [/M] [/R] [/B=nnnn] [/H] [/I] [/O] [macro=[text]] where /? Displays help text about DOSKEY. /M Lists all the DOSKEY macros currently stored in the buffer. /R Clears all macros from the command line buffer and installs a new version of DOSKEY. /B=nnnn Changes the size of the macro and command line history buffer, where nnnn is the size in number of bytes. The default size is 512 bytes. /H Lists the contents of the command line history buffer. /I Sets the default editing mode to insert. /O Sets the default editing mode to overstrike. macro=text Creates a new macro, when you specify the commands you want the macro to execute (text). macro= Deletes the macro. NET SAVE The description of NET SAVE in the "NET Commands" chapter of DOSBook incorrectly states that network connections are saved to a batch file called NWLOGIN.BAT. The name of this file should be PNWLOGIN.BAT. One-time Login ============== "One-time login" is a facility that allows a user to log in to both the local computer and multiple network servers (and a workgroup) by entering a username and password ONCE only. One-time login works by remaking the network connections previously saved in a local login script. When the login script is rerun, the one-time login username and password are substituted each time they are requested by a LOGIN command in the login script. One-time login requires that the same username and password are used on all servers and the workgroup. By default, the LOCK program also uses the one-time login password. To use the one-time login facility, your computer must be configured so that Novell DOS 7 security is enabled and the Personal NetWare server is loaded. A local user must be defined, as documented in the "Creating and Modifying User Accounts" section of the "Setting Up the Network" chapter in the Novell DOS 7 User Guide and DOSBook. To set up one-time login, do the following: 1. Reboot the computer. 2. You will be prompted for a username and password; enter the correct username and password for the defined local user. 3. When you are logged in to the computer, you will be prompted to load the network software; answer Y to this prompt. You will be logged in to your workgroup automatically. 4. Make any required connections to other NetWare servers and map drives. This is documented in the "Logging In" section of the "Using the Network" chapter of the Novell DOS 7 User Guide and DOSBook. 5. Save your current network settings to your local login script. This is documented in the "Saving Connections" section of the "Using the Network" chapter in the Novell DOS 7 User Guide and DOSBook. The next time you reboot your computer and log in, you will be logged back in to the workgroup and servers automatically and drives will be remapped automatically. Connecting to NetWare 2 and 3 Servers ===================================== If you experience difficulty connecting to NetWare 2 or 3 servers, ask your system administrator to check that you have the correct Frame settings for your network in NET.CFG. Notes for Existing NetWare 2 and 3 Users ======================================== 1. Do not use NETX.COM or related shells with Personal NetWare. The Personal NetWare client gives you simultaneous access to NetWare 2, 3, and 4 servers as well as Personal NetWare servers. 2. Path names must be less than 64 characters long. VLMs cannot support a path name of more than 64 characters. To use longer paths, map a root drive and continue from there. Using a Network Copy of MS Windows on the Local Server ====================================================== If you run a network installation of MS Windows on your the local server and you want to use that version of MS Windows at the server, you must map a drive to the server and make sure that your path statement references both the network copy of MS Windows and your own MS Windows directory. Increasing the Number of File Handles ===================================== If, as you run more applications and add more users, you encounter problems running applications across the network, be aware that the number of file handles allocated in the CONFIG.SYS file at the server may not be sufficient. This may also be true when you are running the server under MS Windows. An indication that this situation has occurred would be getting unexpected "File not found" or "Directory not found" error messages when doing a DIR command to a drive on that server. The documentation for your applications should indicate the number of file handles required per user; make sure that you allow the correct number in the server's CONFIG.SYS, given the number of users running the application and the number of times the application is run. If necessary, change the FILES value. If a value greater than 255 is required, use NET ADMIN to reconfigure the server so that it does not use the CONFIG.SYS FILES value and set the required value. OEM-supplied Network Board Drivers ================================== To use a third-party network board driver that does not include a .INS file, do the following: 1. Copy the driver file to the directory into which you installed Personal NetWare. For example: COPY A:\MYDRIVER.COM C:\NWCLIENT 2. Change to the Personal NetWare directory and rename the INS.OEM file to xxxxxxxx.INS, where xxxxxxxx is the name of the driver file. For example: REN INS.OEM MYDRIVER.INS 3. Edit the new .INS file with an ASCII text editor and replace the two references to 3RDPARTY.COM with the file name of your driver. The .INS file looks like this: InS_StArT 3RDPARTY.COM 1.0 ^ Third Party Driver without .INS file,3RDPARTY.COM,IE0 !RIE0(INT) 2 @3 4 5 10 11 12 15 !RIE0(PORT) @300 320 340 360 240 280 2C0 InS_EnD 4. Run SETUP. On the screen that allows you to choose the primary network interface board, display the list of drivers and choose 'Third party driver without .INS file'. 5. Choose to accept the changes and continue, to confirm your choice. Running Personal NetWare with Other Networking Products ======================================================= The name (NET.EXE) of the Personal NetWare NET program is likely to exist in other networking products. After you install Novell DOS 7 with Personal NetWare, the PATH command will cause the operating system to search the NWCLIENT directory first. NWCLIENT contains NET.EXE. If you want to use a different NET.EXE program, edit the PATH command so that the appropriate directory is searched BEFORE the NWCLIENT directory. Alternatively, you may find that if you install a different networking product (or MS Windows), the PATH command is changed so that the NWCLIENT directory is no longer searched first and a different NET.EXE program is run instead of Personal NetWare NET.EXE. If you want the Personal NetWare NET program to run, edit the PATH command so that NWCLIENT is searched first. The Personal NetWare Tutorial ============================= There are two tutorials supplied with Personal NetWare. One describes how to use DOS versions of the Personal NetWare programs, the other the MS Windows versions. To install the tutorial for MS Windows, load MS Windows and run WINTUTOR.EXE from "Tutorial disk 1". Follow the instructions given on the screen. Once installation is complete, run the tutorial by selecting the Tutorial icon from the Personal Netware Tutorial program group. To install the tutorial for DOS, insert "Tutorial disk 1" in your diskette drive and run DOSTUTOR.EXE from that drive. Follow the instructions given on the screen. Once installation is complete, run the DOS tutorial by entering PNWTRAIN at the system prompt. Note: If you choose to install the DOS Personal NetWare tutorial to a directory other than the default one, you must change to this directory to run the tutorial. Modifications to MS Windows INI Files ===================================== When you install the MS Windows element of Personal NetWare, the following files are modified automatically: SYSTEM.INI, WIN.INI, and PROGMAN.INI. The following modifications are made to SYSTEM.INI: in the [boot] section: network.drv= is replaced by network.drv=netware.drv (This loads the NetWare user tools) in the [boot.description]: network.drv= is replaced by network.drv=Personal NetWare (This defines which Personal NetWare device version you are using) in the [386Enh] section: network=dosnet is replaced by network=*vnetbios;vipx.386;vnetware.386 (This specifies the type of network used with MS Windows 386 Enhanced mode) TimerCriticalSection= is replaced by TimerCriticalSection=10000 (Personal NetWare uses this setting to ensure that network traffic on your computer runs smoothly) ReflectDOSInt2A=TRUE is added. OverlappedIO=OFF is added. PSPIncrement=5 is added. UniqueDOSPSP=TRUE is added. The following modifications are made to WIN.INI: in the [windows] section: load= is replaced by load=nwpopup.exe (This allows network messages to display in MS Windows) Netwarn=1 is added. (If this is set but the network is not loaded, MS Windows will display a pop-up indicating that the network is not loaded) The following modifications are made to PROGMAN.INI: in the [groups] section: Groupx=C:\windows\pnw.grp is added to the list of group files. (This causes MS Windows to load the Personal NetWare program group in Program Manager). Using Remote Computers on the Network ===================================== For information about how to set up the network so that remote diskless computers can boot from the Remote Boot disk image files stored on a Personal NetWare server's hard disk, read the file called RPLDOC.TXT. Updating the Search & Destroy virus program =========================================== Updates to the Search and Destroy virus library can be downloaded from the Sympantec/Fifth Generation BBS at: 504-295-3344 2400 baud N/8/1 504-295-3261 9600 baud N/8/1 or from CompuServe at: GOFIFTH in the anti-virus forum.