NOVELL TECHNICAL INFORMATION DOCUMENT TITLE: NetWare Connect Rules of Thumb DOCUMENT ID: TID250023 DOCUMENT REVISION: A DATE: 14OCT93 ALERT STATUS: Yellow INFORMATION TYPE: Issue README FOR: NA NOVELL PRODUCT and VERSION: NetWare Connect 1.0 ABSTRACT: The "NetWare Connect Rules of Thumb" describes NetWare Connect and provides recommendations for hardware and software suitable to use with it. It is very important that you read this document before you buy modem pooling software or buy hardware or software to use with it. ------------------------------------------------------------------ DISCLAIMER THE ORIGIN OF THIS INFORMATION MAY BE INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL TO NOVELL. NOVELL MAKES EVERY EFFORT WITHIN ITS MEANS TO VERIFY THIS INFORMATION. HOWEVER, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. NOVELL MAKES NO EXPLICIT OR IMPLIED CLAIMS TO THE VALIDITY OF THIS INFORMATION. ------------------------------------------------------------------ ISSUE What Is NetWare Connect? NetWare Connect is a server based solution for remote computing. It supports remote node and remote control. REMOTE NODE All data including network protocols is transferred back and forth over the communications link. REMOTE CONTROL Only keystrokes and screen updates are transferred over the communications link. Netware Connect allows multiple remote users to access NetWare LANs, and enables LAN workstations to access host computers via telephone lines, ISDN lines, leased lines, X.25 packet-switched networks, or direct connections. NetWare Connect provides the following three services: - (ARAS) AppleTalk Remote Access Service (ARAS) - (NCS) NASI Connection Service - (RNS) Remote Node Service ARAS and RNS support Macintosh and DOS clients, respectively, to dial in and become remote nodes on the LAN. NetWare Connect supports AppleTalk, Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX), and Transmission Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol (TCP/IP) protocols. NCS establishes a logical connection between a NetWare Connect port and a DOS or Microsoft (MS) Windows workstation. This connection enables LAN workstations to dial out of the network with third party applications using a pool of modems on the server. Similarly, dial-in users can use a third-party application to remotely control a dedicated workstation on the LAN via NCS. Each of the NetWare Connect services on the server requires a corresponding client component that is installed on the workstation: NetWare Connect Service Client Component ----------------------- ---------------- ARAS AppleTalk Remote Access NCS NASI.EXE and third party applications RNS NetWare Remote Node (NRN) and the Dial utility Refer to Workstation Requirements below for information on the availability of the workstation software. NetWare Connect Features The primary features in NetWare Connect are: - Dynamic port allocation: Ports are dynamically allocated as users require them. Ports used for incoming calls may also be used for outgoing calls, but not simultaneously. - Resource pooling: NetWare Connect maximizes communication resources by sharing modems, multiport adapters, telephone lines, multiplexers, and X.25 virtual circuits. Ports need not be dedicated to specific services. The Service Selector module in NetWare Connect automatically routes incoming calls to the appropriate service. - Support for modem independence: The modem independence feature allows NASI users to use the same generic modem initialization regardless of the port and modem type they connect to in NCS. This feature makes it easier for third-party applications to establish connections to NCS. Although the NetWare Connect administrator must select the types of modems attached to the NetWare Connect ports, users can specify any modem type in their third-party applications regardless of the modem type connected to the NetWare Connect port. - Security: NetWare Connect enables you to limit users or user groups to accessing specific services or ports. You can also restrict services by ports and set maximum connection time and dialback parameters -- for example, you can force callers to dial back to a specific number. - Management: Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) support allows NetWare Connect to forward alerts to Novell's NetWare Management System (NMS) product. If an IBM host is on the LAN, NetWare Connect alerts are forwarded to the NetView console, as well. - Audit trail maintenance: NetWare Connect maintains an audit trail that records information about each connection for example, the time at the start and end of the connection. - Scalability: NetWare Connect allows you to add port licenses to a previously installed system without having to reinstall the product. - Development platform for third-party services: NetWare Connect provides an open platform on which third-party communication services can be developed. NetWare Connect Licenses NetWare Connect can be purchased with the following licenses: - 2 ports - 8 ports - 32 ports You can customize the number of ports by installing two or more licenses on a single server. A maximum of 64 ports is supported on a single server. Although NetWare Connect allows you to install more ports, doing so may degrade performance. NetWare Runtime software is bundled with the 8- and 32-port licenses of NetWare Connect. The ports that NetWare Connect uses can be COM ports built into the communications server, ports on a communications adapter, or virtual connections provided through an X.25 adapter. SERVER REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS NetWare Connect requires the following hardware and software. Hardware Requirements A NetWare server requires the following hardware to run NetWare Connect: - An 386 or greater PC. NetWare Connect should operate on any file server tested and approved by Novell Labs. Appropriate LAN and video adapters must be installed. - At least one standard serial port or one of the communications adapters listed under Communications Adapters below. - Appropriate communications hardware, such as modems, multiplexers, null modem cables, analog telephone lines, or leased lines. - In addition to the memory required for the server, you need an additional 2 MB of RAM to support 64 ports. - A minimum of 7 MB of disk space. Additional disk space is required to store the audit file. Because the audit file grows with each connection and disconnection, NetWare Connect requires more disk space the more it is used. If you install the Novell ElectroText online version of the NetWare Connect 1.0 Administration Guide, you will need an additional 12 MB of disk space. SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS To install NetWare Connect, you need the following software: - NetWare Connect - DR DOS 6.0 (or greater) or MS-DOS 3.3x (or greater) - NetWare 3.1x or greater, or NetWare Runtime 3.1x or greater NetWare Runtime is bundled with the 8 and 32 port license of NetWare Connect. It is not packaged with the 2 port NetWare Connect. WORKSTATION REQUIREMENTS A remote PC dialing in to become a remote node on the LAN (NRN dial-in) requires the following hardware and software: - An IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2, or compatible computer with a high capacity (1.2MB, 5.25" or 1.44MB, 3.5") disk drive and an optional hard disk. A hard disk is recommended if you will execute NetWare utilities from the remote PC. - A modem. See the list. - At least one COM port or an equivalent serial adapter. - DR DOS 6.0 (or greater) or MS-DOS 3.3x (or greater). - NRN and the DIAL utility provided with NetWare Connect. These files are installed during NetWare Connect installation on the server in the SYS:SYSTEM\NRN subdirectory. All the files in this subdirectory must be copied to the remote PC. - NetWare utilities provided with NetWare. To make the best use of the line speed, copy commonly used executables such as LOGIN.EXE, SLIST.EXE, MAP.EXE, and ATTACH.EXE onto the remote PC. A remote Macintosh dialing in to become a Macintosh node on the LAN requires the following hardware and software: - A Macintosh computer with at least 2 MB of memory. - OS version 7.0 or later. - A modem. See the list below. - AppleTalk Remote Access software. This product must be purchased from Apple. - The Set ARAS Passwords utility provided with NetWare Connect. This utility is shipped with NetWare Connect on a Macintosh disk. To make the utility available to remote users, the administrator can do one of the following: - Copy the utility from a Macintosh on the LAN onto a NetWare server that supports Macintosh Name Space. - Make copies of the utility and distribute it to users on diskette. A NASI workstation (NCS dial-out) on the LAN dialing out requires the following hardware and software: - A regular NetWare LAN workstation with at least 640 KB of memory. - Access to NASI.EXE. When you install NetWare Connect, NASI.EXE is copied to SYS:SYSTEM\NCS. Copy the NASI.EXE file to the SYS:PUBLIC directory so that users can access it. - A third-party application. The third party application must support NASI or interrupt 14. For a list of third party applications, see below. If you are using interrupt 14 applications, you need access to the Int14 Redirector provided with NetWare Connect. The files for the Int14 Redirector are installed in the SYS:SYSTEM\NCS subdirectory. Copy the files to the SYS:PUBLIC directory so that users can access it. The Int 14 Redirector supports standard IBM BIOS interrupt 14 function calls. A Remote PC or a Macintosh computer dialing in to a dedicated PC on the LAN requires the following hardware and software: - A communications program compatible with either a remote control application or an application server that supports NASI and runs on a dedicated PC on the LAN. For a list of remote control applications or application servers, see page 12. If you are running NetWare Access Services on the dedicated PC on the LAN, the remote PC and the Macintosh computer can run the ONLAN/PC and ONLAN/MAC software, respectively, provided with NetWare Access Services. - A modem. See the list below. COMMUNICATIONS ADAPTERS NetWare Connect supports the COM ports on the server or third party communications adapters. Communications adapters installed in the server support connections via direct cable, modem, multiplexer, and X.25 public data networks. For X.25 connections, use the Novell Synchronous+ Adapter that is available in three types of serial interfaces: V.35, RS-422, and RS-232. We recommend using the following adapters that support the standard RS-232 serial interface. Newport Systems Solutions, Inc. 714-752-1511 ACI, Asynchronous Communications Interface (ISA 16-bit) 8 Ports DigiBoard 612-943-9020 C/X System EISA Host Adapter (ISA 32bit) 16 ports per concentrator (supports a maximum of 164 ports) C/X System ISA Host Adapter (ISA 16bit) 16 ports per concentrator (supports a maximum of 164 ports) C/X System MCA Host Adapter (MCA 16bit) 16 ports per concentrator (supports a maximum of 164 ports) DigiCHANNEL MC/8i (MCA 16-bit) 8 ports DigiCHANNEL PC/8e (ISA 16-bit) 8 ports Hayes Microcomputer Products 404-441-1617 Hayes ESP for ISA (ISA 8-bit) 2 ports Hayes ESP for MCA (MCA 16-bit) 2 ports Computone Corporation 404-475-2725 Intelliport II ISA Host Adapter (ISA 16-bit) 16 ports per concentrator (supports a maximum of 64 ports) Star Gate Technologies, Inc. 800-782-7428 One Slot Adapter (ISA 16-bit) 4 ports Gateway Communications, Inc. 800-367-6555 WNIM+ Adapter (ISA 8-bit) 4 ports NOTE: The following addresses are predefined by the WNIM+ driver and must not be used. NOTES MODEM LIST NetWare Connect supports dial-up modems with features such as error correction, data compression, V.32, and speeds up to 115.2 Kbps. The modem definition file shipped with NetWare Connect contains modem scripts for the modems listed below. The modems marked with a # are "not supported" because they have not been tested with NetWare Connect. Acer Modem 2424 Anchor Signalman Lightning 24 ATI 2400 etc. # ATI 9600etc/e AT&T 2224 CEO AT&T 4000 AT&T 4024 # AT&T Comsphere 3820 # Bocamodem 14.4Kbps V.32bis CALPAK MX2400/MXE-2400 Codex 2234 Codex 2264 # Codex 3220 Codex 3260/3265 CompuCom Speedmodem Combo # CompuCom Speedmodem STAR # Datatronics Discovery 1200P # Datatronics Discovery 1200C # Datatronics Discovery 2400E # DSI 9624 DSI Scout Plus EasyData ETech Bullet E2400 ETech Bullet PC2400MH # ETech Bullet E9696M Everex Evercom 24E # Everex Evercom 24E+ Everex Evercom 96E+ Fastcomm FDX Series Forval 14400 # Forval 9600 V.32 # Galaxy Apollo UFO V.32 Turbo/V.42bis # Galaxy Apollo V.32turbo Gateway 2000 Telepath V.32/42bis # General DataComm MNP5 # General DataComm V.42bis # GVC 9600 # GVC 9600 V.42 bis GVC 14400 V.42 bis GVC Supermodem 2400 # Hayes compatible Hayes ISDN - V.120 # Hayes ISDN - X.25 # Hayes Smartmodem 300 # Hayes Smartmodem 1200 Hayes Smartmodem 2400 Hayes Smartmodem 9600 - V.32 Hayes Smartmodem OPTIMA 96 Hayes Smartmodem OPTIMA 144 Hayes V-series 2400 Hayes V-series 9600 Hayes V-series Ultra 96 Hayes V-series Ultra 144 Incomm Turbo 4800 # Intel 2400EX Intel 2400EX MNP Intel 9600EX # Intel 14.4 EX Intel SatisFAXtion # Intel SatisFAXtion/400E # Leading Edge Model L 1200 # Lightning LightCom 96 # Maxan Maxmodem 2400EI Maxum Super Modem 2400 # Megahertz 96/24 FAX/Modem Megahertz P296FMV/Modem # Megahertz T3144 FAX/Modem # MICC 4824 # MICC 9600/9610/9620 Microcom AX/1200-2400 series # Microcom AX/9600 # Microcom AX/9612-9624C series Microcom QX/4232bis Microcom QX/4232hs Microcom QX/12K and QX/V.32c # Migent Pocket Modem # MultiTech 224 MultiTech 224E MultiTech 224EH5/EH7 MultiTech 1200 # MultiTech 696 # MultiTech MultiModem II MT1432/MT932 MultiTech MultiModem V32 NEC N9631 Netcomm SmartModem M4/M5 # Okidata Okitel 9600 OmniTel Netcomm Q1200 # OmniTel Netcomm Q2400 # Penril Alliance V.32 Penril Datalink 2400 Practical Peripherals 1200 # Practical Peripherals 2400SA Practical Peripherals 2400SA V.42 bis Practical Peripherals 9600SA Practical Peripherals 14400FXSA # Practical Peripherals 2400SA MNP # Prometheus ProModem 1200 # Racal Milgo RMD 3222 Racal Vadic 9632VP Rockwell RG2400 PC Modem # Sharp 9624E Supra Faxmodem V.32bis Supra Faxmodem V.32 # Telebit QBlazer Telebit T1000 Telebit T1600 Telebit T2500 Telebit T3000 Telebit Trailblazer Telebit Trailblazer Plus Telenetics TC921 # Touchbase WORLDPORT 1200 # Touchbase WORLDPORT 2400 # Touchbase WORLDPORT 9600 # UDS FasTalk V.32/42b UDS FasTalk 2400 # UDS V.3225 UDS V.32n USRobotics Courier 2400 USRobotics Courier 2400e # USRobotics HST, HST Dual Standard USRobotics V.32/V.32bis USRobotics Sportster 2400 PC MNP # USRobotics Sportster 2400 v42bis # USRobotics Sportster 9600/14400 v42bis # Ven-Tel 9600 Plus/Plus II Ven-Tel Pathfinder # ViVa 14.4/9642e Western Datacom 432 LineBkr V.32 # Zoom 2400 Zoom 2400 V.42bis Zoom 9600 V.32 Turbo # Zoom 14400 V.32bis Zoom FaxModem FX 9624 # Zoom FaxModem FX 9624 V42bis # Zoom FaxModem VFX V.32/V.42bis # ZyXEL U-1496 THIRD PARTY NASI APPLICATIONS You can access NCS ports on NetWare Connect via NASI and a third-party application. The following is a list of third-party applications that their manufacturers claim are NASI compatible. For more information on compatibility and terminal emulation support, check with the manufacturer or information service listed. To become a NASI developer, call 800-NETWARE and enroll in the Novell Professional Developers Program. DOS-based terminal emulation programs Use these applications to access a host computer via direct connect or modem lines: Anzio -- Rasmussen Software -- 503-624-0360 Blast Professional 10.5 -- U.S. Robotics, Inc. -- 800-342-5877 CROSSTALK Mark IV v2.1.1 -- DCA -- 404-442-4930 Minisoft HP 2392 -- Minisoft -- 800-682-0200 PC Anywhere IV LAN v4.5 -- Symantec -- 800-222-2616 PC-Term -- Crystal Point Software -- 206-487-3656 Procomm Plus v2.0 LAN -- Datastorm Technologies -- 314-443-3282 Qmodem Pro 1.0 -- Mustang Software -- 800-999-9619 Reflection -- Walker, Richter & Quinn -- 206-872-2829 Relay Gold LAN -- Microcom Systems, Inc. -- 800-822-8224 Smartcom Exec 2.1 -- Hayes Microcomputer -- 404-840-9200 Smart Term v3.0 -- Persoft , Inc. -- 608-273-6000 Softerm PC -- Softronics -- 719-593-9540 Telepathy -- Extrasensory Software -- 818-981-8367 VSCOM for Novell LAN 7.9 -- M/H Group -- 312-443-1222 Zstem LAN -- KEA Systems -- 604-431-0727 Special information services Access these private information databases for information on custom user interfaces: CIM for DOS -- CompuServe -- 614-457-8600 FactSet -- FactSet Data Systems -- 203-863-1500 Lexus -- Mead Data Central -- 800-543-6862 Westmate -- West Publishing Co. -- 800-328-9352 MS Windows applications Carbon Copy for Windows 2.0 -- Microcom Systems -- 617-551-1000 CROSSTALK for Windows 2.1 -- DCA -- 800-348-3221 DynaComm for Windows -- Future Soft -- 713-496-9400 PC Anywhere for Windows -- Symantec -- 800-222-2616 Procom Plus for Windows -- Datastorm Tech. -- 314-443-3282 Remote control applications Use these programs to allow a remote PC to control a workstation on the LAN. Remote users can access host workstation drives as well as network drives and services. All processing is done on the application server. Only keystrokes, screen updates, and mouse signals travel over the communications link. Co/Session LAN -- Triton Tech. -- 800-322-9440 PC Anywhere IV LAN 4.5 -- Symantec -- 800-222-2616 Reach-out LAN -- Ocean Isle Software -- 407-770-4777 Application servers Use these programs to create multiple virtual machines on a single dedicated Intel 80386-or-greater processor. All processing is done on the application server. Only keystrokes, screen updates, and mouse signals travel over the communications link. Remote users dial in to the application server via NCS ports on NetWare Connect. The following application servers are sold by Citrix Systems, Inc. 305-755-0559 NetWare Access Services 1.3 WinView for Networks AUTOMATING NASI CONNECTIONS When you load NASI.EXE, it prompts you for a NetWare username, password, and session name unless you have disabled the prompting by specifying the /ns (no security) option. If you disable the prompts with the /ns option and use the features in NCS, the third-party application must provide security with the NASI Extended Function SetSessionName. To provide security and automate the NASI connection, specify the following options when you load NASI: /n="USERNAME" /p="PASSWORD" /s="SESSION_NAME" Replace USERNAME with your NetWare username, PASSWORD with the NetWare password, and SESSION_NAME with a unique string of up to 16 alphanumeric characters without spaces describing your session. All three entries must be enclosed with quotation marks. If you do not have a password specified, you must enter /p="". To run NASI from a batch stream, create a file that contains the NetWare username, password, and session name in that order. All three entries must be terminated with a carriage return. For example: "supervisor" "mypasswd" "session1" Then at the DOS prompt, enter nasi < filename.ext Replace FILENAME.EXT with the name of the file and the extension that contains the options. Note that storing the NetWare username and password in a batch file to automate login may compromise security. DIALING BACK AND ENABLING MODEM COMPRESSION FOR NCS NCS supports forced dialback only when the dialback number is configured on the server. Initially, modem compression is disabled on a dial-in port. However, if NCS performs dialback, compression is enabled. This capability applies to ports that are members of the DIAL-IN group. If you are dialing in to a port that does not belong to the DIAL-IN group, then dialback operations are handled by third-party applications. TROUBLESHOOTING NRN Problems Establishing Connections If you have problems establishing a connection to NetWare Connect using NRN, check the following: - Make sure the frame type specified in the Dial utility (DIALCON) is identical to that specified in RNS on the server. - Make sure the interrupt (IRQ) values used by NRN driver do not conflict with the IRQ values used by other hardware devices on the remote PC. - Make sure the modem type and data rate selected are correct. Other Considerations - If you modify port configurations after you load NRN, you must reload NRN for the changes to take effect. - After establishing a connection, if the remote user fails to attach to a NetWare server, edit the NET.CFG file to include the following command. (This command is required if you installed NetWare Connect on a NetWare Runtime server.) preferred server=server_name Replace server_name with the name of the server that you are logging in to. - If you are running NRN on a video graphics array (VGA) monochrome monitor, enter the following command at the DOS prompt to change your VGA monochrome to standard monochrome: mode co80 NOTES ON COMPATIBILITY AND USABILITY The following information may apply to your NetWare Connect environment. Remote Installation Do not install NetWare Connect remotely on NetWare Runtime 3.11. Communication Executive 1.2 and NetView If you have NetWare Connect and the Communication Executive 1.2 running on the same server, then NetWare Connect alerts are not directed to the NetView console. Upgrade your Communication Executive software to version 1.3 to view NetWare Connect alerts on the NetView console. NetView and NetWare Runtime The NetView software bundled with NetWare Runtime 3.11 is incompatible with NetWare Connect. To provide support for NetView, download the NetView files from the Client Kit section of NOVFILES. NetExplorer and NetWare Connect NetExplorer is a component of NMS. If you install NetExplorer from a version of NMS earlier than 1.15 on the server running NetWare Connect, you cannot load ARAS and RNS. To enable these services to load, you must upgrade your NMS software to version 1.15 or greater. X.25 Connections - To configure for X.25 support in NetWare Connect, load the X.25 driver before you load AIOPAD. - The X.25 support in NetWare Connect is incompatible with the NetWare MultiProtocol Router (MPR) 2.0. Upgrade MPR 2.0 to version 2.1 or greater before you install NetWare Connect. OnLAN/MAC via AppleTalk Remote Access Make sure you are using OnLAN/MAC v1.3 if you are running OnLAN/MAC over an ARAS connection. Trademarks Novell has made every effort to supply trademark information about company names, products, and services mentioned in this document. The following list of trademarks was derived from various sources. Novell, the N-Design, NetWare, and DR DOS are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. Internetwork Packet Exchange, IPX, NASI, NetExplorer, NetWare Access Services, NetWare Asynchronous Services Interface, the NetWare Logotype (teeth), NetWare Management System, NetWare MultiProtocol Router, NetWare Runtime, Novell ElectroText, Novell Labs, OnLAN/MAC and OnLAN/PC are trademarks of Novell, Inc. NetWire is a registered service mark of Novell, Inc. Acer is a registered trademark of Acer America Corporation. AppleTalk, Apple, and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. AT&T is a registered trademark of American Telephone and Telegraph. Codex is a registered trademark of Codex Corporation. CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe Incorporated. CROSSTALK and DCA are registered trademarks of Digital Communications Associates, Inc. Everex is a trademark of Everex Systems, Inc. DynaComm is a registered trademark of Future Soft Engineering, Inc. WNIM is a registered trademark of Gateway Communications, Inc. Hayes is a registered trademark and Ultra, Smartmodem, Smartmodem 1200, Smartmodem 2400, Smartmodem 9600, and V-series are trademarks of Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. IBM, AT, NetView, and PS/2 are registered trademarks and XT is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Intel is a registered trademark and 80386 and SatisFAXtion are trademarks of Intel Corporation. Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. Okidata is a registered trademark of Oki America, Inc. Microcom is a trademark of Microcom Systems, Inc. Persoft is a registered trademark of Persoft, Inc. Practical Peripherals is a registered trademark of Practical Peripherals, Inc. One Slot is a trademark of Star Gate Technologies, Inc. Telebit and Trailblazer are registered trademarks and Trailblazer Plus is a trademark of Telebit Corporation. WORLDPORT is a trademark of Touchbase Systems, Inc. USRobotics is a registered trademark of U.S. Robotics, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.