Netware Super Library/Netware Super Library.iso/nw_lite/psn_nw/pnwwht.txt

Text File | 1994-02-02 | 31KB | 731 lines

                               Personal NetWare
                                 White Paper
                                September 1993

Table of Contents

Introduction
          1
The Right Choice for Small Businesses and Workgroups
          1
     An Ideal First Network
               1
     Always the Right Size for a Growing Business
               2
     Personal NetWare and Enterprise Networks
               3
     Novell DOS 7 and Personal NetWare
               3
Understanding the Technology Behind Personal NetWare
          4
     Client vs Server
               4
     Dedicated-Server Networking
               5
     Peer-to-Peer Networking
               5
     Peer-to-Peer Shortcomings
               6
Personal NetWare Takes Peer-to-Peer Networking to Its Next Step
          7
     Personal NetWare Networks
               7
     Personal NetWare Technology
               8
     Personal NetWare or NetWare 2.2, 3.12 or 4.01?
               9
     Universal Client
              11
Personal NetWare: Additional Benefits
         11
     Virtual Loadable Modules (VLMs)
              11
     Simplified Desktop Management
              12
     NetWare Client SDKs
              12
     Network Security
              12
Summary
         13

Introduction

     Companies that want to connect their personal computers have
two network choices: peer-to-peer networks and dedicated-server
networks. Peer-to-peer networks let users share resources such as
printers, hard disks and slide imagers among themselves and are
designed for small businesses and workgroups. Peer-to-peer networks
provide these services with minimal investment and little technical
expertise. Dedicated-server networks use a computer dedicated to
providing shared printers, hard disks, slide imagers and other
resources. Dedicated-server networks are designed for larger
organizations that need more sophisticated network management,
higher performance, enterprise-wide connections and so on.

     Many organizations that selected peer-to-peer networks found
they quickly outgrew their networks. They discovered that their
users soon needed easier access to resources on the network and
their administrators needed easier and better control of the
network. In response to these needs, Novell developed the Personal
NetWare network operating system, which represents a major advance
in desktop networking technology. Personal NetWare offers small
businesses and workgroups within larger businesses a low-cost,
simple way to share DOS- and MS Windows-based resources and improve
the productivity of their workgroups. Personal NetWare represents
a step beyond peer-to-peer networking. It maintains the cost and
simplicity advantages of peer-to-peer networks and provides a
smooth growth path to dedicated-server networks. Personal NetWare
is also compatible with all versions of NetWare, so a growing
business can preserve its initial investment in Personal NetWare if
it later expands to another NetWare operating system.

The Right Choice for Small Businesses and Workgroups

     An Ideal First Network

     Personal NetWare is the best choice for a small business just
starting up or an existing small business with a handful of
standalone PCs. First, Personal NetWare works in DOS and MS Windows
environments, so businesses with PCs running either can protect
their existing investment. And Personal NetWare has a full MS
Windows user interface, so MS Windows users can enjoy the
simplicity of a graphical, intuitive interface when managing the
network or accessing personal resources.

     Second, Personal NetWare saves money because it lets
businesses use existing hardware and software to set up a Personal
NetWare network. Personal NetWare can be installed on an existing
PC that can be used as both a server, that shares resources such as
printers and hard disks, and a client, that accesses shared
resources. Third, once a business connects its PCs with Personal
NetWare, all users on the network can share files, printers, hard
disk space, CD-ROMs, slide imagers, applications and all other
personal resources no matter whose PC they are connected to.
Personal NetWare allows businesses to maximize the use of their
PCs, putting the combined resources of every PC in the company
within easy reach of each user on the network.

     Always the Right Size for a Growing Business

     Personal NetWare was developed specifically to make it easy
and inexpensive for small businesses to start networking. It can be
installed in minutes and is sold on a per-workstation basis, so
users need to purchase only the number of PC connections they
require. In addition, the ability to share printers, disk space and
other computing resources minimizes overall computing costs by
dividing the cost of peripherals among several users. Personal
NetWare is also easy to use and manage and can grow incrementally
with the business. A company can add a single computer or a handful
at a time to the Personal NetWare network.

     Personal NetWare also preserves the customer's hardware
investment by providing an easy migration path to one of Novell's
more advanced, multiplatform network operating systems. As a
business grows and wants to increase the performance of its network
or wants to add more advanced functionality, it can easily grow to
a dedicated-server NetWare network. Connecting a NetWare 2.2, 3.12
or 4.01 network to a Personal NetWare network is simply a matter of
adding a dedicated server or turning an existing PC on the Personal
NetWare network into a dedicated NetWare 2.2, 3.12 or 4.01 server.
The business can keep all its other hardware and software in
place--nothing else changes, not even the user interface

     Once the NetWare server is up and running, additional
printers, hard disks and other resources show up on each user's
screen, giving users dual access (1) to all resources on the
NetWare server and (2) to all the personal resources available on
the Personal NetWare network. Running NetWare 2.2, 3.12 or 4.01 and
Personal NetWare simultaneously allows small workgroups to continue
sharing personal resources within the larger Novell
dedicated-server network.

     Personal NetWare and Enterprise Networks

     Businesses that already have a NetWare 2.2, 3.12 or 4.01
network can easily add Personal NetWare to their system,
significantly increasing the productivity of their workgroups. Once
Personal NetWare is in place, small workgroups within the larger
NetWare network can share personal resources among PCs as well as
share resources via the NetWare server. As part of a NetWare 2.2,
3.12 or 4.01 network, Personal NetWare allows users in a workgroup
to maximize the use of the personal resources on their individual
PCs and receive all the benefits associated with the larger
dedicated-server network.

     One drawback of peer-to-peer networks is that they can be
difficult to manage. That is not the case with Personal NetWare.
Personal NetWare makes managing a personal network in a large
enterprise network simple and easy. The Personal NetWare
single-network view allows a system administrator to see all the
personal resources on a workgroup's Personal NetWare network. An
administrator can also manage the network from any workstation on
the network or from any SNMP console.

     Each Personal NetWare server can connect up to 50
workstations, and up to 50 servers can be connected to each other
for a total of up to 2,500 simultaneous users.

     Novell DOS 7 and Personal NetWare

     Novell's latest DOS release, Novell DOS 7, integrates the core
networking functionality of Personal NetWare into the product. By
incorporating networking functionality, Novell DOS 7 gives
customers a fully functional, highly integrated desktop networking
environment.

     Novell DOS 7 advances the standard for DOS with multitasking
and protected-mode extensions while maintaining full compatibility
with the vast installed base of DOS and MS Windows applications.
The technology enhancements in Novell DOS 7 deliver faster
performance and greater power for personal computer users. By
integrating the core functionality of Personal NetWare, Novell DOS
7 becomes even more powerful, giving users "plug-and-play" network
capabilities and access to the personal resources residing on each
PC on the network. Users get this access using the operating system
on their PC.

     Customers have the choice of adding Personal NetWare to their
current DR DOS (6.0 and below) or MS-DOS (3.1 and above) system. Or
customers can upgrade their DOS to Novell DOS 7 and get the core
functionality of Personal NetWare integrated with their desktop
operating system.

Understanding the Technology Behind Personal NetWare

     Desktop computers on a network can be either clients or
servers or both. Networks are either dedicated-server networks or
peer-to-peer networks. In a dedicated-server network, the server
controls the printers, hard disks and other network resources. On
peer-to-peer networks, the computers on the network control the
resources while at the same time functioning as user workstations.

     Client vs Server

     It is important to understand the definitions used in this
paper for client and server when discussing peer-to-peer,
dedicated-server and now the Personal NetWare network. The basic
function of most networks is to help users be more productive and
efficient by enabling them to share data such as document files and
to share resources such as printers, hard disks, electronic-mail
(E-mail), CD-ROMs and so on. Servers are computers that enable
users to share resources. The server runs network operating system
software. When a user makes a request to access a resource such as
a file, the network operating system makes the resource available
to the user. Other users on the network can also access the same
resource. For example, if the accounting department of a company
keeps a spreadsheet that requires updating by several employees, it
can keep the spreadsheet on the server hard disk. Everyone with
security rights can then access and open the spreadsheet and make
changes from their own workstations. Clients, on the other hand,
are the workstations from which users access resources from the
server. The client is a computer running desktop operating system
software such as DOS or MS Windows. When a user makes a request for
a resource, the request is sent to the server, where the network
operating system fills it. For example, when an employee at his or
her workstation makes a change to the spreadsheet stored on the
server hard disk, the workstation is functioning as a client on the
network. Figure 1 shows a basic network with clients, a server and
resources.

     Figure 1. Servers enable clients on the network to share
resources such as printers and hard disks.

     Dedicated-Server Networking

     Dedicated servers function only as servers. In a
dedicated-server network, sharing of all the network's resources is
managed by the network servers. Clients on the network access
resources by requesting them from that server. Clients cannot
access resources attached to other clients. Dedicated-server
networks such as those running the NetWare 2.2, 3.12 or 4.01
network operating systems are fast, provide central management,
provide access to other types of networks and hosts, can be
physically locked for security and give users easy, centralized
access to the network resources. Figure 1 shows a dedicated-server
network.

     Peer-to-Peer Networking

     Peer-to-peer networks allow each desktop workstation on the
network to function simultaneously as a client and a server. When
a user at one workstation needs to access a network printer or
file, for example, he or she determines which workstation that
resource is connected to and must log in to the workstation using
a password. Peer-to-peer networks are generally less expensive than
dedicated-server networks because they do not require the purchase
of a dedicated server. They are also easy to install, are easy to
use and give each user on the network access to data and resources
on every other workstation on the network. Figure 2 shows how
computers on a peer-to-peer network access resources such as
printers and hard disks from other computers on the network.

     Figure 2. Workstations function as both clients and servers on
a peer-to-peer network. Each workstation logs into each other
workstation on the network to access all of the network's resources

     Peer-to-Peer Shortcomings

     Peer-to-peer networks are economical, easy to install, easy to
use and offer each user on the network access to every other user's
PC. But peer-to-peer networks have a number of disadvantages:

     1)   Difficult to manage. Administrators find peer-to-peer
networks difficult to manage because data and resources are spread
across multiple PCs.

     2)   Require a user account on each server. Maintaining
multiple accounts and passwords is time-consuming and complicated.
On most peer-to-peer networks, clients need a separate password for
each desktop server; and some networks require clients to have a
separate password for each resource on each server.

     3)   Require users to log in to each server as it becomes
available. Users must log in to each server as it is brought up on
the network. When a workstation on the network is turned off or
otherwise disabled, the resources on that workstation are also
disabled. To regain access to those resources in a peer-to-peer
network, users must relog in to that workstation when it becomes
available. If a disabled workstation contains user accounts, those
accounts are also disabled.

     4)   Performance decreases as the number of users increases.
Users on a peer-to-peer network notice decreases in the performance
of their workstations as other users are added to the network.
Users whose workstations are accessed frequently notice significant
drops in performance.

     To overcome these shortcomings, peer-to-peer network users
often centralize shared files and resources on a single PC. As a
result, businesses can structure their peer-to-peer networks like
dedicated-server networks, often defeating the purposes for which
the company purchased a peer-to-peer network and causing
inefficiencies in use and administration.

Personal NetWare Takes Peer-to-Peer Networking to Its Next Step

     The Personal NetWare network operating system takes a new step
forward in desktop networking. Personal NetWare delivers the
advantages of a peer-to-peer network with the added benefits of
easier management, improved user accessibility and full integration
with NetWare 2.2, 3.12 and 4.01 networks. Personal NetWare leads to
higher workgroup efficiency and productivity.

     Personal NetWare Networks

     The Personal NetWare network goes beyond peer-to-peer
networking by giving the user a single view of the network.
Although network resources are located on various workstations as
they are on a peer-to-peer network, the user sees and accesses them
as if they were on a single, central server. This single-network
view is a breakthrough in workgroup networking.

     The Personal NetWare network is a group of desktop servers and
resources that work together and act like a single server. Personal
NetWare has a distributed, replicated database that does for the
Personal NetWare network what NetWare Directory Services (NDS) does
for the NetWare 4.01 network.

     The Personal NetWare distributed, replicated database is where
every object on the network is stored. Objects include users,
groups, printers, volumes and all network services. Because the
database is replicated, Personal NetWare offers several advantages
over traditional peer-to-peer networks. The advantages include
allowing users to log into the network only once to access all the
resources of the network, allowing a server to be removed from the
network without interrupting network operations, and giving
administrators central control of the network's resources. The
Personal NetWare network integrates a diverse network of users and
resources into a single, easy-to-understand environment.

     Personal NetWare Technology

     The technology used in Personal NetWare was developed by
Novell to meet customer needs for an easier-to-use and manage
workgroup network. The technology moves Personal NetWare to a new
step in workgroup networking by giving users and administrators a
single, personal view of the network. Traditional peer-to-peer
networks, on the other hand, provide a view of each server and
require users to log in to each server separately. Some require
users to log in to each resource on each server. Figure 3 shows how
the resources on a Personal NetWare network appear to the user to
be in a single network.

     Figure 3. Personal NetWare provides a single-network view,
even though the network's resources can be distributed among
several servers on the network.

     Personal NetWare benefits include:

     t    Single login. Like NetWare 4.0, Personal NetWare allows
users to set up a single database of user IDs. This user database,
which is part of the distributed object database, is replicated and
synchronized on all the desktop servers on the Personal NetWare
network. Users have to log in only once with a single password to
access all the servers on the network. Personal NetWare
automatically makes the connections to the multiple desktop
servers, producing a single-network view of all the personal
resources located on each PC on the entire network. Unlike
peer-to-peer networks, users don't waste time logging in to a
single resource. In addition, Personal NetWare automatically
maintains network security by keeping track of user rights
independent of where the resource resides.

     t    Enhanced network management. Replicating and
synchronizing the user database across the network improves network
management by eliminating or simplifying a number of tasks:

          -    The administrator needs to create only one account
for each user regardless of the number of servers on the network.

          -    Servers can be configured and managed from any
workstation on the network.

          -    Access to shared resources is controlled by the
network with four definable access rights (full, read-only,
write-only, none).

          -    Administrators can move shared resources from one
server to another without affecting the users' access to those
resources.

          -    Server memory can be conserved by disabling unneeded
services such as print sharing, file sharing, security and
diagnostics.

     t    Auto-Reconnect. If one server on the network is turned
off, the Personal NetWare auto-reconnect feature eliminates the
need for users to log in again when that server becomes available.
Personal NetWare automatically reconnects the server to the network
and allows users with the proper rights to access it without
supplying another password or logging in again.

     t    Reliability. The Personal NetWare network's user database
is replicated across the entire network, so the network won't fail
even if one or more of the PCs fail. Users still have access to all
the resources remaining on the network because Personal NetWare has
no single point of failure and all user information and rights to
each server are replicated.

     Personal NetWare or NetWare 2.2, 3.12 or 4.01?

     Once a business decides to network, it must then decide which
network system to purchase. Thanks to the compatibility between
Personal NetWare and NetWare 2.2, 3.12 and 4.01, businesses can
select the system that meets their current needs and be assured
their investment is protected when their needs change. The Personal
NetWare network can be integrated seamlessly into a NetWare 2.2,
3.12 or 4.01 network while preserving the hardware and software the
business originally invested in.

     First-time users or small businesses with a number of
standalone PCs can't go wrong with Personal NetWare. Sold on a
per-workstation basis, it allows a company to preserve its hardware
investment by connecting its existing PCs into a Personal NetWare
network. If a business needs advanced functionality in the future,
it can expand its network and add a high-performance NetWare 2.2,
3.12 or 4.01 server without replacing any hardware or software. And
because the users use the same interface and client software, no
new training or client administration is required.

     Businesses that need to connect dissimilar operating systems
(DOS, MS Windows, OS/2 or Macintosh) and protocols or that will be
connecting to host computers or need enhanced fault tolerance and
high performance, should consider purchasing NetWare 2.2, 3.12 or
4.01 or a combination of NetWare and Personal NetWare to receive
the maximum utilization of every PC on its network. Business that
start with one of these NetWare network operating systems or
already have these today can easily add Personal NetWare to their
network later. Personal NetWare will add the advantage of a
single-network view. The integration remains seamless because the
user interface and the way the users access the network remain the
same. Users also get the same secure, intuitive and easy-to-use
environment they're used to.

     Figure 4. Customers can seamlessly combine their Personal
NetWare network with their NetWare 2.2, 3.12 and 4.01 networks into
an enterprise network. The Universal Client gives Personal NetWare
users a single view of the entire network.

     Universal Client

     Novell has broadened its NetWare Client strategy to support a
NetWare Universal Client architecture that allows a single network
client to access any Novell network service, regardless of the
server platform or service provider. The NetWare Client is the core
feature of Novell's Personal NetWare desktop network operating
system. It enables Personal NetWare servers to connect with NetWare
2.2, 3.12 and 4.01 networks in an enterprise network. The NetWare
Universal Client then gives the Personal NetWare users a
single-network view, so the new enterprise network appears as one
network as shown in Figure 4.

Personal NetWare: Additional Benefits

     The following Personal NetWare features give customers
capabilities and benefits not available from most peer-to-peer
networks.

     Virtual Loadable Modules (VLMs)

     Client Virtual Loadable Modules (VLMs) are similar to NetWare
Loadable Modules (NLMs) for dedicated servers in that they are
loaded into the network operating system to provide additional
network services. Client VLMs, however, can be loaded in standard,
expanded or extended memory of the desktop server to give greater
compatibility with DOS applications and DOS applications running
under MS Windows than has been possible before on a networked PC.
VLMs are modular so future network services and requirements can be
added without replacing all the software. VLMs allow Personal
NetWare network administrators to customize each client, adding
only those services the user actually needs and maximizing the use
of each client's memory. Personal NetWare VLMs also provide the
following features:

     t    Full support for MS Windows 3.1. A Personal NetWare
device driver shipped with MS Windows enables users to attach to
additional servers, select network printers and receive broadcast
messages from within an MS Windows application.

     t    Automatic use and detection of memory types on each
machine saves base memory.

     t    A preferred server and directory tree option that enables
users to specify which server they want to attach to when they log
in.

     t    Named Pipes support for DOS and MS Windows workstations.
Personal NetWare includes the Named Pipes interprocess
communication (IPC) API, allowing DOS and MS Windows clients to
access OS/2Dapplication servers that use Named Pipes, such as
Microsoft SQL Server.

     Simplified Desktop Management

     The Personal NetWare network can be managed as a standalone
network or as part of a large enterprise network. Personal NetWare
gives network administrators a single-network view and the ability
to manage from anywhere on the network. The Personal NetWare
network is also easy to manage in the enterprise because it uses
the industry-standard management consoles many corporations are
already using. These include the Network Management System (NMS)
from Novell and third-party Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMP) systems. For standalone workgroup environments without an
SNMP console, Personal NetWare includes a management application
called Personal NetWare network manager that profiles client
configurations and provides diagnostic information in an
easy-to-use graphical interface.

     NetWare Client SDKs

     Novell's NetWare Client Software Development Kit (SDK)
includes all the Personal NetWare APIs that are necessary for
developers to leverage the file and print services of Personal
NetWare and dedicated NetWare server environments. These new APIs
allow developers to build more robust desktop networking solutions
using the Personal NetWare distributed object database that is
replicated on each server. The NetWare Client SDK is a separate
product and is available from Novell's Professional Developers
Program.

     Network Security

     The security features built in to Personal NetWare include:

     t    Encrypted passwords--encrypted on disk and during
transmission on the network--are required by users to access the
network.

     t    User-account restrictions control access to the network
and user privileges by: account disabling, last login date, forced
periodic password changes, and password expiration date.

     t    Resource access rights control the use of shared
resources by full rights, read-only rights, write-only rights or no
rights.

     t    Audit trails review and track network activity.

Summary

     Personal NetWare represents Novell's latest commitment to
provide responsible leadership in the network industry. Responding
to customer needs and as the world leader in computer networking
technology, Novell provides a low-cost, simple way to network that
is a step beyond peer-to-peer. Personal NetWare is ideal for small
businesses and workgroups in large businesses.

     Novell, Inc.
     Corp. Headquarters
     122 East 1700 South
     Provo, UT 84606
     USA
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Worldwide Sales Headquarters
     2180 Fortune Drive
     San Jose, CA 95131
     USA
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Sydney
     Level 2
     2 Help Street
     Chatswood NSW 2067
     Australia
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Canberra
     Level 4
     10 Moore Street
     Canberra City ACT 2067
     Australia
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Melbourne
     333 Collins St.
     24th Floor
     Melbourne VIC 3000
     Australia
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Benelux
     Excelsiorlaan 13
     B-1930 Zaventem
     Belgium
     Tel: [phone]
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     Novell do Brazil
     Av. Ribeirao Preto 130/12
     Sao Paulo
     Brazil
     Tel: [phone]
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     Novell France
     Tour Anjou
     33 Quai De Dion Bouton
     92814 Puteaux Cedex
     Paris, France
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Germany D
sseldorf
     Willsttter Str. 13
     40549 D
sseldorf
     Germany
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Berlin
     Kaiserdamm 30
     14507 Berlin
     Germany
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Munich
     Am Westpark 1-3
     81373 Munich
     Germany
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Wiesbaden
     Sonnenberger Str. 20
     65193 Wiesbaden
     Germany
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Hong Kong
     Room 4601-5, 46/F
     China Resources Building
     26 Harbour Road
     Wanchai
     Hong Kong
     Tel: [phone]
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     Onward Novell India
     Krislon House
     Saki Vihar Road
     Saki Naka, Bombay 400 072
     India
     Tel: [phone]
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     Novell Italy
     Via San Vittore, 40
     20123 Milano
     Italy
     Tel: [phone]
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     Novell Japan Ltd.
     Toei Mishuku Bldg.
     1-13-1 Misyuku
     Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo 154
     Japan
     Tel: (81) (3) 5481-1141
     Fax: (81) (3) 5481-1855

     Novell Korea
     Donghwo Bldg. 13F-5
     25-5, Youido-dong, Youngdeungpo-Ku
     Seoul, Korea
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Latin America Northern Area
     2180 Fortune Drive
     San Jose, CA 95131
     USA
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Latin America Southern Area
     122 East 1700 South
     Provo, Utah 84606
     USA
     Tel: [phone]
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     Novell de Mexico S.A. de C.V.
     Insurgentes Sur, 1160 P.H.
     Mexico D.F. 03100
     Tel: [phone]
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     Novell Singapore
     Level 36
     Hong Leong Building
     16 Raffles Quay
     Singapore 0140
     Tel: [phone]
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     Novell South Africa
     P.O. Box 1840
     Rivonia
     South Africa 2128
     Tel: [phone]
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     Novell Spain
     Paseo De La Castellana, 40 (BIS)
     Planta 5
     28046 Madrid
     Spain
     Tel: [phone]
     Fax: [phone]

     Novell Sweden
     F