How to use this Guide

This guide is split into seven sections:
Section 1 positions the product.
Section 2 describes the most important features of the product.
Sections 3 - 7 guides you through the features, and the practical advantages they bring.

Basics

• The SCO cross platform file and print server for Solaris to Windows integration
• Zero client installation, access Solaris UNIX servers with standard Windows components
• Access files on Solaris UNIX server from Windows 95 Network Neighborhood, File Manager and Windows applications e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel
• Access printers on Solaris UNIX server from Printer Manager and Control Panel
• Quick and efficient install; no re-boot required
• Administration of server from powerful Windows GUI, Profile Editor
• Automatic detection of user accounts and printers on Solaris UNIX server
• Support for long file names
• Low cost solution for basic file and print services
• Part of an integrated family of Windows/ Solaris UNIX integration products

Typographical Conventions

1. Normal text signifies a brief description of the feature. ItÆs essential reading.
2. Paragraphs in italics contain background information. You can skip these, but reading them will give you a deeper insight into the opportunities and benefits provided by the features described.
3. Blue text appears after the brief description and background information. It directs you to the area of the product where you can see and use the feature.

1: Positioning

SCO VisionFS is a refreshing server-based alternative to file and printer sharing from UNIX servers to Windows PCs. ItÆs innovative because people only have to install the software on a UNIX server as opposed to the traditional NFS client approach of installing on every single PC. This amounts to considerable savings for companies who spend hours installing and upgrading NFS software on each PC. End users have instant access to shared resources on the servers without any extra effort, through the usual Windows tools.

At one time the only way to solve Windows/UNIX file sharing was to use NFS. This was adopted as long as 8 years ago. In those days Microsoft had no networking strategy or software. UNIX has had networking built into it from the early days and Sun NFS technology became widely adopted. However things have moved on dramatically since then and Microsoft have adopted a networking strategy and incorporated into their operating systems. NFS on PCs is no longer the only solution.

SCO VisionFS works with the Microsoft networking by making the UNIX server Windows friendly. This is a much more pragmatic and up to date approach than making the PC UNIX friendly. A server-based approach reduces cost of ownership of PCs.

2: Description

SCO VisionFS is the SCO Vision FamilyÆs high-performance file and print sharing product. It is an SMB (Server Message Block) server that runs on UNIX, providing Microsoft file and print services to Windows PCs. SMB is the file and print sharing protocol adopted by Microsoft for Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, Windows NT.

SMB is based on a client/server architecture. Clients request access to files and printers from servers. Both the client and server have traditionally been Windows PCs, however there is no restriction on this. SCO VisionFS is a full implementation of the SMB protocol on UNIX. It is an open standard that is currently going through branding by X/Open. SCO are active committee members contributing and supporting the standardisation. Other members include IBM, DEC, NCR, AT&T, Microsoft.

The software is installed on the UNIX server with a minimum number of questions and no re-boot. After this the users can access files using the standard components on their Windows PCs and the administrator can configure the server from a Windows PC.

The server is administered using an intuitive Windows graphical user interface tool, called the Profile Editor. This provides comprehensive access to all the functionality the server has to offer, this includes:

• Creation of shareable resources (directories and printers), referred to as shares
• Access Control
• Permissions
• Naming and Browsing

When the server is started it uses its IntelliShareΣ system to detect existing printers on the UNIX server and then creates printer shares for them. In other words, no extra work needs to be done to make these printers available to all Windows users.

When users connect to the server from their Windows PCs, IntelliShare automatically detects whether they have user accounts and gives them access to their home directories, thereby saving configuration time.

3: Easy Server Install

SCO VisionFS is installed on the UNIX server. During the installation a number of elementary questions are asked. Default answers are presented and can be accepted by pressing return. The server starts automatically and no re-boot is required. The server can easily be integrated into the system start up thereby ensuring that it is automatically started every time the operating system boots up. During the installation you will be asked who the administrator of the server should be. The user selected here is the only person who can administrate SCO VisionFS. It can be changed at a later stage by re-running the setup. To administrate SCO VisionFS, the user must be logged onto their PC as the user selected as the administrator during installation. e.g. if ærootÆ was the chosen user, log onto your PC as root and then connect to the SCO VisionFS server.

Because the server listens to the network on reserved ports, the installer must be the special UNIX ærootÆ super-user. A great deal of time was spent in designing the installation and set-up procedure and a goal was set to be able to do it in under 10 minutes. A special administrator user is chosen because you donÆt want everybody to configure the server.

Read the README document on the CD. At any stage during installation you can abort without fear of damage. Check beforehand which workgroup youÆd like the server to appear in and enter this value during the installation.

After installing and starting SCO VisionFS, the next thing to do is to create some shareable resources. Log onto your PC as the administrator and browse your network to find SCO VisionFS and connect to the special share ævisionfsÆ. The Profile Editor can be started from this share.

Use the comprehensive online help provided by the Profile Editor.

4: Desktop Integration

Unix files can be accessed from the Windows desktop using the standard components. For instance if you want to access files from Windows 95, open up your Network Neighborhood and the SCO VisionFS server will appear in the list of machines on the network including other Windows machines. In other words it will be impossible to distinguish whether a machine is UNIX or Windows, total integration. Similarly from Windows for Workgroups the VisionFS server is visible when you connect a network drive.

To add printers available from an SCO VisionFS server, simply use the printer wizard in Windows 95 or the Print Manager in Windows for Workgroups.

These are the standard tools for accessing files and printers from Windows PCs.

SCO VisionFS appears like all other Windows machines on the network

5: Profile Editor

The Profile Editor provides a Windows 95 style graphical user interface to configure SCO VisionFS. All functionality can be configured from this tool. Sensible default values for all resources are set which can be overridden.

The most common use of the Profile Editor is to create shares (the terminology used for shareable directories and printers). Creating shares is a simple procedure consisting of clicking on buttons on the toolbar or selecting a menu item. Comprehensive access to all attributes of a share is available. These include basics such as what the share is called to more detailed control of who can access the share and what privileges they have when connected, this is discussed later.

Double click on list items to bring up property sheets to change the settings.

The Profile Editor provides multiple level undo and redo during configuration. This feature has become standard in commonly used applications such as word processors and spreadsheets. SCO have now incorporated it into critical networking software that could affect many users.

Use the toolbar buttons during a session to test the undo/redo facility.

Some configurations require the server to be restarted such as the changing the server name, the Profile Editor offers to do this automatically via a named pipe mechanism that is invisible to the administrator.

Always remember to select æUpdate ServerÆ from the menu bar after you finish configuring.

6: IntelliShare, MasterShare and FoolTips

A common remark about existing software that provides this functionality is that they are difficult to administer and involve a lot expertise. It is easy to make a mistake and then suffer the wrath of your users. To make SCO VisionFS simple and easy to configure, a number helpful features have been built in to save time and errors.

IntelliShare provides invaluable assistance by automatically detecting existing resources that have already been set up on the UNIX server and making them available to Windows users without the administrator having to do any extra configuration, thereby saving time for the administrator. For instance, when SCO VisionFS starts up it detects if there are printers already set up on the UNIX server and makes them available to Windows users. If a Windows user has account on the UNIX server then their home directory is made available to them automatically.

Home directories are only visible to the specific user i.e. if user1 connects to SCO VisionFS they only see the home directory for user1 and never see the other users home directories unless the administrator overrides it.

Connect to the server as different users from your PC - one who has an account and one who hasnÆt.

MasterShare provides a mechanism for global changes to be made e.g. if the administrator has created 20 shares and wants to make a change common to all those shares (e.g. make them all read-only) then they can make a sweeping change once rather than do it 20 times.

MasterShare is available for all types of shares i.e. printers, directories, users. They contain sensible default values which all shares inherit, whether they are newly created or already exist.

Double click on the (Folders) list item in the Profile Editor to access the MasterShare for all directory shares.

FoolTips provide a helping hand in making sure valid values are entered for configurations. If an invalid value is entered the field turns to red signifying that something is wrong. By pressing enter the administrator is notified of the mistake with a help bubble and pointed to a section in the online help. FoolTips not only provides data validation but ensures all mandatory fields are set.

Create a share with a name which includes the "=" character and press return, you will get a useful FoolTip in a bubble.

7: Security and Access Control

SCO VisionFS provides a more secure environment than NFS client solutions. Users are authenticated using the UNIX security mechanisms when they connect. Users with or without accounts are allowed access to SCO VisionFS. Access can be limited for users without accounts and full privileges can be granted to those with accounts.

Permissions and access can be configured on a per share basis which gives maximum flexibility to administrators.

SCO VisionFS implements user level security which is based on authenticating the user when they connect and then giving them a token or tag with which they validate themselves when accessing files and printers.

Select a share and click on the permissions folder. By double clicking on the list item in the permissions sheet you can configure which users can access the server.