
+++ LMCS +++

The LAN Management and Control System
-------------------------------------

NOTE:  This is an EVALUATION COPY of the LMCS system.  Please read & print
this file as it contains important information about using the system.

To print this file type the following from the DOS prompt:

TYPE README.TXT > LPT1


Installation:

You must logon to your primary file server as SUPERVISOR and have
either a local or network printer available.

The file LMCSD.EXE is a self-extracting file containing the complete
LMCS system.  To install the system, first create a directory on your
Novell file server.  All users will require complete rights to this
directory.  Then copy the LMCSD.EXE file into this directory.  Make this
directory your current directory, and run the program LMCSD.EXE.

This will create all of the required files to run the LAN Management &
Control System.  To start it, type LMCS from the DOS prompt, or from
within your menu script.


Overview:

The LAN Management and Control System has been designed to provide
assistance in the operation of a Novell LAN/WAN in two major areas.

Firstly, the LMCS system is NOT designed to replace the Novell utility
programs like SYSCON and FCONSOLE.  This system addresses a completely
different area of network management.

The first area handled by the LMCS system is information control.  This
system tracks information about LAN users, helpdesk support calls, file
server hardware and software, server software frequency usage and metering,
workstation hardware and software.

It also can detect what software is installed on each workstation, and
if each program in registered or pirated.  This feature is particularly
effective, in that it checks all software programs, not simply those
contained in a master list.

Secondly, the LMCS system provides an easily maintained and integrated
approach to handling the login process of your users.  Most Novell LAN
environments use system and user login scripts.  User login scripts can
become very difficult to maintain as the user can change these settings.
In addition, global, network wide changes of items stored in the user
login scipt can be a nightmare.

The LMCS system provides the utilities to setup the workstation environment
during the login process, from the user database maintained by the system.
All vital information about a user is tracked and maintained within the LMCS
system including user ID, name, location, default print queues, and six user
defined items.  These can all be written into the workstation environment
during the login process.

Version 1.x of the LMCS system has been in production for over two years.
Initialy, it was developed as a tool for Software Solutions client only.

Version 2.x has grown to cover additional requirements of handling both
small and large, multi-server Novell environments, and it was decided to
make it available to other Novell LAN support professionals.

Start Up:

To start the LAN Management & Control System, type LMCS from the DOS prompt,
or from your menu script.

There are several things that should be done before you jump right in and
start using the system.  Firstly, under the Maintenance/Master File/Staff
menu, enter in the people that will be using this system to maintain your
LAN.  This is not the place to enter LAN users, but rather the technicians
and management staff that will be access the LMCS system.

Then using the File Servers menu, add the file servers that you have in
your environment.  You can enter as many file servers as you wish.  You
may also specify if a file server will have scanned users.  This is, will
this file server be using the scan utilities provided with the LMCS system.
If you answer YES, then the LMCS system will keep all the utilities, and
data up to date on each of these scanned servers.  NOTE that evaluation
copies are limited to a single file server.

Once you have completed these steps, you can being using the system.  All
other validation lookup files can be maintained from within the system
itself, as you need them.  For convenience, you might want to update these
master files at one time.  These master validation files can be accessed
from the Maintenance/Master File menu.

Evaluation:

This copy of the LAN Management & Control System is an evaluation copy only.

It must be installed on a Novell file server, and it will only operate for
a period of 45 days.

In addition, it is limited to tracking 5 users on a single file server.  The
registered version can handle an unlimited number of users, spread out over
any number of file servers.

In addition to this README file, a complete manual is contained in the text
file MANUAL.DOC.  You may wish to print this file for further reference.  It
is a standard text, page formated file.  To print it type the following from
the DOS prompt:

TYPE MANUAL.DOC > LPT1

A complete, printed and bound manual is included with all registered copies
of the LAN Management & Control System.

Several of the external utilities that make up a part of the LMCS system
are only available with the registered version.  Read below for further
information about the LMCS utilities.

Utilities:

        SOFTCHK.EXE
        This utility scans workstation software as they log onto the LAN.
        This program determines what programs are registered for this work-
        station, and what programs are unregistered (pirated).  This
        information is then viewed and modified withing the LMCS system.

        Syntax: SOFTCHK -F:xx -D:<PATH> -U:UserID -H:

        Where:  xx is the frequence in days that this utility should be
                   run.  If you wish to scan workstations once per month
                   then you would use -F:30.

                <PATH> is the DOS path to start the scan from.  Normally,
                this option would NOT be used.  If you wanted to scan a
                particular path, or perhaps your F:\USER directory on your
                file server.

                UserID is the user ID of the person logging in.  The userID
                is included in the scan data simply as a convience.  It is
                the workstation that is being scanned, regardless of who
                is logging on, and it is the address value of the network
                card that is used to track the software on each workstation.

                An example of this utility being called from the system
                login script would be:

                #F:\PACKAGES\LMCS\SOFTCHK -F:30 -U:%LOGIN_NAME

                This would scan each workstation every 30 days, and provide
                the User ID of each user.


        SETNET2.EXE

                One unique and powerful facility of the LMCS system is to
                control the workstation login environment in a way that is
                easy to maintain.

                The system allows you to maintain a complete profile of
                each user, over any number of file servers.  This information
                consists of the UserID, name, location, department, default
                print queues and six user defined values.  These are all
                stored and maintained within the LMCS system.  During the
                login process, you might wish to load these values into the
                workstation environment memory for later access by menu
                systems or other utilities.

                This utility reads LMCS user data and write an include file
                named SETENV.INC in the current directory.  These utilties
                should be run from within the system login script.

                NOTE: Be sure that the login script has placed the user in
                their own login directory before running this utility to
                ensure that they don't overwrite another users include file.

                The login script syntax for this is:

                #F:\PACKAGES\LMCS\SETNET2 %LOGIN_NAME
                #INCLUDE SETENC.INC

                The current directory must be the users personal user
                directory before this utility is run.  The first line creates
                the include file from the LMCS user profile, and the second
                line executes the include file.


        PCCHECK.EXE

                This utility provides a scanning function of workstation
                hardware.  The information scanned consists of DOS version,
                shell version, and various hardware configuration values that
                can be viewed from within the LMCS system.  This utility
                should be called from the system login script, with the
                following syntax:

                #F:\PACKAGES\LMCS\PCCHECK %P_STATION xx

                Where xx is the number of days between scans.


        USAGE.EXE

                This utility is to be implemented within your menu scripts
                to track the frequency usage and metering of software on file
                servers.

                This utility provides data directly to the LMCS system so that
                you can see what software is being used, how often and by
                what number of people.  In addition, a metering facility is
                included to allow you to limit the number of concurrent users
                of a program to the number of registered copies you have.

                NOTE: This utility is NOT included as part of the Evaluation
                Copy.


        UPDATE.EXE

                One task facing Network Administrators is keeping the
                workstation file required for login current and up to date.
                It is most important that all workstation have the most
                current copies of network shells.  The PCCHECK utility
                outlined above will allow you to determine what workstations
                are running old versions of the shell.

                The UPDATE utility provides a method of automating the
                distribution of these types of files.  The login script
                syntax is:

                #F:\PACKAGES\LMCS\UPDATE <Source> <Target> /E /O /F:xx

                Where:  <Source> is the directory containing the current copy
                        of all of your network files.

                        <Target> is the directory on the workstation that
                        these file should be copied to.

                        /E is an optional parameter that will limit the files
                        copies to only those that already exists in the
                        target directory.

                        /O is an optional parameter that will override the
                        prompt when copying existing files.

                        /F:xx is the frequency that this utility will be run
                        on each workstation.

                For example:

                #F:\PACKAGES\LMCS\UPDATE F:\SHELL C:\NETWORK /E /O /F:30

                would copy any new files from F:\SHELL that exist in
                C:\NETWORK

                NOTE: This utility is NOT included as part of the Evaluation
                Copy.


        CHKENV.EXE

                The LMCS system allows you to load user configuration items
                into workstation environment variables during the login
                process.  This utility will check to ensure that 1024 bytes
                exist in the workstation environment, and it not, provide the
                user with the option of updating the CONFIG.SYS file and
                rebooting.

                NOTE: This utility is NOT included as part of the Evaluation
                Copy.


        SECUPDT.EXE

                The LAN Management & Control system is designed to manage
                any number of users, on any number of file servers.

                The system is installed on a single 'Primary' file server,
                but it allows you to control user and workstation profiles
                on other servers.  As such, it is necessary to ensure that
                user profile data, and utility scan data is properly
                coordinated between file servers.

                The SECUPDT.EXE utility is actually only executed from within
                the LMCS system and it provides data distribution amoung all
                the file servers in your environment.

                NOTE: This utility is NOT included as part of the Evaluation
                Copy as you are limited to a single file server.

Support:

This is an evaluation copy of the LAN Management & Control System.  Complete
support is provided to all REGISTERED users of this product.  LIMITED support
is also provided, free of charge to all those using the evaluation copy.

Support for users of the evaluation copy will only be provided through fax
or Compuserve E-Mail.  Voice phone support is not available for evaluation
users.  All fax and E-mail will be responded to within 24 hours, often much
sooner.

Our fax number is 416-849-0930

Our CIS number is 76137,3150


Cost & Licence:

The cost for the complete LAN Management & Control system is $595.00 (US)
This provides control for 20 users/workstations.

Additional users/workstations are available for $20.00 (US) each.

Users/workstations can be spread out over any number of file servers.

In most cases, we can increase you user/workstation limit over the phone
if you provide a Purchase Order number.

Site licence pricing is also available.  Call for specific information.

If you are a Novell/LAN consultant, a special version is available under
licence, for you to provide to your clients.  Call for specific information.

Please not that all cost figures are in US dollars.
Canadian residents must include GST.
Ontario residents must include PST or excemption number.

Copyright (c) 1992, 1992 by

Software Solutions
234 Weldon Ave.,
Oakville, Ontario
Canada
L6K 2H8

Phone/Fax: (416)849-0930


