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: 1-(801)-429-7000 Fax: 1-(801)-429-5555 Novell Worldwide Sales Headquarters 2180 Fortune Drive San Jose, CA 95131 USA Tel: 1-(408)-434-2300 Fax: 1-(408)-433-0775 Novell Sydney Level 2 2 Help Street Chatswood NSW 2067 Australia Tel: (61) 2 413 3077 Fax: (61) 2 413 3116 Novell Canberra Level 4 10 Moore Street Canberra City ACT 2067 Australia Tel: (61) 6 257 5458 Fax: (61) 6 257 5444 Novell Melbourne 333 Collins St. 24th Floor Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia Tel: (61) 3 613 1201 Fax: (61) 3 613 1255 Novell Benelux Excelsiorlaan 13 B-1930 Zaventem Belgium Tel: (32) 2 725 02 00 Fax: (32) 2 725 03 11 Novell do Brazil Av. 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