Combining NetWare with domain controllers

[Trond =?iso-8859-1?q?Endrest=F8l?=]

Hi all,

At my school we're starting to abandon Win98 (yes, it's true) in favor
of WinXP. We also got a few computers running Win2K. Along with the
switch to Win2K and WinXP comes the issue of centralising Windows user
accounts. Our NetWare server is running 6.5.4.

I guess I could:

Install Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition on a couple of PCs,
configure them as domain controllers, let all the Win2K & WinXP PCs
join the AD domain, and use DirXML to synchronise the user accounts
between eDirectory and AD.

Are there any alternatives to my suggestion above?

Can the NetWare server act as a domain controller? If so, how?

What do you recommend?

 

[Your_Name]

Buy ZenWorks for Desktops


http://www.novell.com/products/zenworks/

 

[Bob Christian]

You have a few options and it may be easier to do one migration/upgrade at a
time:

The first is migrating from Netware to Active Directory, including file and
print, messaging if needed, and, of course, the workstations. You have a
few of the steps already listed there.

You could upgrade to Novel Open Enterprise server, use the Novell Client on
your XP workstations, and implement Zenworks for your XP desktops (as has
already been mentioned).

The last is staying with NetWare 6.5, upgrading to Windows XP or replacing
the 98 boxes if the hardware is end-of-life. From there you could always
migrate from Novell to AD.

....and there are other options....

 

[Your_Name]

Funny how all your suggestions involves kicking out Netware ;-)

 

[Bob Christian]

Please read again Your_Name and let me know what you think... =^)

Point 1, migrating away from Netware is mentioned

Point 2, technically, yes, moving up to the latest and greatest Novell
product, Open Enterprise Server, is mentioned. It was named Netware 7 prior
to getting the OES moniker.
For more information see: http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/qna/1316.html
<snip>"NetWare 7 has been renamed to Open Enterprise Server (OES)"<snip>

Point 3, Staying on Netware is specifically mentioned. The caveat is that
they could opt to upgrade at a later point.


Cheers,

Bob

 

[Trond =?iso-8859-1?q?Endrest=F8l?=]

The first is migrating from Netware to Active Directory, including file and
print, messaging if needed, and, of course, the workstations. You have a
few of the steps already listed there.

A complete switch to Windows is out of the question.

You could upgrade to Novel Open Enterprise server, use the Novell Client on
your XP workstations, and implement Zenworks for your XP desktops (as has
already been mentioned).

NetWare 6.5.4 == NetWare 6.5 SP4a == Novell OES NetWare 6.5.4/6.5 SP4a

However, I'll take a look at ZENworks, as suggested.

The last is staying with NetWare 6.5, upgrading to Windows XP or replacing
the 98 boxes if the hardware is end-of-life. From there you could always
migrate from Novell to AD.

See above.

...and there are other options....

No doubt.

 

[Your_Name]

Using ZfD doesn't req. upgrading the Netware Server

 

[Josh Messerschmitt]

Can the NetWare server act as a domain controller? If so, how?
It sure can. You can use CIFS to emulate an NT4 PDC, you can even go
clientless if you wanted to. However, I'm in favor of the client myself.
If you launch iManager, you can find CIFS configuration on the left hand
frame underneath 'File Protocols'.

ZENworks is also good as you can use DLU to have seamless logins, etc., etc.

 

[Josh Messerschmitt]

Can the NetWare server act as a domain controller? If so, how?
It sure can. You can use CIFS to emulate an NT4 PDC, you can even go
clientless if you wanted to. However, I'm in favor of the client myself.
If you launch iManager, you can find CIFS configuration on the left hand
frame underneath 'File Protocols'.

ZENworks is also good as you can use DLU to have seamless logins, etc., etc.