Novell NetWare 6.5 Administrator's Handbook

by Jeffrey L. Harris

Novell NetWare 6.5 Administrators Handbook is the Novell-authorized quick reference for NetWare administration covering all of the new features of NetWare 6.5. The release of NetWare 6.5 continues to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0789729849
• ISBN13: 9780789729842
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Novell Press
• Length: 800 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Netware Admin

The book arrived quickly, was in great shape and was just what I needed. I was able to get a book to help me with my job for much less. Win-win situation. I will definitely use this vendor again.

Best administrator's guide to date

With over 500 pages and several detailed appendixes the "NetWare 6.5 Administrator's Handbook" covers pretty much everything an administrator will need to know. Each chapter starts with a section called "Instant Access" where you will find a short summary of the information in the chapter. If you are familiar with the basics of the information but just can't quite seem to remember the specific command or specific steps to do something you can quickly get up to speed in this section without browsing through the whole chapter.I was somewhat surprised to find that the section on upgrading still contains information on upgrading from the old version 3 bindery system. These days it is pretty unusual to find a version before 4.x but it is nice that he includes the version 3 upgrade information. I was also glad to see a good discussion on planning the eDirectory. This is an area where most books on Novell administration have fallen short. An eDirectory tree that is poorly planned is difficult to manage well as users are added, new roles created, new departments or companies added, etc. Planning it correctly up front based on good principles makes all the difference later. The section on the eDirectory does a good job of putting the planner on the right track.For Novell administrators with prior experience the coverage of all the new Internet based utilities is excellent. ConsoleOne is covered in detail as well as some of the common snap-ins that make management through the eDirectory easier. Also covered well are the Internet based printing system iPrint, Internet and browser based storage via iSCSI, iFolder, NetStorage, and NetDrive, and other parts of the OneNet initiative. These tools make one of the easiest to administer, most secure, and stable networks available even easier to administer. (An opinion based on working with Novell since version 2, Microsoft from 3.0, and various Linux and Unix versions for the last six years. I've also taught all three of the server operating systems at the College level and installed many networks based on each system and mixes of them.)Finally, he covers the Apache web server for Novell including setup and configuration and the Tomcat Servlet Engine. He even includes a short section on MySQL, OpenSSH, Perl and PHP support in the Novell server environment. The book ends with several useful appendixes that include detailed client properties information, login scripts, console commands, and detailed information on the eDirectory (including errors and DSRepair information).The "NetWare 6.5 Administrator's Handbook" is highly recommended for anyone working in this environment and does an excellent job of not only providing the details you need to administer a Novell 6.5 network but also the theoretical background to understand exactly what is (or should be) happening.

Netware - The truth in understanding what really works

As you can see, Netware is like a good bottle of wine, it just keeps on getting better. From a technology standpoint, Netware is a level above the rest. When it comes to security, and "it just works", Netware 6.5 gives you the features that other vendors dream of. The new features are true money saving technologies, dont rip and replace like the other vendor wants you to do, use what you have and let it all work together. People get rich on the lack understanding of others. Take it from someone that has been in the business over 20 years. Novell will and has risen above the rest and already is the best of breed "per Gartner", leaders in most technologies. This book will prepare you for the ease of administration which you have earned.

Another perspective

ok.. so now you know what Mr. Gates thinks of this. He's obviously quaking. That is who wrote the other review wasn't it? As someone who grew up on Macs and Win16 boxes (after 8080's), I didn't run into Netware until my professional life. I didn't get it at first either. But over the years I have come to understand and appreciate what Netware can and does do - & do incredibly well. There is a good reason that the vast majority of the Fortune 500 use it - as do other mission critical environments like gov't & military & financial that care about things like security, stability and TCO. That said, (ahem), 6.5 is the best thing Provo has ever put out IMHO, and this book is one of the best ways to get clued into what it's about. I have 6.5 in production and have used Netware since 4.11 SFT3 so I know a little bit about it. Try native file access for Unix, Mac & Win32 hosts, unmatched file system security, great management tools, support for open source projects like PHP, Perl, Apache, mySQL, *real* java and directory services that frankly shame AD.. did I mention snapshot volumes or the remote office appliance? Free server licenses? Drives that don't need defragmenting? Clusters up to 32 nodes? But like any great product there is a lot to it & it's useless if you don't know how to work it - or don't know it's there! So buy the book, ok? :) Change is good. Meanwhile, pay no attention to the raving MCSE. They get like that after a while.