Legacy Solution - Information may be dated.

NetWare 5 – Pure IP

Setting up NW5 to run an IP environment relies on two new key services: SLPDA and SCMD.

SLP DA – This stands for “Service Location Protocol Directory Agent”. This acts much like a Dynamic DNS server.  It allows client workstations to query the server for the IP address of a server based upon a name.  The information used by the SLP DA is obtained by multicast packets, which are then stored in the NDS and replicated across routers via NDS synchronization.

SCMD – This stands for “Software Compatibility Mode Driver”. This allows client workstations to access resources that only support IPX.  This is not limited to Novell IPX servers, but rather any IPX based device such as printers, faxes, mainframe gateways, or even IPX based NT servers.

Setting up a SLPDA Server

Simply type “LOAD SLPDA” on your server console.

Assuming your server contains a replica of the NDS, simply answer “Y” to accept the default configuration the first time the SLP DA agent is loaded. This prompt will not appear on future loads. Be sure to add this line to your AUTOEXEC.NCF.

You will not need the SLPDA.NLM loaded on each server, though it may be wise to load a copy on each network segment containing servers that are separated by routers. This is because sometimes communications across the routers may disrupt the normal flow of information. If two SLP DAs are having difficulty communicating across routers, add the IP address of the other DA to the sys:\etc\slp.cfg file on each server.

Setting up a SCMD Server

Simply type “LOAD SCMD” at the server prompt.

If you will be connecting two disjointed IPX networks with an IP link, you will need the use the “/BS” or “/G” option on an SCMD server on each side of the disjointed networks. (“/BS” and “/G” currently have the same functionality.)

If the routers connecting the disjointed networks do not support multicasting, you will need to add the following entry the sys:\etc\slp.cfg file on each server: DA IP4, xx.xx.xx.xx.

The ports used by the SCMD server are TCP port #2302 and UDP port #2645. Setting up a client workstation to use the SLPA and SCMD servers.

Setting up the client workstation

When installing the client for NW5 support using IP, it is generally best to do a “custom install” and select either “IP only” or “IP with IPX Compatibility”. Compatibility mode should be selected if you still have some legacy servers, which still use IPX. If the majority of your servers still require IPX, you may be best to select “IP and IPX”. Some users have reported that “IPX only” gives much better performance than “IP and IPX” so you may wish to consider the “IPX only” option until most of your servers are converted. The "IP and IPX" setting can cause severe performance problems if SLP is not properly configured on your servers and workstation so be sure not to select this option unless you understand and implement SLP.

1. Select “Properties” on the “Network Neighborhood” icon to bring up the network control panel.
2. Select the “Services” tab
3. Select the “Novell Client for Windows NT” and push the “Properties” button
4. Select the “Service Location” tab.
5. Leave the “Scope list” entry blank since you probably do not have your servers defined with a scope.
6. Enter the IP address(es) of the server(s) on which you loaded the “SLPDA.NLM” and select the “static” box
7. Select the “Protocol Preferences” tab.
8. Deselect any “Protocol component settings you are not using” such as Host File, DNS, or DHCP NDS.
9. Make sure IP is your preferred Network protocol (Assuming you wish to primarily use IP)
10. Select the “OK” button on the “Protocol Preferences” tab to return to the “Network Control Panel”.
11. If you are not running “IP with IPX Compatibility”, it is not necessary to complete the rest of the steps.
12. Select the “Bindings” tab from the main “Network Control Panel”
13. Select and open “Novell Client for Windows NT”
14. Highlight the IP protocol and select “Move up” (Only if most Novell servers are running IP)
15. Select the “Adapters Tab” from the main “Network Control Panel”
16. Select the “Novell IPX Compatibility Adapter”
17. Select your real NIC card from the “Adapter” drop down box
18. Make sure the “Enabled” box is checked and the “Use Default Settings” and “Use DHCP” are disabled.
19. Enter the IP address(es) of the server(s) on which you have loaded the SCMD.NLM.

You have now successfully configured your servers and clients to work in a Pure IP or Mixed IP/IPX environment across routers. If you are having problems, you may need to modify the slp.cfg file as mentioned above.