1:
What is LIS doing?
A:
We're moving away from using Novell Netware for managing network servers. From now on we'll be using Microsoft DFS (Distributed File System) instead.
2:
Why should I care?
A:
If you need access to any file that is on Classes, Tigercat, Ocelot, or Snowleopard any time between Friday, May 29th at 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday, June 2nd you should copy that file onto your personal machine!
Our goal is that all of your files will be accessible first thing Monday morning, but if you have a critical need for a file, you should place a copy on your own machine, just in case we do not meet our goal.
3:
What's involved?
A:
First, we'll disable access to the current Netware servers, then we'll move all 8 million files onto the new DFS servers and re-create the permissions on each folder.
If you are on a Windows computer, the first time you log-in after the transfer, you'll be prompted to uninstall the Novell Client for Windows. You'll say "Yes," then reboot your machine and a script will run which will automatically re-map your existing network drives to the new DFS system.
See the Windows transition document or the Macintosh transition document for more details.
4:
Why is LIS doing this?
A:
There are a number of reasons to make this switch. First, it will save the College between $18 and $20 thousand dollars per year in license fees. It will also greatly streamline the creation and maintenance of accounts, effectively cutting in half the amount of staff time and effort spent on this task. Daily backups will also take significantly less time. Non-LIS staff will be empowered to maintain folder and file permissions using simple Outlook groups. Finally, we will be able to easily add servers to handle increased loads without disrupting users
5:
When will all this happen?
A:
On Friday, May 29th at 8:00 p.m. we will disable access to all Netware servers and begin copying files to the new DFS system. This will continue throughout Saturday and probably most of Sunday as well.
6:
Why now?
A:
This weekend comes after Commencement, before Reunion weekend, and before the Language Schools begin. We felt that this was the most opportune time that would cause the least disruption of College work. Also, our contract agreement with Novell expires at the end of June and this gives us time to roll back if anything goes drastically wrong. Which it won't!
7:
What servers are affected?
A:
All of the Netware servers on campus are being retired. The Netware servers are Classes, Tigercat, Ocelot, and Snowleopard. No other servers will be affected.
8:
What will happen Monday morning, June 1st?
A:
If you use a Windows* computer, when you turn it on Monday morning, it may boot more slowly.
After you have logged in, you should see a Message box labeled
Uninstall Novell Client for Windows. Click
Yes, and Novell Netware will be removed from your system. You will then be prompted to reboot, which you should do. See the
Windows transition document for more details.
Note: On some computers the
Uninstall Novell message may not appear right away. If this message does not appear after approximately 5 minutes, restart your computer; most often it will appear after this second restart.
*
Mac users do not have the Novell Netware client installed and thus will not see any Message box. See the
Macintosh transition document for more details for Mac users.
9:
What if I'm not on campus when this happens?
A:
If you are not on campus, the script that automatically prompts you to uninstall the Novell Netware software
will not run.
This is true even if you are using VPN. The next time you are on campus and connected to the network (with a cable, not via wireless) the script will run.
If you will be off campus for an extended period of time, you will have to manually remove the Netware client first, then manually re-map your drives.
How to uninstall the Novell client manually
There are four components to the Novell client that need to be removed. Usually they can be removed in only two steps.
- Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs
- Select Netware Client, click Remove, then reboot when instructed to
- Go back to Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs
- You should not see any entries labeled NMAS or NMAS chal/resp -- if you do remove them next
- Otherwise, select NICI and click Remove. This step does not require a reboot
Once Netware has been completely removed, you can re-map your network drives. (This assumes you have already connected via VPN.)
10:
How will this affect Mac users? Will anything be different for us?
A:
Mac users do not have the Novell Netware client on their machines, so they will not have to uninstall any software. You will have to reconnect to the servers, as described in the
Macintosh transition document.
The new servers should be much more stable and reliable for Mac users. Apple is planning to include a DFS client in a future version of the Mac OS, whcih should make things even better.
11:
Can I still use a browser to access my files via the web? What's happening to Netstorage?
A:
Yes, web access to the DFS servers will be provided by a product called HTTP Commander, which will replace Netstorage. The interface will look a little different, but the functionality will be the same.
We will be re-directing the go/files and other go links to point to the new Commander product over the weekend of May 29th.
12:
Will I still be able to access my e-mail over the weekend?
A:
Yes, email runs on a Windows server, not a Novell server, and thus is not affected. Access to email via Outlook, Webmail, or Entourage should continue uninterrupted throughout the transition.
13:
I have a machine shared by several staff members or used by student assistants. I know my colleague will be out of town when this happens. What should I do?
A:
If the computer is used by one person, let them go through the uninstall/remap process when they return.
If the computer is shared by several staff (or used by primarily by students) someone who is an administrator will have to log on to the machine to uninstall Novell and reboot. This will only need to be done once per machine, not per user.
People who will be off campus for an extended time should see Question #9.
14:
Will folder security and file permissions also be transferred?
A:
Yes, all of the permissions and restrictions that currently are in place on the Netware servers will be programmatically re-created on the new DFS servers.
Later, LIS will work with individuals to show them how they can maintain their own file permissions using simple Outlook groups.
15:
What will happen to my desktop shortcuts and other drive mappings?
A:
After you uninstall Novell Netware and reboot, a script will run which will re-map your U: drive to the correct home directory. Any drives that were previously mapped to a Novell server will be re-mapped drives to the new \\middlebury.edu\middfiles.
If you have shortcuts or drive-mappings that you created (as opposed to those automatically created for you) which point to one of the Novell servers, they may stop working. If that happens and you are not comfortable re-mapping these drives or re-creating shortcuts, call the Help Desk (x 2200).
Desktop shortcuts and other drive-mappings that point to servers other than Classes, Tigercat, Ocelot, or Snowleopard should not be affected at all.
16:
What about the computer labs and classrooms?
A:
LIS has been creating new lab images in preparation for language schools. These new images will have the correct drive-mappings and the Novell Netware client will have been removed.
17:
What will the new servers be called?
A:
\\middlebury.edu\middfiles is the name for the new space where all the files will live. Underneath that you will see familiar folder names.
- Top-level folders from the different Novell servers that have the same name will be merged into a single folder under middfiles. (e.g. ORGS, Student Orgs, or Committees).
- There will be a new top-level folder called Classes. Recent classes will be found in their regular subfolders, e.g., Fall09, Spring08. Older classes will be grouped in five-year increments: 1996-2000, 2001-2005.
- Personal folders (drive U:) from Tigercat will be under a top-level folder called Home, subdivided alphabetically according to the first letter of one's username, which is not always the same as one's last name. As noted above, your U: drive will be automatically re-mapped to the correct folder, as will other drives that had previously been automatically mapped for you.
18:
Will I have to re-map my all my drives?
A:
You will not have to re-map your U: drive. Other drives that had been mapped for you (e.g., K: Classes for faculty) will also be automatically re-mapped appropriately. The script will re-create all of these mappings for you. If it does not for some reason, call the Help Desk (x2200).
Drives that you mapped yourself to one of the affected servers may have to be re-mapped.
Drives pointing to any other servers should remain unaffected.
19:
Can I uninstall Novell manually?
A:
There are four components to the Novell client that need to be removed. Usually they can be removed in only two steps.
- Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs
- Select Novell Client for Windows, click Remove, then reboot when instructed to
- Go back to Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs
- You should not see any entries labeled NMAS or NMAS chal/resp -- if you do remove them next
- Otherwise, select NICI and click Remove. This step does not require a reboot
Once Netware has been completely removed, you can re-map your network drives.
20:
What else is changing?
A:
- Designated users will now be able to modify permissions on folders and files by editing groups in Outlook, instead of requesting that LIS make such changes for them.
- A new feature of the DFS system is automatic monitoring of quotas. If you are close to filling up your allocated disk space, you will automatically receive an e-mail message informing you of this fact. Messages will be sent when you reach 85%, 95% and 100% of capacity.
21:
KNOWN ISSUES
A:
Issue: When trying to save a file to a mapped DFS drive (e.g., Orgs or HOME) my computer crashes (blue screen of death).
Most likely cause: Novell is still installed on the computer
Solution: Remove Novell (See question #19)
Issue: Outlook is slow when attaching files. Excel, Word are slow or freeze when opening or saving files (e.g. on File => Open or File => Save.)
Most likely cause: This can happen if there are disconnected network drives (in My Computer) pointing to old Novell servers (tigercat, ocelot or snowleopard) that were not properly disconnected.
Solution: Open My Computer, click on Tools => Disconnect Network Drives, then select any drives pointing to tigercat, ocelot or snowleopard, and click OK.
Issue: Open File Security Warning when opening .EXE file on middfiles
Solution: Add file://*.middlebury.edu to the list in Internet Explorer under Internet Options->Security->Local Intranet->Sites->Advanced