Upgrading and Repairing Networks (5th Edition)

Before you can use the eDirectory, you must decide what operating system you want to use. Because the eDirectory can be hosted by many operating systems, this choice will depend on the major operating systems used in your network. For example, if you are a windows shop, you might want to install the eDirectory on a Windows platform. If your network is based primarily on Unix or Linux, you may prefer to install the directory on one of those platforms. The choice of which platform to use for the installation should be made by considering which operating system your IT department is most familiar with.

Hardware Requirements

Depending on the number of objects and attributes you will store in the eDirectory, as well as the operating-system platform you will use, the hardware requirements will vary. In the following sections that describe installing the eDirectory on different operating systems, you will find a table that describes several situations that show the hardware requirements, depending on the size of the eDirectory you want to create. If you anticipate using the eDirectory for more than the minimal number of objects, you should also plan to use a hardware platform that is more powerful, as shown in these tables. If you decide to add objects or attributes that are not part of the generic eDirectory installation, you need to consider using values larger than those shown in these tables. For example, if you operate a specialized business that requires you to create objects specific to your business requirements, and the default objects in the eDirectory cannot be used for your purposes, then use these tables to estimate the hardware you will need.

Novell suggests the following basic hardware requirements for installing any version of the eDirectory:

• Java 1.3.

• Video graphics card supporting 8 bits, 256 colors (which all modern systems support).

• If installing on NetWare, the video card should at least be compliant with VESA (a 32-bit bus operating at 50MHz, which operates at approximately the speed of the microprocessor). However, for NetWare 6.x, this may not be necessary. Obviously, with all current systems supporting both PCI and AGP, this requirement should not be much of a roadblock.

Although the preceding video settings are basic to the installation of the eDirectory, you should probably consider upgrading your video card. It is quite possible that you will end up viewing distortions on your monitor that might hang the installation. So, for most installs , consider upgrading your video card to a higher specification than the minimal specifications described.

Hardware Requirements for NetWare 6.x, Windows NT/2000/Server 2003, and Linux

You can install the eDirectory on NetWare 6.x. For backward compatibility you can also install the directory on 5.x servers, but you should check the Web site www.novell.com to ensure that your 5.1 NetWare system has been patched and upgraded to the newest requirements for the eDirectory. For NetWare 5.1 this includes Support Pack 5, as well as other requirements. The hardware and software requirements described in the remainder of this chapter are based on the eDirectory, version 8.7. In some cases you may be required to update your 5.x NetWare installation to NetWare 6 to use the eDirectory.

For installing the eDirectory on NetWare 6.x, Table 34.1 describes the hardware requirements, depending on the minimal number of basic objects and attributes (included with the eDirectory) you will require. This table can also be used to judge the minimal requirements necessary for installing the eDirectory on Windows NT/2000/2003 servers.

Table 34.1. Minimal Hardware Requirements for NetWare 6.x

Hardware Requirements for Solaris Unix

Another popular operating system you can use to install the eDirectory is the Solaris operating system from Sun Microsystems. Table 34.2 shows the hardware requirements you will need to meet in order to install the directory on this platform. Again, these are minimal requirements, and you need to take into consideration additional requirements if you plan to use additional objects or attributes. In the Unix environment this will probably be an important factor due to the nature of Unix versus NetWare, Linux, and Windows systems. This is due to the dissimilarity of these operating systems, and the types of objects you will need to access using the eDirectory.

Additionally, if you plan to use multiple authentication methods or encryption, or other services, such as security certificates, which will use additional CPU resources, then consider increasing your hardware from these minimal requirements. And if you choose to create additional indices in addition to those offered by the directory, again consider increasing both disk space and CPU capacity to provide for acceptable performance.

Table 34.2. Minimal Hardware Requirements for Solaris Unix

Hardware Requirements for Solaris AIX Unix

IBM's version of Unix is called AIX. This version of Unix was designed to run on large mainframes as well as minicomputers and now typical network servers. The requirements for this platform are described in Table 34.3.

Table 34.3. Minimal Hardware Requirements for Solaris Unix

Installing the eDirectory for Supported Platforms

If you have met the hardware requirements described previously for the platform that will host the eDirectory, you can begin the installation. Because the steps involved are vastly different for each of the supported operating systems, see the NetWare documentation for specific instructions on how to install the eDirectory, provided that you have met the minimum hardware requirements listed in the preceding section.