[ale] Redoing Novell server to linux

[Jim Kinney]

A big suggestion. Do a full backup of the original novel server first.
Don't start this changeover until a Friday. Have the ability to fully
restore by Monday the novell if the process hits a snag.

It would be a much better scenario if you could build a seperate machine
first, install Linux and configure it to do all the same stuff as the
novell box currently does. 

I don't see any "drop-dead" problems. The mirror will require a kernel
patch and recompile (no big deal). Getting all the print cues correct with
correct drivers may be a problem. The other big headache I see is
translating the access/permissions from novell to Linux. This is where
having the Linux, at least, initially, on a seperate machine would be
usefull. 

On the HP JetDirect cards, some of the really old ones don't have good
TCP/IP. I was never able to get remote printing to work with these. One of
the cards has the designation "1793" the HP logo, then "J2337-80001   A".
It just won't do TCP/IP. Works great under novell. It has a 10BaseT and a
10Base2 connector.

Good Luck and lot's of caffeine!

On Thu, 7 Oct 1999, Gary S. Mackay wrote:

> I have a job coming up that involves blowing away a Novell SBS server and
> installing linux on it. I am planning on going with either RedHat or Mandrake.
> (Never used Mandrake before). The hardware is an HP LC3 box with dual 4gig
> hard drives that are currently mirrored under Novell. (I'd like to maintain
> that). It has an 8gig SCSI DAT drive with BackupExec, and a 4-port Digi board
> in it also. I plan on implimenting the masq, sendmail, and shared modem
> features on the server. Also, there are numerous laser printers with HP
> JetDirect cards in them, and even a Minolta copier with a 100bt network
> connection that appears as a printer on the Winbloze workstations.
> 
> Does anyone see a drop-dead reason not to do this? I will admit, tho I've
> setup many a linux server, this is the first 'large/mainstream/etc' job. I
> don't want to give linux a black eye, but I'm anxious to get my first big
> server out there. (I know, 'big' is relative!)
> 
> - Gary
> 
> 
> 
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