Enter the NetWare Impostor

Microsoft's File and Print Services for NetWare helps Windows NT servers slip into most NetWare environments

Steve Gillmor

Microsoft is offering a major enticement for NetWare network administrators to use Windows NT with File and Print Services for NetWare (FPNW), a Windows NT Server 3.51 utility that makes an NT server work like a NetWare 3.12 file and print server. With FPNW, NetWare clients can use existing NetX or virtual-loadable-module (VLM) client software to access NT server resources, including server applications. FPNW includes an enhanced Migration Tool for NetWare, which transfers NetWare user and group accounts, log-in scripts, files and directories, and equivalent security to the NT server.

Point-and-Click Installation

FPNW's setup program prompts for a Supervisor password, lets you specify frame types for network adapters, and creates a NetWare volume called SYSVOL on the default drive corresponding to NetWare's SYS: volume. The NetWare Supervisor account is added to the Administrator's group. You double-click on the User Manager for Domains icon and choose New User from the User menu to create or modify a NetWare-enabled account.

You use File Manager to create and share a NetWare volume, assigning file and directory permissions if you are working on an NT File System (NTFS) volume. Administrators can manage FPNW from its icon in Control Panel or via the Properties command on the FPNW menu in Server Manager. You click on the Users button to view and manage NetWare client connections to the server and specific files.

Microsoft clients can access printers that are controlled by NetWare print servers by using Print Manager to create a logical printer to represent the NetWare one. Using the Print Server command on the FPNW menu in Server Manager, you associate NetWare print servers, attached printers, and print queues to the Windows NT server printer.

NTFS-based file and directory security most resembles NetWare security, with group and user-file access controlled by permissions that are equivalent to NetWare trustee rights. FPNW does a good job of mapping directory and file rights, handling NetWare file rights such as Create and File Scan at the directory level.

You can also install FPNW's administrative tools on an NT workstation to allow remote administration of FPNW servers.

A Sturdy-Enough Bridge

FPNW does not support NetWare loadable modules (NLMs), nor does it work with NetWare 4.x (and its NetWare Directory Service, or NDS). But Microsoft is counting on the growing number of NT applications to smooth the transition.

FPNW lets NetWare users employ a single account and password to access the individual strengths of both NetWar e file and print services and Windows NT application services. Moving all the way to NT becomes a small step.

This product is a huge threat to NetWare's dominance.

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

Microsoft File and Print Services for NetWare.......$99.95 

                                   (estimated retail price)
Microsoft Corp.
Redmond, WA
(800) 426-9400
(206) 882-8080
fax: (206) 936-7329

http://www.microsoft.com

Circle 976 on Inquiry Card.

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SYSVOL Equals SYS:

screen_link (18 Kbytes)

FPNW creates a NetWare volume called SYSVOL, which corresponds to NetWare's SYS: volume.

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Steve Gillmor is director of Southern Digital, Inc. (Charleston, South Carolina). You can reach him at sgillmor@aol.com .