Advice requested - virtualising existing Netware 3.12 server.
Heff
10 year old installation of Netware 3.12 (50 user) on an Intel server,
hosting Dataflex 2.1b database files. Using IPX
Same LAN has Win SBS2003 server with about a dozen clients (IP)
Netware clients are either DOS PCs (obviously not part of the domain, only
used to reference the database) and some of the SBS clients. System is in
use 7 days/week, 360 days/year.
The Intel server has a known weakness - we have known this model motherboard
to fail on being restarted after having been on for a long time. (Once on
this server and four times on two identical build servers at a different
site). We have one spare motherboard.
Server is PentiumII (450?), 128MB RAM, Storage: 16GB (8GBx3 RAID5).
Other than basic user administration, and file backup/restore, I have not
done any work with Netware for well over 10 years. (A reliable system has
made me very rusty).
I have seen http://forums.novell.com/showthread.php?t=388813 and this seems
to describe the steps I need to follow. I think that the least disruptive
way to carry out the migration would to be to create an image and set up the
virtual server while I leave the old server in place. Once the virtual
server is running I can copy the database files across and swap over the
servers.
Advice would be appreciated regarding the following.
1. Recommended hardware platform specification to use. I have a diskless,
unused HP ML110 G5 to hand which could be put into service, but it may be
preferable to buy a newer piece of kit with a longer manufacturers warranty.
2. Recommended host operating system.
3. What would be the safest way to identify and apply any necessary patches,
prior to migration.
4. What would be the best way to transfer the disk image from old server to
virtual machine.
Heff.
Heff
Mike Jacoubowsky
news:czvMm.3481$K62...@kovat.provo.novell.com...
Haven't visited for a while, looks like not many others have either! If
you're still figuring things out-
A product that simplified the procedure for me tremendously was Server
Magic, from Powerquest. http://www.gtpcc.org/gtpcc/servermagic.htm
Unfortunately, it's long-since gone, but if you can locate a copy somewhere,
it can do a great job of cloning your present system, including moving up to
a larger hard drive if desired.
I wouldn't bother with a virtualized installation. The equipment required to
run Netware 3.12 would be dramatically surpassed in just about any 5 year
old computer you were scrapping in favor of something faster. Just set it up
headless with a keyboard/monitor switch, or use one of the remote utilities
(which I don't recall the name of at the moment).
Back in the day, Netware was kinda picky about hardware. It was my
experience that that became less of an issue over time, providing you had
device drivers for the hardware.
Ultimately, you'll want to see if you can move your dataflex software over
to a different platform, something more modern, so you won't be held hostage
by a system where those with experience are gradually dying off.
Figuratively, of course. As they say, "I'm not dead yet!"
--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA