Guide to Novell NetWare 3'x Administration, Enhanced Edition

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Guide to Novell NetWare 3.x Administration,
Enhanced Edition

• Chapter 4

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Chapter 2 - Microcomputer Hardware

• Identify the hardware components that make up a
  microcomputer system
• Compare and contrast microprocessors used on
  workstations and NetWare servers
• Describe the purpose of and use of expansion
  buses, I/O ports, and interrupts in a
  microcomputer system

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Chapter 2 - Microcomputer Hardware

• Compare and contrast storage systems used on
  NetWare servers
• Apply knowledge of computer hardware components
  when developing NetWare server specifications

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The Microcomputer

• The microcomputer is commonly called the personal
  computer (PC)
• People who use PCs are referred to as end users,
  or users
• PCs used by users are often referred to as PC
  workstations, or workstations
• The system board is the most important component
  of a microcomputer because it links all of the
  individual system components

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The Microcomputer

• The system board circuits that connect components
  are called buses
• The local bus connects the CPU to memory
• The data bus transfers data to and from the CPU
• Th address bus carries the memorys byte address
  from the CPU to the memory unit
• The expansion bus connects the expansion card
  slots to the system boards components
• A direct memory access (DMA) channel handles data
  transfer from memory to external devices

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The Microcomputer

• The central processing unit (CPU), or
  micro-processor is the brain of the microcomputer
• Clock speed measures clock cycles in millions of
  cycles per second (megahertz or gigahertz)
• Word size is the number of bits each
  microprocessor temporary data register can hold
• The instruction set is the group of commands that
  the microprocessor chip processes
• A math coprocessor allows the microprocessor to
  perform more complex arithmetic operations

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The Microcomputer

• Interrupts and I/O ports monitor input from and
  output to the computer system
• An interrupt request (IRQ) is a signal that a
  peripheral device or controller card sends to the
  CPU to indicate that it needs attention each
  device needs its own unique interrupt so that the
  processor does not misinterpret the source of the
  interrupt signal
• An I/O port is a memory location that the CPU
  uses to send control commands to a peripheral
  device and read back status information

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The Microcomputer

• The parallel port connects the computer to a
  parallel cable, which transfers data to a
  peripheral device 8-bits at a time
• The parallel port is most often used for printers
• The serial port connects the computer to a serial
  cable, which transfers data to a peripheral
  device 1 bit at a time
• Synchronous communication sends data in blocks
• Asynchronous communication sends only one
  character at a time

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The Microcomputer

• Expansion slots connect add-in cards through the
  slots connectors
• ISA Bus 16-bit data / 24-bit address bus at 8MHz
• Micro Channel 32-bit expansion slots at 33 MHz
• EISA Extends ISA to 32-bit data / address slots
• VESA Extended 16-bit ISA slot, enabling use of
  either a VESA device or a 16-bit adapter, 33 MHz
• PCI Improves VESA by avoiding the standard I/O
  bus and using the system bus, 60 or 66 MHz

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The Microcomputer

• Computer memory stores software and data so that
  the CPU can access each storage cell directly -
  this allows for faster processing
• RAM is the computer's primary workspace
• ROM is used to store boot instructions
• CMOS contains a built-in setup program used to
  store computer configuration information
• Cache memory increases the speed of processing by
  allowing the CPU to access data or instructions
  without using wait states

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The Microcomputer

• RAM is supplied on memory cards called single
  in-line memory modules (SIMMs)
• SIMMs are arranged on system boards in banks,
  which contain from one to four SIMM sockets
• The number of SIMM banks determines the maximum
  amount of computer memory and the ease of memory
  expansion
• The Pentium II also supports dual in-line memory
  modules (DIMMs), which are a combination of two
  SIMMs that are read alternately in memory-access
  cycles

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The Microcomputer

• Memory management, for the most part, is handled
  automatically by Microsoft Windows
• Conventional memory is the first 640 KB used by
  Disk Operating System (DOS) applications
• Upper memory is between 640 KB and 1 MB and is
  reserved for hardware use
• Extended memory, above 1 MB, is available to CPUs
  running in protected or virtual mode
• DOS requires an extended memory manager to take
  advantage of extended memory

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The Microcomputer

• Disk storage systems hold the data and
  instructions that need to be retrieved and placed
  in RAM before processing can begin
• The magnetic disk drive is where data is stored
  by means of magnetic fields
• An access arm allows the recording heads to move
  back and forth across the disk surface in order
  to perform record and playback functions
• The disk surface is divided into concentric
  circles called tracks, which are divided into
  smaller recording areas called sectors

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The Microcomputer

• Floppy disk drives used to be available in two
  sizes 5-1/4 inches and 3-1/2 inches
• 5-1/4-inch disks are obsolete, for the most part
• 3-1/2 inch is now the standard size due to higher
  densities, more reliability, and easier storage
• Due to greater storage requirements and capacity
  needs, 3-1/2 inch floppy disk drives are now
  giving way to higher density disks called LS-120s
  (120 MB capacity), Iomega Zip drives (100 MB
  capacity), and CD-ROM (680 MB capacity)

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The Microcomputer

• Hard disk drives contain rigid aluminum platters,
  each having its own read/write head
• New hard disks need to be partitioned for use by
  the specific operating system
• The directory area of the partition contains the
  names and locations of files and other data about
  files stored in the partition
• Storing an entire file can require many sectors
  scattered throughout the partition and operating
  systems use a file allocation table (FAT) to link
  all the sectors belonging to one file

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The Microcomputer

• Disk interfaces, or controller cards, enable a
  systems CPU to control the floppy and hard
  drives and provide a path for data to be
  transferred between the disk and the memory
• The most common disk controller cards are IDE
  (supports up to two hard disk drives), and EIDE
  (supports up to four hard disk drives)
• Servers and high-end workstations use SCSI, which
  can support up to seven SCSI devices
• SCSI-2 and SCSI-3 improve SCSI capabilities

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The Microcomputer

• Other disk storage devices include
• RAID systems, which provide fault tolerance by
  backing up, or mirroring existing disk systems
• CD-ROM drives, which use laser instead of
  magnetic technology, provide over 680 MB of data
  storage and are an excellent way to distribute
  and access large files (such as software
  applications)
• DVD-ROM drives use the same size disk as CD-ROM,
  but provide 4.7 GB of data storage, and these
  devices represent the merger of computer, audio
  and video

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The Microcomputer

• A computers ability to display graphics depends
  on its video adapter card
• VGA adapters and monitors are typical in older
  computer systems
• SVGA adapters enhanced VGA and offer better
  resolution and more color combinations
• XGA is the latest in monitor technology for
  laptops and notebook computers and enhances SVGA
• Graphics accelerators speed graphics operations
  by building video adapters with a microprocessor

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The Microcomputer

• The power system is the most important part of
  any computer system because all components depend
  on electricity to operate
• Power supplies provide electricity and filter out
  the power irregularities that cause computer
  crashes
• The NetWare server, should have a separate and
  dedicated power line from the main fuse box
• Power filters are a necessity and they remove
  power surges and electrical noise
• A UPS will provide power to the system for up to
  30 minutes after commercial power fails

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The Workstation

• Each users workstation should provide network
  connectivity to ensure that the user can handles
  any job responsibilities
• Microsoft recommends a Pentium 166 MHz
  microprocessor for Windows 2000 Professional and
  a Pentium 300 MHz for XP Professional
• For either of these operating systems, the
  minimum amount of RAM is 128 MB
• The workstations hard drive size is determined
  by the number and size of applications, programs
  and data files that will be stored locally

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The NetWare Server

• The NetWare server can be enhanced with
  specialized hardware and software to give better
  performance, security and reliability
• Novell recommends a 386, 8 MHz microprocessor for
  its servers
• Novell recommends 4 MB RAM memory for optimal
  performance
• There are many factors that affect server storage
  requirements, such as the operating system needs,
  software packages, application and user data
  storage, and estimated expansion

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The NetWare Server

• Performance features include
• File caching to keep frequently accessed disk
  blocks in memory
• Directory caching to keep the directory entry,
  and file allocation tables in memory
• Elevator seeking to minimize the amount of disk
  drive head movement
• Fault tolerance to ensure that a system is able
  to operate satisfactorily despite errors NetWare
  includes hot fixes, disk mirroring, disk
  duplexing, and server duplexing

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The NetWare Server

• Additional performance features include
• File compression to compress files to a smaller
  size in order to conserve storage space
• Block suballocation also helps conserve hard disk
  space by allowing large file block sizes be
  divided into smaller sub-blocks when necessary
  for better hard disk space management

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Chapter Summary

• Microprocessor systems are like any other
  computer system, performing four basic processes
  input, processing, storage and output. Input
  devices take information and commands from the
  outside world and convert them into the binary
  one and zero system used in digital computers.
  The system unit of the computer, made up of
  several components, enables the computer to
  process input data and produce information. The
  computers system board ties all the system unit
  components together.

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Chapter Summary

• The most important component on the system board
  is the brain of the system unit, the
  microprocessor chip, also know as the central
  processing unit (CPU). The CPU fetches
  instructions and data from memory and then
  performs the requested function. IBM-compatible
  computers are based on the Intel line of
  microprocessors.
• The power of a microprocessor chip is based on
  several factors, including clock speed, word
  size, instruction set, and bus size. The
  IBM-compatible computers today use the Pentium,
  Pentium Pro or Pentium II microprocessor.

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Chapter Summary

• The system board components are tied together by
  a bus structure. The local bus supports the data
  and address buses, and the expansion bus supports
  the expansion slots. The ISA expansion bus was
  designed with 16-bit data and 24-bit address
  buses running at 8 MHz. The EISA bus allowed
  32-bit buses and higher clock speeds. IBM used a
  proprietary bus, called the Micro Channel, that
  provided 32-bit bus access at high clock speeds
  and an automatic configuration utility that made
  installing cards easier. PCI is called a local
  bus because it provides direct access to the CPU
  and memory at much higher speeds than either EISA
  or Micro Channel.

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Chapter Summary

• The system board uses I/O ports and interrupts to
  communicate with the peripherals devices such as
  keyboards, video monitors, modems, disk drives,
  and network cards. Parallel ports are most
  frequently used to connect printers, whereas
  serial ports provide longer distance
  communication.
• Memory is the primary storage area for the
  microprocessor system. All instructions and data
  must be stored in memory before they can be
  processed by the CPU. RAM is the computers work
  area, used primarily to contain instructions and
  data that are being processed.

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Chapter Summary

• Hard disk storage consists of the controller card
  and drive. Hard drives are based on either
  IDE/EIDE/ATA or SCSI controller cards. IDE is
  popular for Windows workstations and small to
  medium NetWare servers. EIDE or ATA controllers
  provide higher speed and increased storage (up to
  8.5 GB) and support up to four devices. SCSI-2
  controller cards can be used to attach up to
  seven different types of devices, such as disk
  drives, CD-ROM drives and tape drives. They allow
  for higher capacity and faster drives than IDE
  and are used for larger NetWare servers requiring
  multiple devices and more than 10 GB of disk
  space.

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Chapter Summary

• CD-ROMs allow 680 MB of data storage. CD-ROMs are
  used to store sound, text, graphics, and video.
  Because so much material is available on CD-ROM,
  sharing them on a network has become an important
  function controlled by the network administrator.
  DVD-ROM is an improvement of the CD-ROM
  technology and holds up to 4.7 GB of data.
• The power system of the computer is critical to
  proper operation. Insufficient or faulty power
  supplies can cause computers to lock up or give
  parity error messages. A UPS provides continuous
  power for a short time after a commercial power
  failure.

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Chapter Summary

• User workstations using Windows 2000 Professional
  or Windows XP Professional need at least a
  Pentium 166 MHz CPU or 233 MHz CPU, respectively,
  and 64 MB of RAM. Hard drive storage of at least
  2 GB is preferred if applications and data are
  stored locally.
• Novell designed the NetWare NOS specifically as a
  LAN server operating system, with performance
  features such as high-volume file caching,
  directory caching and hashing, and elevator
  seeking. NetWare also includes such
  fault-tolerant features as hot fixes, disk
  mirroring, disk and server duplexing. NetWare
  provides file compression and block suballocation.

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Chapter Summary

• NetWare 6 requires a Pentium III 700 MHz or
  better CPU. The NetWare server uses its RAM to
  run the operating system and cache information
  from the hard disk for faster access. Although a
  NetWare server with a small disk drive can run
  with as little as 256 MB of RAM, this is the
  absolute minimum. A large server running multiple
  protocols might need up to 2 GB of RAM. Although
  placing additional RAM on a NetWare server does
  not directly affect which applications can be run
  on the workstation, it does affect the network
  performance. A shortage of memory can cause it to
  crash or lock up the network.