Default values for NetWare server parameters provide maximum performance for most systems. You should seldom need to modify these values. But when you need to modify them, we recommend that you first read the topics listed here.
NetWare has been tuned for the specific duties of a network server. It has been thoroughly tested with software tools designed to identify inefficiencies so they can be eliminated. NetWare gives outstanding off-the-shelf performance.
NetWare is also self-tuning. The following parameters are dynamically configured by the operating system:
Packet receive buffers
File cache buffers
Directory cache buffers
Memory for NLM programs
Service processes
Kernel processes
Kernel semaphores
Load balancing for multiple processors
File locks
Maximum number of open files
Turbo FAT index tables
TTS transactions
Router/server advertising
To tune the server for its particular processing load, three utilities are available to check or set server parameter values:
Novell Remote Manager (portal.nlm) is a Web-based utility that you run from a workstation. You can use Novell Remote Manager to navigate to quickly a specific parameter by clicking under the heading in the navigation frame, then selecting the category and value you want to change, and then changing or resetting the values to the default. For more information, see Viewing or Changing Set Parameters
in the NW 6.5 SP8: Novell Remote Manager Administration Guide.
Monitor is a character-based utility that you must use at the server console or access through Novell Remote Manager. Monitor also allows you to configure Set parameters from its Server Parameters option. This means you can set server parameter values from within Monitor without memorizing parameter names and their valid values. For more information, see MONITOR
in the NW 6.5 SP8: Utilities Reference.
SET is a command line utility executed at the System Console prompt. If you are familiar with the names of the server parameters, you might find that using Set commands at the System Console prompt is faster for routine tuning. For more information, see SET
in the NW 6.5 SP8: Utilities Reference.
Most Set parameter values are persistent and are stored in a the NetWare Registry. A NetWare server retains any settings that have been modified from the default values—even when it is taken down and then rebooted, the server will come up again with all the settings you have made to tune the server.
To ensure that explicit Set parameter changes are preserved, you can add the command for each change to the startup.ncf or autoexec.ncf file. For procedures on editing these files, see Using NWCONFIG to Create and Edit Startup Batch Files.
Locating the Set parameter values to check or set them is different is a little different in each utility (Novell Remote Manager, Monitor or SET).
Access Novell Remote Manager.
Click the link under the heading in the navigation frame.
Click a parameter category.
A list of parameters in that category that can be changed is displayed.
If you want to view a description of a parameter, click the icon next to the value.
If you are not sure what category a Set parameter is in, you can view and search the Server Configuration report in using Novell Remote Manager. The Configuration report lists all the Set parameters by category with their current settings.
Click the value for the parameter you want to change.
The current setting for the parameter and its range of valid values is displayed.
Type the new value in the current value field and click .
At the System Console prompt, enter
monitor
From the menu, select .
Press F1 for descriptions of the server parameter categories.
Press Esc to return to the menu of parameter categories.
Select a parameter category.
The parameters are displayed in the upper window. As you highlight the field for each parameter, a pop-up window displays a description of the parameter, its current setting, and its range of valid values.
When you have finished, press Esc until you return to the menu.
At the System Console prompt, enter
set
A numbered list of server parameter categories is displayed.
Enter the number associated with the category you want to view.
A list of parameter names is displayed. The name of each parameter appears highlighted in white with the current setting highlighted in yellow. The information also includes the limits (or range of valid values), the .ncf file the parameter can be set in, and a brief description.
If necessary, press any key to display additional parameters in the same category. Press Esc to exit the category.
To select another category, repeat the previous steps.
Most settings for NetWare server parameters are now persistent, whether you set them using Novell Remote Manager, Monitor, or Set commands. Nevertheless, you should record your optimum server configuration as part of documenting your network.
To write current values of settable parameters to a file and print it, complete the following:
Access Novell Remote Manager.
Click the link under the Manage Server heading in the navigation frame.
In the field, accept the default filename (settings.txt) or enter a different filename.
Click the button to the right of the field.
Browse to the file on the server and print it.
You can also check parameter values by using two other console commands: DISPLAY ENVIRONMENT and DISPLAY MODIFIED ENVIRONMENT.
The DISPLAY ENVIRONMENT command displays the current search paths and the current values of the settable server parameters. (Hidden parameters are not displayed.)
At the System Console prompt, enter
display environment
The name of each parameter appears highlighted in white. The current value appears in yellow. The limits (or range of valid values) and the default setting (if applicable) also appear.
In comparison, the display modified environment command displays only the server parameters that have values modified from the defaults.
At the System Console prompt, enter
display modified environment
The display is similar to that of DISPLAY ENVIRONMENT. The difference is that only modified parameters values are shown.
For more information, see Display Environment
and DISPLAY MODIFIED ENVIRONMENT
in the NW 6.5 SP8: Utilities Reference.
NetWare defaults were chosen after thorough testing to provide both excellent performance and system balance.
Before modifying defaults, you should track and log performance statistics. You can do this using Novell Remote Manager for NetWare or MONITOR
. You will also find the server log files useful in assessing the server’s performance. See Checking Server Error Logs.
You can modify default values to
Compensate temporarily for a poorly performing subsystem, allowing the server to remain in service.
Resolve inefficiencies.
Optimize performance and tune the server for its processing load.
For example, if your server has a slow hard disk or insufficient RAM, you can compensate temporarily by modifying defaults. The long-term solution is to replace the disk or to add RAM. See Matching Performance Capabilities.
If you were to modify some defaults, you could sacrifice the system’s balance and performance.
After thorough testing, we recommend, for example, that you do not modify the default settings of the Load Balancing Threshold or the Transaction Tracking parameters.
If you want to restore the default values of the settable server parameters, you can use the reset environment command.
When you run reset environment, you are prompted at each changed server parameter value.
At the System Console prompt, enter
reset environment
When the first parameter with modified values appears, you can choose to reset all values to their defaults or just reset the value of the parameter that is displayed. Or you can also skip to the next modified parameter.
For more information, see RESET ENVIRONMENT
in the NW 6.5 SP8: Utilities Reference.
Monitor reports many useful statistics and updates most of them every second with the return values from direct calls to the operating system. However, not all statistics are of equal value to the network administrator. The key dynamic statistics are displayed in Monitor’s General Information screen, which appears as soon as Monitor is accessed. For a description of these statistics, see What to Monitor and Why.
Novell Remote Manager and ConsoleOne® are other utilities that allow you to monitor server performance.
During initialization, NetWare executes two server boot files that are created by the installation process:
Startup.ncf . Executes first and loads the server’s disk drivers, name spaces, and some Set parameters. This file resides in the startup directory, c:\nwserver.
Autoexec.ncf . Stores the server name and IPX™ internal network number (if IPX is installed), loads the LAN drivers and settings for the network boards, binds the protocol to the installed drivers, and loads other NLM programs. This file resides in sys:\system.
IMPORTANT:Even if you use IP, the internal network number stored in this file serves as a unique server ID. IP uses this number to provide passive IPX support called Compatibility Mode.
An .ncf file executes all the commands within it. However, you can make a command optional by placing a question mark (?) in front of it. For the procedure, see Making a Command Optional in a Server Batch (.Ncf) File.
Remember that some Set commands can be executed only from the startup.ncf file. To find out whether a Set command must be executed in startup.ncf, see the detailed information for the parameter in Novell Remote Manager.
If a Set command is nonpersistent and you want its setting to remain when the server is restarted, then add the Set command for any nonpersistent parameters to the startup.ncf file.
When you install the server operating system, the installation process adds Set commands to the autoexec.ncf file—commands that control time zone and daylight savings time information, bindery context, and time server type.
You can add more Set commands to the autoexec.ncf file, if desired. To modify server batch files, you can use NWCONFIG or Editor at the server console or edit and upload the file using Novell Remote Manager. When the server is rebooted, any parameter values set by commands in the autoexec.ncf file override previous values for those parameters.