3.3 Changing the Language NetWare Uses

In general, it is best to install the NetWare server in the language of its intended use. A new server install prompts for language selection at the first selection screen. The languages available for a new server install are English (default), French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian.

However, it is possible to change the server language after NetWare has been installed.The steps outlined in this section are for changing the language on an existing NetWare 6.5 server from English to a different language. You can make these changes with the server running, but you must reboot the server for the changes to take effect.

You can also make the changes while the server is down (using DOS commands for renaming files and editing the startup.ncf file).

WARNING:Novell does not recommend converting a non-English-language server back to English, nor do we recommend changing a non-English server to another non-English language. If either is done, it is possible that documents and folders named with or containing foreign characters will become irreversibly corrupted.

Not every module and utility is translated into all of the languages; untranslated utilities display in English.

To change the server language and the NLM language, as well as adjusting the code page and character set where necessary:

  1. Swap in the new language's lconfig.sys file in the server startup directory:

    1. Copy the applicable lc_xxx.xxx file from the NetWare installation CD (located in \install\lconfig) to the server's startup directory (c:\nwserver). See Table 3-1.

    2. Rename the English lconfig file (c:\nwserver\lconfig.sys) to lconfig.eng.

    3. Rename the newly-copied lc_xxx.xxx file to lconfig.sys (also in c:\nwserver).

      For example:

      If you are changing the language to German, you would copy the LC_850.049 file and rename it to lconfig.sys.

      Among other things, this file specifies the server's DOS code page.

  2. Add the Language command for the new language to startup.ncf.

    Edit the server startup file c:\nwserver\startup.ncf, and add the applicable LANGUAGE xx command at the end. See the language commands in Table 3-1.

    For example:

    If you are changing the language to German, you would type

    LANGUAGE 7

    This command points the NLM programs to the correct directory for non-English message files on the server.

  3. Add the line to load the correct character set for the new language to startup.ncf:

    Edit c:\newserver\startup.ncf and add the applicable CHARSET CPxxx command at the end, below the LANGUAGE xx command.

    For example:

    If you are changing the language to German, you would type

    CHARSET CP850

    This line specifies the character set for the server console's video display; CP850 is good for most languages. See the charset commands in Table 3-1.

    Table 3-1 Lconfig Filenames, Language Numbers, and Code Page Numbers

    Language Name

    Lconfig Filename

    Language Command

    Charset Command

    French

    LC_850.033

    LANGUAGE 6

    CHARSET CP850

    Italian

    LC_850.039

    LANGUAGE 8

    CHARSET CP850

    German

    LC_850.049

    LANGUAGE 7

    CHARSET CP850

    Portuguese

    LC_850.055

    LANGUAGE 12

    CHARSET CP850

    Spanish

    LC_850.054

    LANGUAGE 14

    CHARSET CP850

    Russian

    LC_866.007

    LANGUAGE 13

    CHARSET CP866

  4. Reboot the server.

  5. Verify that the changes in place are correct:

    1. When the server is back up, enter LANGUAGE at the System Console prompt.

      Two lines are displayed:

      
Current NLM language is (the_new_language_number) and language_name


      
Current DOS code page is (new_code_page_number, matching the LC_xxx part of the lconfig filename).

    2. Load a translated utility at the server console, such as NWCONFIG, to verify that the language is active and the character display is correct.

      load nwconfig

      If the translated utility displays, this confirms that the CHARSET setting is correct.

  6. (Conditional) If you need to change the server keyboard type, use the KEYB utility.

    1. At the System Console prompt, enter

      unload keyb

      Even though typing this command won't do anything, we recommend doing this step so that you can use the up-arrow key to recall this command later, if needed, for a suddenly unfamiliar keyboard mapping.

    2. Display a list of options to the Logger screen by entering the following at the System Console prompt:

      keyb

    3. Switch to the Logger screen to find the keyboard type that matches the one you are using.

    4. Change the keyboard type to match your keyboard by entering the following at the System Console prompt:

      [load] keyb keyboard_type

      For example:

      [load] keyb germany

    5. If you need to return to the server’s previous keyboard type, enter the following at the System Console prompt:

      unload keyb

      For more information, see KEYB in the NW 6.5 SP8: Utilities Reference.