1.1.1 Storage and File System Services

Novell® Open Enterprise Server 2 provides two file systems for your NetWare servers: Novell Storage Services™ (NSS) File System and NetWare Traditional File System. NSS is the primary storage solution for NetWare and is the file system used for the NetWare system volume. During installation, NetWare creates an NSS system pool (sys) and volume (sys:) on your server’s primary hard drive. You must create other NSS pools and volumes before you can use your system effectively. For information, see the OES 2 SP1: NSS File System Administration Guide.

The NetWare Traditional File System is a legacy storage technology that preceded NetWare 6, when NSS became the primary file system for NetWare. It does not provide most of the capabilities and conveniences afforded by NSS. A NetWare Traditional volume cannot be used for the system volume in new installs. It is possible to keep an existing Traditional volume as the sys: volume if you upgrade from an older version. For information, see the NW65 SP8: Traditional File System Administration Guide

You can use the Traditional file system in combination with the NSS file system, if desired. However, if you are planning to implement Apple* File Protocol (AFP), Network File System (NFS), or Common Internet File System (CIFS) for your NetWare server, you must use the NSS file system, not the Traditional file system, for the system volume and for any data volumes that use these protocols. For information, see the NW 6.5 SP8: AFP, CIFS, and NFS (NFAP) Administration Guide.

For a comparison of NSS and Traditional file systems, see Comparison of NSS on NetWare and the NetWare Traditional File System in the OES 2 SP1: NSS File System Administration Guide.

1.1.2 Maximum Size of Logical or Physical Devices

NSS and Traditional file systems recognize logical or physical devices up to 2 TB in size. If you have a storage disk larger than 2 TB in size, use the storage device’s management utility to carve the disk into smaller logical devices.

1.1.3 Device Identification

In NetWare, the NSS Media Manager assigns unique identifiers for all storage devices and individual segments on those devices. The identifier represents the same device in all NetWare utilities and console commands. For an explanation of the device numbering system, see Section 1.3, Partition Numbers and Device Names.

1.1.4 Device Drivers

All storage devices require drivers. The NetWare Peripheral Architecture™ (NWPA) divides device drivers into two types:

For more information, see Section 1.4, Drivers for Host Adapters and Storage Devices.

1.1.5 Device Configuration and Management

To configure and manage devices for use with NSS for NetWare, use one of the following management tools:

For information, see the OES 2 SP1: NSS File System Administration Guide.

To configure and manage devices for the Traditional file system, use the Novell Remote Manager for NetWare. For information, see the NW 6.5 SP8: Novell Remote Manager Administration Guide.

1.1.6 File System Management for Directories and Files

Use one of the following management tools to manage directories and files on NSS and NetWare Traditional file systems:

For example, you can configure file system trustees, trustee rights, and attributes for directories and files. For information, see the OES 2 SP1: File Systems Management Guide.

1.1.7 Software RAID Devices

To increase data fault tolerance, on NSS file systems, you can also create a software RAID 0 (striping), RAID 1 (mirroring), and RAID 5 (striping with parity). See Managing NSS Software RAID Devices in the OES 2 SP1: NSS File System Administration Guide.

On NetWare Traditional file systems, you can create software RAIDs 0 and 1. See Using Software RAID1 Devices for Data Fault Tolerance and Using Software RAID0 Devices to Enhance Disk I/O Performance in the NW65 SP8: Traditional File System Administration Guide.