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If you have a dedicated router---a PC running Novell Internet Access Server 4.1 over a two-user version of NetWare 4.11---and several NetWare workstations operating on a network, the router can reply with a NetWare file server's name---instead of its own---when it receives a SAP Get Nearest Server request. This is called proxying a file server .
Proxying avoids the situation in which several workstations on a network restart simultaneously, and the only path to a file server is through the dedicated router. When each workstation restarts, it sends a Get Nearest Server request to the router. Because the dedicated router cannot support multiple, simultaneous logins, all but one of the requesting workstations lock up and fail. Because the proxied file server has multiple connection slots, it can handle simultaneous NCP connection requests from the workstations.
A dedicated router always replies to Get Nearest Server requests. As a proxy, the router still replies but gives the proxy name rather than its own. In fact, the router replies with the server name even if the server is not active.
In addition to having a server proxy on the network, each NetWare workstation should be configured with a preferred server.
This topic contains the following sections:
Before you begin, you must know the name of the NetWare file server you want to proxy.
To proxy a NetWare file server, complete the following steps:
Load NIASCFG, then select the following parameter path:
Select Configure NIAS > Protocols and Routing > Protocols > IPX > Expert Configuration Options
By default, the Get Nearest Server Requests parameter is set to Accept . The setting you select applies to all interfaces. You can, however, override this setting on a particular interface. For a description of how to configure a network interface, refer to "Setting Up" in the documentation for the type of WAN interface you are using.
If you want the router to ignore Get Nearest Server requests, set Get Nearest Server Requests to Ignore .
Select Override Nearest Server , then select Enabled .
This parameter enables the router to respond to a workstation's Get Nearest Server requests with the proxied server name instead of its own name.
Select Nearest Server , then enter the name of a reliable server (one that is operating most of the time).
Press Esc and save your changes.
Press Esc to return to the Internetworking Configuration menu.
If you want these changes to take effect immediately, select Reinitialize System .
If you want to configure other parameters, do so now, then reinitialize the system when you are finished.
To make sure the router is proxying for the correct file server, complete the following steps:
At the router console prompt, enter
TRACK ON
Display the SAP Tracking screen.
Restart one of the NetWare workstations on the network.
Watch the SAP Tracking screen for the workstation's Get Nearest Server request and for the router's reply with the correct server name.
If you supplied the wrong name or the name of a server that the router cannot reach, the SAP Tracking screen displays the following message:
No response to GNS sent - no route to configured server <server_name>Return to the router console, then enter
TRACK OFF
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