5.5 Meeting the Installation Requirements

Before you start the process of installation, ensure you have met the following prerequisites. These steps can be used to validate the state of the system before beginning the installation process.

5.5.1 Resolving Samba Dependencies on Selecting DSfW Patterns

Beginning with OES 11, the base samba packages are replaced with novell-oes-samba packages. While installing DSFW pattern, a dialog box is displayed that prompts you to replace base sles samba packages. You must select the option to replace the existing samba rpm's with novell-oes-samba.

5.5.2 Installation Prerequisites For a Non-Name-Mapped Setup

Domain Name and Name Server Configuration is Correct

Before installing DSfW, ensure the domain name is entered correctly in YaST. To verify and correct the domain name, do the following:

  1. Open YaST>Network Devices>Network Settings. Select the Hostname/DNS tab.

    NOTE:You must ensure that the hostname in the properties of the active ethernet controller is a FQDN. For example, if the hostname in the Hostname/DNS tab is dsfw-dc1 and domain name is dsfw.com, then the hostname of the active ethernet controller must be dsfw-dc1.dsfw.com. You can modify the hostname of the active ethernet controller by using the Edit option in the Overview tab.

  2. Verify that the domain name is correct.

  3. Ensure that you follow the guidelines given below to configure the name server on a DSfW domain controller:

    • While configuring the forest root domain, for DNS name resolution during installation, the name server must point to a valid DNS server. After the DSfW server is configured successfully, the forest root domain controller will always act as the DNS server for the first DSfW domain. To ensure that the forest root domain DNS sever resolves other existing domains in your environment, complete the necessary forwarder settings.

    • To configure the subsequent DSfW domain controllers or DSfW domains, the Name Server 1 entry must point to the forest root domain's IP address.

    • If the existing DNS infrastructure is running on Novell OES DNS server and the zone for the DSfW domain being configured is already existing, the DSfW configuration has the built-in capability to extend the existing zone. Ensure that the correct DNS-DHCP locator object is specified during DSfW configuration in YaST. For more information, see Step 17.

    IMPORTANT:In case of installation of a child domain, make sure you specify the name of the parent domain in the Domain Search field for resolving hostnames.

  4. Click OK to save the changes.

DNS Server is Installed

In a default configuration, there is only one DNS server in a DSfW forest which is the first domain controller of the first DSfW domain. You must ensure that the DNS configuration (/etc/resolv.conf) of all domain controllers in all domains of a DSfW forest point to this DNS server. This applies to all workstations or member servers joined to any DSfW domain.

To split the DNS information across a domain, you must do the following:

  • For every DSfW domain that is configured, specify one or more domain controllers of a given domain to host the DNS server.

  • Ensure that all the workstation or domain servers joined to a particular domain point to one of the DNS servers hosting the domain.

  • After the DNS information is split, verify that any name or address resolution to all domains of a DSfW forest works fine. To verify this, you must set up two-way forwarders between the DSfW domains.

Time is Synchronized

Ensure time is synchronized between all servers in the replica ring by executing the following command:

ndscheck -a <bind dn> -w <password>

This command in addition to displaying partition and replica health also displays time difference between servers in the replica ring. If you observe a time difference between the server, ensure that all the servers in the replica ring are referencing the same NTP server. After this is done, restart the NTP server by using the rcntp restart command.

Server State in the Replica Ring

Verify that the state of the servers in the replica ring is On by executing the following command:

ndsstat -r

The ndsstat utility displays information related to eDirectory servers, such as the eDirectory tree name, the fully distinguished server name, and the eDirectory version.

5.5.3 Installation Prerequisites for a Name-Mapped Setup

In case of a name-mapped installation, you are installing DSfW in an existing tree. To ensure the installation does not encounter errors, make sure you meet the following prerequisites:

Domain Name and Name Server Configuration is Correct

Before installing DSfW, ensure the domain name is entered correctly in YaST. To verify and correct the domain name, do the following:

  1. Open YaST>Network Devices>Network Settings. Select the Hostname/DNS tab.

    NOTE:You must ensure that the hostname in the properties of the active ethernet controller is a FQDN. For example, if the hostname in the Hostname/DNS tab is dsfw-dc1 and domain name is dsfw.com, then the hostname of the active ethernet controller must be dsfw-dc1.dsfw.com. You can modify the hostname of the active ethernet controller by using the Edit option in the Overview tab.

  2. Verify that the domain name is correct.

  3. Ensure that you follow the guidelines given below to configure the name server on a DSfW domain controller:

    • While configuring the forest root domain, for DNS name resolution during installation, the name server must point to a valid DNS server. After the DSfW server is configured successfully, the forest root domain controller will always act as the DNS server for the first DSfW domain. To ensure that the forest root domain DNS sever resolves other existing domains in your environment, complete the necessary forwarder settings.

    • To configure the subsequent DSfW domain controllers or DSfW domains, the Name Server 1 entry must point to the forest root domain's IP address.

    • If the existing DNS infrastructure is running on Novell OES DNS server and the zone for the DSfW domain being configured is already existing, the DSfW configuration has the built-in capability to extend the existing zone. Ensure that the correct DNS-DHCP locator object is specified during DSfW configuration in YaST. For more information, see Step 17.

    IMPORTANT:In case of installation of a child domain, make sure you specify the name of the parent domain in the Domain Search field for resolving hostnames.

  4. Click OK to save the changes.

eDirectory Version

Before installing DSfW, ensure that the eDirectory version is 8.8 SP2 or greater. You must also ensure that the eDirectory version of the servers holding the writable replica of the tree root partition is 8.8 SP2 and above.

Container is Partitioned

The container in which you are installing DSfW must be partitioned.

DNS Server is Installed

In a default configuration, there is only one DNS server in a DSfW forest which is the first domain controller of the first DSfW domain. You must ensure that the DNS configuration (/etc/resolv.conf) of all domain controllers in all domains of a DSfW forest point to this DNS server. This applies to all workstations or member servers joined to any DSfW domain.

To split the DNS information across a domain,you must do the following:

  • For every DSfW domain that is configured, specify one or more domain controllers of a given domain to host the DNS server.

  • Ensure that all the workstation or domain servers joined to a particular domain point to one of the DNS servers hosting the domain.

  • After the DNS information is split, verify that any name or address resolution to all domains of a DSfW forest works fine. To verify this, you must set up two-way forwarders between the DSfW domains.

Time is Synchronized

Ensure time is synchronized between all servers in the replica ring by executing the following command:

ndscheck -a <bind dn> -w <password>

This command in addition to displaying partition and replica health also displays time difference between servers in the replica ring. If you observe a time difference between the server, ensure that all the servers in the replica ring are referencing the same NTP server. After this is done, restart the NTP server using the rcntp restart command.

Schema is Synchronized

Ensure the schema is synchronized on all the servers in the replica ring by executing the following command on all the servers:

ldapsearch -b cn=schema -s base -x attributetypes=<schema attribute>

Substitute the schema attribute value with an attribute you have used in the schema.

For example: ldapsearch -b cn=schema -s base -x attributetypes=xad-domain-flag

Server State in the Replica Ring

Verify that the state of the servers in the replica ring is On by executing the following command:

ndsstat -r

The ndsstat utility displays information related to eDirectory servers, such as the eDirectory tree name, the fully distinguished server name, and the eDirectory version.

Permissions for Objects

When you are installing in a name-mapped setup, ensure that you have adequate permissions for the following objects in the tree:

  • Container that is being provisioned

  • Permissions for DNS Locator and Group objects

  • Permissions to the Security container

  • Modify permissions to the NCP servers holding replica of the master server

Container Names

When you are installing DSfW, it creates few default containers. Make sure that the following container names do not already exist under the domain partition:

  • cn=Computers

  • cn=Users

  • ou=Domain Controllers

  • cn=DefaultMigrationContainer

  • cn=Deleted Objects

  • cn=ForeignSecurityPrincipals

  • cn=Infrastructure

  • cn=LostAndFound

  • cn=NTDS Quotas

  • cn=Program Data

  • cn=System

  • cn=Container