8.1 Novell iManager and DFS-Related Plug-Ins

Novell iManager 2.7.5 is a Web browser-based tool used for configuring, managing, and administering Novell eDirectory objects on your network.

8.1.1 Installing the DFS-Related Plug-Ins in iManager

The Storage related plug-ins for iManager 2.7.5 contains the Distributed File Services (dfsmgmt.npm) role for Linux and NetWare, nssmgmt.npm and storagemgmt.npm files. You must install all the three plug-ins. For information about installing NPM files for iManager, see the Novell iManager 2.7.5 Installation Guide.

Table 8-1 NPM Files for iManager

Storage-Related Plug-In

NPM File

Use to Manage

Role in iManager

Distributed File Services Management

dfsmgmt.npm

Novell Distributed File Services

Distributed File Services

NSS Management

nssmgmt.npm

Novell Storage Services to Move Volume and Split Volume tasks for DFS

Storage

Storage Management

storagemgmt.npm

Contains common code for all storage-related plug-ins

Required when using any combination of storage-related plug-ins

IMPORTANT:The DFS and NSS Management plug-ins share code in common with other storage-related plug-ins in the storagemgmt.npm file. For more information, see Novell iManager and Storage-Related Plug-Ins in the OES 2015 SP1: NSS File System Administration Guide for Linux..

8.1.2 Accessing iManager

  1. Launch a Web browser.

  2. Click File > Open, then enter 

                  https://server-IP-address/nps/iManager.html

    The URL is case sensitive. Replace server-IP-address with the actual server DNS name or IP address. For example: 

    https://192.168.1.1/nps/iManager.html

    The iManager Login page opens.

  3. Use your administrator username and password to log in to the Novell eDirectory tree that contains the server you want to manage.

    In Novell iManager, you can access only the roles and tasks you are authorized to manage. For full access to all available Novell iManager features, you must log in as Supervisor of the tree.

8.1.3 Accessing Roles and Tasks in iManager

  1. Access iManager, then log in to the eDirectory tree where the server you want to manage resides.

    For information, see Section 8.1.2, Accessing iManager.

  2. In Roles and Tasks, do one of the following:

    • Expand the Distributed File Services role to reveal its main tasks.

    • Expand the Storage role to reveal its main tasks. The DFS Move Volume and Split Volume tasks are located on the Volumes page.

      The iManager NSS Storage Management Role and Tasks

    As you work in the storage-related plug-ins, use the navigation links at the top of the page, referred to as “breadcrumbs,” to return to pages you recently visited, or use the links in Roles and Tasks. If you use the Refresh and Back features of your Web browser to navigate, iManager returns you to the initial page you encountered after login.

  3. To activate the options on the selected page, select a server to manage.

    For information, see Section 8.1.4, Selecting a Server to Manage.

8.1.4 Selecting a Server to Manage

Before you can access the management options on a selected task page, you must select a server to manage that is in the same Novell eDirectory tree where you are currently logged in.

  1. Use one of the following methods to select a server in the tree where you are logged in:

    Server Search Field

    • Type the Novell eDirectory distinguished server name for the server you want to manage, then press Tab or click somewhere on the page outside of the Server field to enter your selection. For example: svr1.company.

    • Click the Search icon to open the eDirectory Object Selector. Browse or search the list to locate the server you want to manage, then click the server name.

    • Click the Object History icon to select a server you have recently managed.

  2. Wait for iManager to retrieve information about that server and display the appropriate information to the task page you are in.

    It might take several seconds to retrieve the information, depending on the size and complexity of your storage solution.

8.1.5 Distributed File Services Plug-In

The Distributed File Services plug-in for Novell iManager 2.7.7 provides the tasks described in this section.

Volume Job Control

After you use the Move Volume or Split Volume tasks on the Storage > Volumes page, use Distributed File Services > Volume Job Control to manage those jobs. For information about the Move Volume and Split Volume tasks, see Section 8.1.6, Storage Plug-In.

Table 8-2 Volume Job Control Tasks

Subtask

Description

Reference

Create a Move/Split Job

Move or split an NSS volume.

Planning for DFS

Move/Split Job Report

After creating a move volume or split volume job, view the job’s status report.

Managing Move Volume or Split Volume Jobs

Pause

Pause active move and split jobs.

Pausing a Move or Split Job

Resume

Resume previously paused move and split jobs.

Resuming a Move or Split Job

Reschedule

Reschedule pending move and split jobs.

Rescheduling a Move or Split Job

Delete

Cancel and delete pending move and split jobs.

Deleting a Move or Split Job

Finish

Manually force a job completion to occur for a selected move or split job that cannot complete without manual intervention. Typically, this occurs if files are open during the move or split process and cannot be copied to the new location.

Finishing a Move or Split Job

Create Junction

Create junctions anywhere on an NSS volume.

Delete Junction

Locate and delete existing junctions.

Modify Junction

Locate and modify the following settings for an existing DFS junction:

  • Junction name

  • Target location

  • Junction rights

  • Target rights on NSS volumes

    To modify target rights on NCP volumes go to the File Manager role, select Properties, then set the rights on the target location.

Manage Replica Sites

Use the Manage Replica Sites task to add, remove, or modify settings for replica sites that host the VLDB service for a DFS management context.

IMPORTANT:On Linux, adding or removing a replica server requires SFCB (CIMOM) to be running on the iManager server and the server you are managing in order to pass information securely to eDirectory. Otherwise, the iManager plug-in does not perform the task.

Table 8-3 Manage Replica Sites Tasks

Subtask

Description

Reference

Replica Sites

Select a server to find the DFS management context it is in, and view information about its replica sites.

Monitoring the Health of the VLDB Service

New

Add a replica site for the selected DFS management context.

Adding a Replica Site

Delete

Remove a replica site. If it is the last replica site, this action also deletes the management context.

Removing a Replica Site

Refresh

Refreshes the replica site list.

Actions > Details

View more information about the selected replica site. Optionally configure the back-end database location and number of threads to use when services are running.

Viewing VLDB Service Details for a Replica Site

Actions > Activate

Start the VLDB Service that is already loaded on the selected replica site.

Starting or Activating the VLDB Service

Actions > Start

Load the VLDB service on each of the selected replica sites, then activate them. If a VLDB service is already loaded, this command simply activates it.

Starting or Activating the VLDB Service

Actions > Stop

Deactivate the VLDB service on each of the selected replica sites, then unload them.

Stopping the VLDB Service

Actions > Repair

Configure a repair of the VLDB on the selected replica site.

Repairing the VLDB

Create Management Context

Create and configure a DFS management context where you plan to use Novell Distributed File Services for NSS volumes.

IMPORTANT:On Linux, creating a DFS management context requires SFCB (CIMOM) to be running on the iManager server and the server you are managing in order to pass information securely to eDirectory. Otherwise, the iManager plug-in does not perform the task.

Table 8-4 Create Management Context Tasks

Subtask

Description

Reference

Management Context

Specify the O or OU level in the eDirectory tree where you want to create the management context.

Specify one or two servers where you want to host an instance of the VLDB service for the context.

Specify the directory path where you want to locate the VLDB database file on the replica sites.

Creating a DFS Management Context

Run VLDB service on server restart

Select this option if you want the VLDB service to start automatically whenever you reboot its replica server.

Disable this option when clustering the VLDB service, or if you want to start the service manually.

Creating a DFS Management Context

Clustering the VLDB Service

Delete Management Context

Locate and delete a DFS management context. This removes the context and its VLDB service from the replica sites.

IMPORTANT:On Linux, deleting a DFS management context requires SFCB (CIMOM) to be running on the iManager server and the server you are managing in order to pass information securely to eDirectory. Otherwise, the iManager plug-in does not perform the task.

Table 8-5 Delete Management Context Tasks

Subtask

Description

Reference

Delete a DFS Management Context

Select a server to find the DFS management context it is in.

Visually verify that the management context and its VLDB replica sites are the ones you intend to delete, then click OK to delete the context.

Deleting a Management Context

Manage Junctions

Locate and modify or delete junctions. You can also export the list of junctions to a .csv file.

Table 8-6 Manage Junction Tasks

Subtask

Description

References

Junctions

Select a volume, server, or cluster to display the list of junctions.

Managing Junctions

Scan

Scan all the volumes, in order to store the junction information in the cache.

Scanning a Volume

Scan Details

Displays the scan details of the selected server, volume, or cluster.

Viewing Scan Details

Delete

Deletes a junction and removes the junction file and any explicitly set trustees, trustee rights, and inherited rights filter on the junction.

Deleting a DFS Junction

Refresh

Click Refresh to update the cache and display the newly added junctions in the Junctions list.

Refreshing the Junction List

Export

Export the junctions to a .csv file.

Exporting Junctions

8.1.6 Storage Plug-In

The Storage plug-in for Novell iManager 2.7.5 provides the Move Volume and Split Volume tasks on the Volumes page:

Table 8-7 Volume Management Tasks

Subtask

Description

Reference

Move

Move a selected volume to reorganize and redistribute storage on the same server (or to other servers) in response to changing business needs.

Use the DFS plug-in to manage Move Volume jobs.

Using DFS to Move NSS Volumes

Split

Split a selected volume to reorganize and redistribute storage on the same server (or to other servers) in response to changing business needs.

Use the DFS plug-in to manage Split Volume jobs.

Using DFS to Split NSS Volumes

8.1.7 Files and Folders Plug-In

You can optionally use the Files and Folders > Properties > Rights page to view and modify trustees, trustee rights, and the inherited rights filter on either the junction or the target location. There is no ability to copy between the two locations as there is in the Distributed File Services > Modify Junction page. For a quick reference for the Files and Folders plug-in, see Files and Folders Plug-In Quick Reference in the OES 2015 SP1: NSS File System Administration Guide for Linux.

8.1.8 SFCB

You must make sure CIMOM is running on the server you want to manage if the task you are performing changes values in eDirectory. If CIMOM is not running, the plug-in does not perform the task.

For DFS for Linux, this affects the following tasks:

  • Creating or deleting an DFS Management context

  • Adding or removing a Replica server

SFCB is loaded and runs automatically when you start the server.

IMPORTANT:If you receive file protocol errors, it might be because SFCB is not running.

To check the status of SFCB:

  1. As root in a console shell, enter

    rcsfcb status

To start SFCB:

  1. As root in a console shell, enter

    rcsfcb start

For information on WBEM using SFCB, about installing WBEM, see the SLES 11 Administration Guide.