There are two options available for passing a response file into the NetWare installation: using the /RF switch at the command line, or from the Install Options screen.
If you start the install by booting directly to the NetWare CD, you cannot pass in the response file automatically unless you have a RESPONSE.TXT file in the C:\NWUPDATE directory. When the NetWare CD is booted, the startup utility checks for a RESPONSE.TXT file in the C:\NWUPDATE directory. If such a file exists, the installation program bypasses the DOS partitioning utility and uses RESPONSE.TXT as the input response file.