Advantages Over the NetWare File System

NSS and the traditional NetWare file system differ in structure and behavior. The following table presents a synopsis of the NSS advantages.

Topics and Features NetWare File System Novell Storage Services
Backup

Uses TSA^TM, SMS, and Enhanced SBACKUP.

Larger files (over 2 GB) need the current version of TSA (TSA500) shipped with NetWare 5.SMS and Enhanced SBACKUP are supported.

CD-ROM support

Used old CD-ROM.NLM with slow indexing and manual mounting.

New CD-ROM.NLM that mounts CD-ROMs immediately. Supports both ISO9660 and Macintosh HFS formats.

Characters used

ASCII double-byte.

UNICODE. Allows for more complete internationalization.

Data access/volume mount time

If a server goes down, data may take hours to repair and retrieve.

If a server goes down, NSS volumes recover and mount quickly for faster file retrieval.

Data capacity

Smaller limits on the number of volumes, files, and directories allowed.

Allows much larger NSS volumes, directories, and files.

Directory tree depth

Allows 100 directory levels.

Limited only by the client.

DOS FAT partitions

Supported. Can't be added as a volume without writing an NLM.

Anyone who has NetWare administrator rights can mount a DOS FAT partition as an NSS volume. Java* programs can access DOS FAT partitions.

Extended attributes

Supports 16 attributes and 10 data streams.

No limit.

Files

32-bit file system that limits a file's size to 4 GB.
Supports up to 16 million files per server.
Allows 100,000 open files per server.

64-bit file system that allows a file size up to 8 Terabytes.
Supports up to 8 trillion files per volume (depending on file size, the limit in data capacity is 8 Terabytes).
Allows 1,000,000 open files per server.

Objects (volumes, files, etc.)

Object size is limited.
Number of objects is limited.

Can handle almost any size object.
Can handle almost any number of objects.

Retrieve deleted files

SALVAGE turns on or off for the whole file system.

SALVAGE can be turned on or off at the NSS volume level, or for the whole file system.

Resource use

More memory may be needed as the network grows. Disk space can go unused.

Memory and disk space usage is improved.
Software needs no more RAM than what NetWare requires. In fact, NSS requires only 4 MB.

Storage administration

Provides storage capacity limited by physical storage on a device.
May require you to administer volumes from several geographical locations.
May require you to configure storage for one device at a time.

Provides more storage availability (not limited to free space on one physical device). Recognizes space on various devices for storage pools so free space is not wasted.
Administer NSS volumes from one location even though the NSS volumes reside on different devices.Configure many devices from one storage pool.

Volumes

Supports up to 64 mounted volumes.
Supports up to 8 segments or 8 volumes per partition.
Supports 1 Terabyte volume size.

255 volumes can be mounted and visible to existing clients simultaneously.
No limit on volumes per partition.
Supports an 8 Terabyte volume size.

Topics and Features	NetWare File System	Novell Storage Services
Backup	Uses TSA^TM, SMS, and Enhanced SBACKUP.	Larger files (over 2 GB) need the current version of TSA (TSA500) shipped with NetWare 5.SMS and Enhanced SBACKUP are supported.
CD-ROM support	Used old CD-ROM.NLM with slow indexing and manual mounting.	New CD-ROM.NLM that mounts CD-ROMs immediately. Supports both ISO9660 and Macintosh HFS formats.
Characters used	ASCII double-byte.	UNICODE. Allows for more complete internationalization.
Data access/volume mount time	If a server goes down, data may take hours to repair and retrieve.	If a server goes down, NSS volumes recover and mount quickly for faster file retrieval.
Data capacity	Smaller limits on the number of volumes, files, and directories allowed.	Allows much larger NSS volumes, directories, and files.
Directory tree depth	Allows 100 directory levels.	Limited only by the client.
DOS FAT partitions	Supported. Can't be added as a volume without writing an NLM.	Anyone who has NetWare administrator rights can mount a DOS FAT partition as an NSS volume. Java* programs can access DOS FAT partitions.
Extended attributes	Supports 16 attributes and 10 data streams.	No limit.
Files	32-bit file system that limits a file's size to 4 GB. Supports up to 16 million files per server. Allows 100,000 open files per server.	64-bit file system that allows a file size up to 8 Terabytes. Supports up to 8 trillion files per volume (depending on file size, the limit in data capacity is 8 Terabytes). Allows 1,000,000 open files per server.
Objects (volumes, files, etc.)	Object size is limited. Number of objects is limited.	Can handle almost any size object. Can handle almost any number of objects.
Retrieve deleted files	SALVAGE turns on or off for the whole file system.	SALVAGE can be turned on or off at the NSS volume level, or for the whole file system.
Resource use	More memory may be needed as the network grows. Disk space can go unused.	Memory and disk space usage is improved. Software needs no more RAM than what NetWare requires. In fact, NSS requires only 4 MB.
Storage administration	Provides storage capacity limited by physical storage on a device. May require you to administer volumes from several geographical locations. May require you to configure storage for one device at a time.	Provides more storage availability (not limited to free space on one physical device). Recognizes space on various devices for storage pools so free space is not wasted. Administer NSS volumes from one location even though the NSS volumes reside on different devices.Configure many devices from one storage pool.
Volumes	Supports up to 64 mounted volumes. Supports up to 8 segments or 8 volumes per partition. Supports 1 Terabyte volume size.	255 volumes can be mounted and visible to existing clients simultaneously. No limit on volumes per partition. Supports an 8 Terabyte volume size.