Before you configure NSS, if you have not already done so, check 3. Prepare the server. Then use the following options to go through the steps.

1. Use the Storage option to assign your free space to NSS. See Storage Options. See NSS Volume Options.
2. Use NSS Volume Options to create your storage groups and NSS volumes.

WARNING:  If NSS uses free space from a NetWare volume to create an NSS volume, and an administrator deletes the NetWare volume, the NSS volume will be deleted also. All data will be lost. If your NSS volumes will be used long term, we suggest that you use unpartitioned free space to create your NSS volumes. This could be unpartitioned free space on a hard disk that also contains a NetWare partition or on a new hard disk that has not been partitioned.

When you open the NWCONFIG utility and select NSS Disk Options, the following screen appears.

Storage Options

This section provides instructions for assigning and viewing free space using the NWCONFIG utility. See Planning and Setup Examples for examples of NSS storage groups and NSS volumes you can create. To create storage groups and NSS volumes, see NSS Volume Options.

The Storage option locates and converts free space in an existing hard disk with unpartitioned free space or free space in a NetWare volume to an NSS partition. Some media types, such as CD-ROMs, do not require partitions. The NSS provider still recognizes that device and adds it to the object bank as a storage deposit.

IMPORTANT:  These instructions assume you have read through the Understanding and Planning modules and that you know how you want to set up storage groups and NSS volumes.

Prerequisites

• A server running NetWare 5.
• At least 10 MB free space to create an NSS volume. If you do not have enough free space, see Reconfigure Existing Disks.
• The NSS NLMs are loaded. NSS loads automatically with NWCONFIG.

Procedure

1. Enter nwconfig at the server console.

2. Select NSS Disk Options and press Enter.

3. Select Storage.

   The following screen appears.

   Figure 5
   Storage Options
   

4. Select the following options in order.

   Press Esc or Return to the previous menu at any time to return to the previous screen.

   Press F1 for Help on a particular option or screen.

   Follow the screen prompts to move through each of the following options in turn. For detailed information on each of these options, see the example in Create One NSS Volume with One Hard Drive.

   • Update Provider Information scans your storage for free space. You may only need to do this when you hot swap new devices, or you want to make sure NSS is synchronized with your devices. Choose a provider from the list.

   • Assign Ownership assigns a consumer to the free space storage deposit you select and creates an NSS partition. NSS needs to own the free space before an NSS volume can be created.

5. (Optional) View your free space.

   See View the NSS Configuration for information.

6. Go to NSS Volume Options to create your storage groups and NSS volumes.

• A server running NetWare 5.
• 1.5 MB RAM (300 cache buffers) for loading the NSS modules.
• 2 MB memory (500 cache buffers) for running NSS.
• (Optional) Set the cache buffers. See Setting the Cache Buffers.
• At least 10 MB free space available to create an NSS volume. If you do not have enough free space, see Reconfigure Existing Disks.
• The NSS NLMs are loaded. NSS loads automatically with NWCONFIG.
• You have gone through Storage Options to assign your free space to NSS.

To create storage groups and NSS volumes, do the following.

1. Enter nwconfig at the server console.

2. Select NSS Disk Options.

   The following screen appears.

   Figure 6
   Available NSS Options
   

3. At the Available NSS Options screen, select NSS Volume Options.

4. Authenticate to NDS by entering your full context and password.

   The NSS Options screen displays.

   Figure 7
   NSS Options
   

   NSS Volume Options creates storage groups and NSS volumes from the list of managed objects. You can repeat this option for each storage group and NSS volume you want to create. If you create more than one NSS volume now, make sure each volume corresponds to the correct storage group you create. The default NSS volume name is NSSVOL. A maximum of 15 characters is allowed. We recommend you use the standard NetWare volume naming conventions.

5. Select Create.

6. Configure your storage group.

   1. Select Storage Group.

   2. Select a managed object.

      If you have more than one managed object, a list will appear. Otherwise, NSS will skip to Step 6c.

   3. Confirm your choice.

7. Create your NSS volume or volumes.

   1. Select NSS Volume.

      The Select a Managed Object screen displays.

      Figure 8
      Select a Managed Object
      

   2. Select the managed object.

      If you have not created a storage group and you are creating one NSS volume for each storage deposit, select the object marked Single. You can never increase the size of this NSS volume, however.

      If you have created a storage group and you are creating multiple NSS volumes for each storage deposit, select the object marked Group, and enter the size of your first NSS volume.

   3. Enter a name for your NSS volume or accept the default.

      The default NSS volume name is NSSVOL. A maximum of 15 characters is allowed. We recommend you use the standard NetWare volume naming conventions.

   4. Select Yes to confirm your decision.

      Your new NSS volume is added to NDS automatically.

8. Mount your NSS volume.

   See Mount an NSS Volume for information.

9. (Optional). View your new NSS volume. See View the NSS Configuration.