VMware

NetWare 4.2 Server documentation covers information on how to install the operating system in a virtual machine. For additional information about the operating system, refer to the instructions included in the installation media.

NetWare 4.2 Server documentation includes the following topics:

Installation Instructions

You can install NetWare 4.2 Server in a virtual machine using the standard Novell NetWare 4.2 Server installation CD.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, verify that the following tasks are complete:

  • Read General Installation Instructions for All VMware Products.
  • If you created this virtual machine on a Linux host follow these steps:
    1. Open the configuration file (<netware>.cfg) in a text editor and add the following line:
      gui.iconLEDS = false
    2. This removes all the LED icons in the console window, which prevents the virtual machine display from appearing incorrectly when you power it on while the host is in 8 bit/256 color mode.
    3. Install the guest operating system and VMware Tools, which includes the CPU idler program. See VMware Tools in a NetWare 4.2 Server Guest.
  • Install MS-DOS 5.0 or higher in a small (50MB FAT16) partition. The rest of the free space on the virtual disk is used for the NetWare partition. Even if the virtual machine is to run NetWare, the best practice is to install a CPU idler program.
  • VMware recommends that you install NetWare 4.2 Server on a host with at least 256MB of memory.

Installation Steps

  1. Install a CD-ROM driver or CD-ROM software for MS-DOS.
    If you have problems setting up the MS-DOS virtual machine to access the CD-ROM drive, you can use the mtmcdai.sys driver, which can be found at www.mitsumi.com. Under Drivers and Manuals look for ide158.exe.
  2. Modify the config.sys and autoexec.bat files on your MS-DOS boot floppy (along with the mscdex.exe file) as shown below. If you are using a MS-DOS boot partition, adjust the drive letters accordingly.
    3. config.sys
    device=himem.sys /testmem:off
    device=NEC_IDE.SYS /D:MSCD001
    files=12
    buffers=15
    stacks=9,256
    lastdrive=z

    autoexec.bat
    @ECHO OFF
    set EXPAND=YES
    SET DIRCMD=/O:N
    cls
    set temp=c:\
    set tmp=c:\
    path=c:\

    IF "%config%"=="NOCD" GOTO QUIT
    a:\NWCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001

    :QUIT
    After you have configured the CD-ROM software, verify that the virtual machine can read a CD from the host system's CD-ROM drive.
  3. If the virtual machine is not running, power it on and wait for MS-DOS to finish its boot process.
  4. Insert the NetWare 4.2 CD in the CD-ROM drive on the host.
  5. In the virtual machine, at the MS-DOS prompt, run the fdisk command to create a partition for NetWare.
    A:\>fdisk
  6. After you create the partition, press Ctrl+Alt+Insert to reboot the virtual machine.
  7. Format the C: drive. Type the following:
    format c: /s /x
  8. Type the following command to copy the following files to your C: drive from your floppy.
    Copy autoexec.bat c:
    Copy config.sys c:
    Copy himem.sys c:
    Copy nwcdex.exe c:
    Copy nec_ide.sys c:
  9. Modify the autoexec.bat file so it points to the CD-ROM directory on the hard drive instead of the floppy drive.
    1. To modify autoexec.bat, type the following at the C: prompt:
      a:edit autoexec.bat
    2. In the line that reads a:\NWCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001, change the drive from A to C.
    3. Save the changes you just made.
      cd d:
  10. Run the INSTALL.BAT program to start the NetWare server installation process.
    If the virtual machine has been configured for networking (bridged, host-only, NAT or custom), the installation program detects a PCI Ethernet adapter and prompts you with a list of possible drivers.
  11. At this point, do not select or load any LAN drivers; press the F3 key to continue installing without a LAN driver.
    Note After the installation is completed, you can load and bind the appropriate LAN driver. Selecting or loading a LAN driver during the NetWare 4.2 installation might cause the installation process to stall.
  12. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
  13. Shut down the server and type exit to return to a MS-DOS prompt.
  14. Install VMware Tools, which installs and loads the CPU idler program.

VMware Tools in a NetWare 4.2 Server Guest

For information on VMware Tools, see Knowledge base article 1014294, General VMware Tools installation instructions, at http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1014294.

In NetWare 4.2 virtual machines, VMware Tools provides CPU idling, sends a heartbeat from the guest operating system to the host and gives the virtual machine the ability to be gracefully powered on or off. Installing VMware Tools also installs and loads the CPU idle program. NetWare servers do not idle the CPU when the operating system is idle. As a result, a virtual machine takes CPU time from the host regardless of whether the NetWare server software is idle or busy. To prevent unnecessary slowdowns, VMware recommends that, after you install VMware Tools, you keep the NetWare CPU idle program loaded.

Knowledge Base Articles for NetWare 4.2 Server

The following link refers to knowledge base articles on operating system specific issues. See VMware Knowledge Base for a list of known issues about the operating system.

VMware Compatibility Guide

The VMware Compatibility Guide Web site lists supported guest and host operating systems and provides related support information.


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