Console Commands in NetWare 5.1: SCAN ALL, SCAN FOR NEW DEVICES, SEARCH, SECURE CONSOLE, SEND
Articles and Tips: article
Software Engineer
DeveloperNet University/AppNotes
01 Sep 2001
This section is one in a series that intends to describe each of the NetWare 5.1 console commands (both normal and hidden) in alphabetical order and to tell when, why, and how to use them properly. To see a list of the commands that you can perform at the server console, type HELP <Enter> at the server console prompt. To use the commands described here, simply type the command at the server console prompt followed by the <Enter> key.
SCAN ALL
If your NetWare 5.1 server has a SCSI card or multiple SCSI cards in it, each card will typically support eight devices. These devices can be tape units, CD-ROMs, or most typically, hard drives. Earlier revisions of the SCSI specification has three address bits for addressing devices - hence the eight devices. The SCSI adapter counts as one device, so you can hook up seven other devices to the card.
The newer wide SCSI bus includes a fourth bit for device addressing, so there can be up to 16 devices supported. In addition to the device number assigned to a particular device, each device number can be subdivided into logical unit numbers (LUNs). LUNs are very useful for devices such as CD-ROM changers and tape changes. The LUN allows unique interaction with a particular CD-ROM or tape unit in the changer.
The SCAN ALL console command scans all the LUNs of all SCSI adapters in the server or all the LUNs associated with a specific SCSI adapter.
Note: Initiating a SCAN ALL command may take a few seconds to execute, depending on the number of SCSI cards you have in your server.
Usage is as follows:
SCAN ALL A(n)
|
Parameter
|
Use
|
|
(no parameter) |
Scan all the LUNs of all SCSI adapters in the server. |
|
A(n) |
Replace (n) with the number of the SCSI adapter you want to scan. You can find (n) by executing the LIST STORAGE ADAPTERS console command (February 2001 AppNotes). The A(n) number is enclosed in square brackets to the left of the storage adapter name. For example: [V312-A2] ADAPTEC PCI HOST Adapter Module In this case A(n) would be A2. To scan all LUNs associated with the adapter in this example, you would enter: SCAN ALL A2 |
SCAN FOR NEW DEVICES
NetWare uses disk drivers to interact between hard drives and other storage media such as tape drives and CD-ROM drives. These disk drivers are loaded by the NetWare operating system from the STARTUP.NCF file. After loading the appropriate disk driver, the NetWare operating system typically is able to detect the hard drives and other devices that are available.
In the rare circumstances when the NetWare operating system is unable to detect new devices after rebooting, use SCAN FOR NEW DEVICES. This will register the new devices with Media Manager, which is NetWare's functionality that controls access to external storage devices.
Usage:
SCAN FOR NEW DEVICES
Note: After executing SCAN FOR NEW DEVICES, there is no message or information returned to the NetWare server console.
A few usage notes follow:
Use this utility if you add new devices after you boot your server and the devices do not appear with the LIST DEVICES console command.
If you have added new storage devices, but the drivers are not loaded in the STARTUP.NCF file, you can use SCAN FOR NEW DEVICES to register the devices with the NetWare operating system.
This command only scans LUN0 of your SCSI adapters. To scan all LUNs of your SCSI adapters, use the SCAN ALL (above) console command. Be warned that you should only use SCAN ALL when you know that there is an undetected device on a LUN other than LUN0.
Once again, SCAN FOR NEW DEVICES does not produce any output on the server console.
If you remove a hot-plug mirrored disk drive without first bringing down your server, you must execute SCAN FOR NEW DEVICES as soon as your remove the disk. This lets the NetWare operating system know that the remaining disk in the mirrored pair is no longer synchronized with a mirrored partner. If you unmirror the disk before removing it, you do not need to execute SCANFOR NEW DEVICES.
SEARCH
The SEARCH console command performs three main functions for the NetWare operating system:
Tells the NetWare server where to look for loadable modules (NLM) files and *.NCF files. (NCF files are like batch files in DOS. NetWare uses two by default: STARTUP.NCF and AUTOEXEC.NCF.
Adds search paths or deletes current search paths.
Allows you to view the current search paths on your NetWare server.
Usage:
SEARCH
This command displays all of your current search drive on your NetWare server. Typing this command will produce output similar to the following on your NetWare console:
Search 1: [Server Path] SYS:\ORAHOME1\NLM\ Search 2: [Server Path] SYS:\WEBDB210\NLM\ Search 3: [Server Path] SYS:\SYSTEM\ Search 4: [DOS Path] C:\NWSERVER\ (default directory) Search 5: [Server Path] SYS:\JAVA\BIN Search 6: [Server Path] SYS:\JAVA\NWGFX\ Search 7: [Server Path] SYS:\WEBSPHERE\APPSERVER\BIN\ Search 8: [Server Path] SYS:\SYSTEM\SQLC\
These paths are the current paths that the NetWare operating system can search when you try to load an NLM or another driver. The SYS:\SYSTEM\ and the C:\NWSERVER\ directories are defaults set up by the system.
SEARCH ADD number path
This command allows you to add a new search drive to the NetWare operating system search table. The number parameter specifies the search drive you want to add. The path parameter specifies the complete path of the directory you want searched. The path parameter must begin with a DOS drive letter or a NetWare volume name. You can For example, if you type the following at the NetWare server console:
SEARCH ADD 9 SYS:\ETC\
And then execute SEARCH, with no command-line parameters, you will see the following or something similar:
Search 1: [Server Path] SYS:\ORAHOME1\NLM\ Search 2: [Server Path] SYS:\WEBDB210\NLM\ Search 3: [Server Path] SYS:\SYSTEM\ Search 4: [DOS Path] C:\NWSERVER\ (default directory) Search 5: [Server Path] SYS:\JAVA\BIN Search 6: [Server Path] SYS:\JAVA\NWGFX\ Search 7: [Server Path] SYS:\WEBSPHERE\APPSERVER\BIN\ Search 8: [Server Path] SYS:\SYSTEM\SQLC\ Search 9: [Server Path] SYS:\ETC\
A ninth search drive and path was added to the end of the system search paths.
SEARCH DEL number
This command allows you to delete a current search drive. The number parameter specifies the number of the search drive you want to delete. For example, to delete the search drive created above, type the following on your NetWare server's console:
SEARCH DEL 9
Then execute the SEARCH command with no command-line parameters and you will see the following, or something similar:
Search 1: [Server Path] SYS:\ORAHOME1\NLM\ Search 2: [Server Path] SYS:\WEBDB210\NLM\ Search 3: [Server Path] SYS:\SYSTEM\ Search 4: [DOS Path] C:\NWSERVER\ (default directory) Search 5: [Server Path] SYS:\JAVA\BIN Search 6: [Server Path] SYS:\JAVA\NWGFX\ Search 7: [Server Path] SYS:\WEBSPHERE\APPSERVER\BIN\ Search 8: [Server Path] SYS:\SYSTEM\SQLC\
The ninth search drive and path are no longer there. A few items to keep in mind include the following:
To set search paths each time you bring up your NetWare server, place the SEARCH commands in your server's AUTOEXEC.NCF file.
If you execute SECURE CONSOLE (see below), search functionality is disabled to prevent modules (NLMs) from being loaded from directories other than the boot directory (typically C:\NWSERVER\). The SYS:\SYSTEM\ search path remains in effect, but you are unable to create new search paths. Once you execute SECURE CONSOLE, you will need to bring down your server and reboot it in order to be able to create additional search paths.
SECURE CONSOLE
Executing the SECURE CONSOLE command provides for increased network security by doing the following things to the NetWare server:
Allows the loading of modules (NLMs) only from the current search paths.
Allows only the console operator to modify the server's date and time.
Prevents server console entry into the NetWare Internal Debugger.
Usage:
SECURE CONSOLE
The following is printed on the NetWare server console:
The console is secure.
When you try to add a search drive (SEARCH ADD number path ), the following message will be displayed on the server's console:
The console has been secured. Path specifiers are no longer allowed.
Additionally, this message will be displayed periodically as you interact with the NetWare server console.
It is important to note that once SECURE CONSOLE has been enabled, the only way to disable it is to reboot the server.
A few items to keep in mind:
SECURE CONSOLE is not a replacement for a safe server. If the wrong people have access to your server console, bad things can happen. Make sure that your server is locked up in a secure room.
It is harder to load viruses on a NetWare server when SECURE CONSOLE is active. Without SECURE CONSOLE activated, a module (NLM) can be loaded from a DOS partition, a diskette drive, or any directory on a NetWare volume.
Some security and accounting features of NetWare rely on date and time of the server to govern functionality such as password expiration, time restrictions, intruder detection and lockout intervals. To keep this functionality as accurate as possible, SECURE CONSOLE should be active.
SEND
SEND allows the console administrator to send messages, from the NetWare server console to a user, to a select number of users, or to all users that are attached to the NetWare server. These messages can be sent using the users' name or the users' connection number.
Usage:
SEND "message" [[TO] username|connection_number] [[and|,] username|connection_number...]
Examples:
To send a message to all connected users:
SEND "Hello!"
To send a message to two users, by username:
SEND "Hello!" to Gamal and Rebecca
To send a message to two users, by connection number:
SEND "Hello!" to 1 and 2
The commands we have discussed in this column are summarized below:
|
Console Command
|
Function
|
Example
|
|
SCAN ALL |
Scans all LUNs on SCSI adapters. |
SCAN ALL SCAN ALL A0 |
|
SCAN FOR NEW DEVICES |
Causes the NetWare operating system storage device drivers to look for and add new storage devices on the system. |
SCAN FOR NEW DEVICES |
|
SEARCH |
Tells the NetWare operating system where to look for loadable modules and NCF files, or by itself it will display the current search paths. |
SEARCH SEARCH ADD 3 C:\NLMS\ SEARCH DEL 3 |
|
SECURE CONSOLE |
Adds the following security features: Allows loading loadable modules only from the current search paths, allows only the console operator to modify the date and time, prevents keyboard entry into the internal debugger. |
SECURE CONSOLE |
|
SEND |
Sends a message to all users logged in or attached to a file server or to a list of users or connection numbers. |
SEND "Hello!" SEND "Hello!" to jill SEND "Hello!" to 3 |
* Originally published in Novell AppNotes
Disclaimer
The origin of this information may be internal or external to Novell. While Novell makes all reasonable efforts to verify this information, Novell does not make explicit or implied claims to its validity.