BKMSTNVL.RVW 930901 Sybex Computer Books 2021 Challenger Drive Alameda, CA 94501 USA 510-523-8233 800-227-2346 Fax: 510-523-2373 or Firefly Books 250 Sparks Avenue Willowdale, Ontario M2H 2S4 416-499-8412 Fax: 416-499-8313 "Mastering Novell Netware", Currid/Gillett, U$29.95/C$39.95 One begins to suspect the technical quality of this work immediately, with the opening thesis, in chapter one, that there are two kinds of networks: hierarchical, involving mainframes and dumb terminals, and "peer" networks, which involve micros. There is no mention of "client-server" networks--which is what NetWare is. ("Peer-to-peer" networks are those such as Appletalk and Lantastic, where the resource or server does not control access by account.) The book is divided into six parts of two to six chapters each. Part one deals with background concepts and basics in four chapters, discussing networks in general, network components, network "options" (topology and cabling) and "Planning for Netware". The material here does not contain many errors as bad as the first, but it doesn't contain all that much information. Descriptions and definitions are extremely simplistic. The authors state that IBM's token passing ring is "physically like a star, but...behaves like a ring". This is completely unsurprising: star and tree topologics (not mentioned) are basically modified rings or buses. As far as planning goes, there is simply not enough material here to support a realistic decision. Part two discusses installation. The lead off, chapter five, basically outlines the remaining three chapters; six, dealing with hardware; seven, dealing with preparation of the file server; and eight, dealing with preparation for user access. Again, the level of detail is very small. We are told that a UPS (uninterruptable power supply) is a good idea for the server, but there is no discussion even of KVA (power) ratings. In terms of the preparation of NetWare itself, Novell's manuals are reasonably straightforward, and there is certainly nothing here that gives you any more information than Novell does. Quite the reverse. Part three talks about the final areas needed to turn the network into a useful system; user accounts in chapter nine, users and groups in ten, login scripts and batch files in eleven, security in twelve, printer setup in thirteen, and user menus in fourteen. As with previous chapters in the book, most of this is perfectly adequately explained in the Novell documentation. An exception is security. The Novell security features have always been technically strong. Unfortunately, while the security setup is not unduly complicated for those who have handled multi-user environments, the Novell documentation has been somewhat lacking in clarity for the average MS-DOS user. This book could have taken on that task. It didn't. Part four is entitled, "Taking the Network for a Test Drive." The two chapters give some examples of the basic system and user utilities and commands. After the miscellany of the earlier chapters, it comes as a pleasant surprise that chapter sixteen is very well organized as a tutorial run for new users. Part five discusses "Maintenance and Fine-Tuning." Chapter seventeen, on maintenance, and eighteen, on performance and troubleshooting, continue in the same clear and incisive manner as sixteen. However, when we come to backup, nineteen, and communications options, twenty, we are back to the same rehash of docs and sales brochures. The quality stuff seems to run out of steam after only three chapters. Part six includes two chapters, both of which list the NetWare commands. The book ends with two appendices: NetWare 386 and a glossary. A very *short* glossary. There is very little mastery to be had in this book. No shortcuts, no tips, no secrets. It might rather be titled an introduction to installing a Novell network. The additional coverage of network planning and selection is too brief to be of practical use. The level of detail is insufficient even to assess the claims of vendors with whom one might deal. Novell's documentation is rather large, and may be intimidating for the novice. It is, however, no worse than any other documentation, and doesn't deserve the insult of being replaced by this book. Quite honestly, I cannot see a market for this work. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1993 BKMSTNVL.RVW 930901 ====================== DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters Editor and/or reviewer ROBERTS@decus.ca, RSlade@sfu.ca, Rob Slade at 1:153/733 Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" (Oct. '94) Springer-Verlag