For those of you that need to test such things as Migrations or Identity Integration using MIIS and find yourself with a need to virtualize Novell on a Virtual Server 2005 Host, you are out of luck right? Microsoft currently does not support Novell on Virtual Server 2005. However you can install Novell onto Virtual Server 2005 by manipulation of the install CD drivers. You will need a minimum of 512 MB of memory for your Virtual Instance and Novell 5.1 or above.
This will also require some manipulation of Novell’s install CD NW65OS by copying ‘DC21X4.LAN’ and ‘DC21X4.LDI’ from DRIVERSUNSUPDRV to DRIVERSLAN
As the Novell DEC 21140 (DC21X4.LDI) only supports IPX you will need to modify the (DC21X4.LDI) file prior to adding to the ISO image for it to support IP. See Talking about NetWare under Virtual PC / Virtual Server posted on the Virtual PC Guy’s Weblog http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2005/11/22/494962.aspx for how to modify this file or perform the following
- Open the file ‘DC21X4.LDI’ with a standard text editor.
- In this file change the following section from:
LI Line_Speed OPT
{
DES: $DC21X4_29
HELP: $DC21X4_30
CD: $DC21X4_31
CH: $DC21X4_32
CD: $DC21X4_33
CH: $DC21X4_34
OUT: ‘LINE_SPEED=%s’
DEF: 2
}
}to:
LI Line_Speed OPT
{
DES: $DC21X4_29
HELP: $DC21X4_30
CD: $DC21X4_31
CH: $DC21X4_32
CD: $DC21X4_33
CH: $DC21X4_34
OUT: ‘LINE_SPEED=%s’
DEF: 2
}LI TX_THRESHOLD REQUIRED
{
DES: "TX_Threshold"
HELP: "This value must be set to 3 for DC21X4 cards"
CD: "3"
CH: "3"
DEF: 1
OUT: ‘TX_THRESHOLD=%s’
}
}
Now using a utility such as WinISO http://www.tucows.com/preview/209285 you can add these files to the DRIVERSLAN directory and then save as a new ISO which can then be used for installation with automated recognition of the NIC card driver (your biggest problem during installation).
Remember there is currently no Virtual Machine Additions for Novell. Also note that as well as having at least 512 MB of memory dedicated to the Novell Virtual Server it is also recommended to dedicate 100% of the CPU to the Virtual Machine Instance during Install. Novell will always max the CPU of the Virtual Machine Instance once installed. I usually find it best to cut it down to about 50% for best performance.
