In addition to Novell's own training programs, there are a great number of other training options, although most are still designed to prepare you for taking Novell's certification exams. For a list of training companies in your area, check the Yellow Pages under Computers -Training.As with Microsoft, Novell designates its training partners through the use of an accreditation scheme. Novell Authorized Education Centers (NAECs) provide courses that last between 2 and 5 days that are aimed at people who have prior experience in the computer field or those with some prior knowledge of Novell products. Novell Authorized Education Partners (NAEP) are academic institutions that have partnered with Novell to teach Novell curriculum.
Online Training
Novell, like other manufacturers, provides its own Web-based training programs that can help you prepare for the certification exams. These authorized online courses are offered through Novell's partner program. For more information on Novell's online course offerings, visit www.novell.com/education/notp.
In addition to Novell's training services, many other companies offer online training courses in Novell products.
Self-Study Options
Learning about Novell NetWare on a self-study basis is a viable alternative to other training methods. There is a wide range of books available that can help you study and some excellent training resources that can be obtained from sources on the Internet. For home study, you will need to set up a small network, so that you can learn about aspects of the product by trying out procedures and performing troubleshooting scenarios. To create a small network, you will need at least two PCs, one that can be configured as a server, and another that can be configured as a workstation. Additional PCs can be a benefit in certain scenarios, but in most cases, two PCs will be adequate.
The product itself requires a moderate level of hardware to run, and the installation process, if done correctly, forms a valuable part of your learning process. NetWare software can be obtained from Novell. Rather than buy a full copy, which costs hundreds of dollars, Novell makes demonstration and evaluation versions of the software available at low costs. Further information, including hardware requirements, can be found at www.novell.com/products/netware/ evaluation.html.
Although NetWare does come with utilities that allow management tasks to be performed from the server, most are normally performed from a workstation, which means that you will need an additional PC for these tasks. An additional PC is also necessary to fully understand how a NetWare network operates from a client perspective.
As with any self-study scenario, gaining hands-on experience with the product makes all the difference when it comes to taking exams or performing in the workplace. The creation of a small network using a PC as a workstation and a Novell file server will go a long way toward helping you understand how a NetWare network functions.
Additional Resources
Finding more information about Novell NetWare is an easy task. There are countless resources available on the Internet, through newsgroups, and in your local bookstore. The following sections provide some resources that you may find useful as you start to look at Novell NetWare in more depth.
Novell NetWare Jargon Buster
As you discover more information about Novell NetWare, you may encounter unfamiliar phrases or terms.The following list contains a few of the most common terms used when discussing NetWare along with a brief explanation of each:
- NDS-A database that holds information about objects such as users, groups, printers and servers, that are on the network. The NDS database can be dividec into smaller parts (known as partitioning) and distributed among different servers on the network (a process called replication).
- Bindery-Before NDS, Novell NetWare operated on a one server, one database principle.The database, although it was comprised of three files, was collectively referred to as the Bindery. The Bindery contained information on the users, groups and printers, and print queues on the server.
- ZENworks-Although ZENworks (ZEN stands for Zero Effort Networking) is actually a satellite product of the main Novell operating system, it is worth mentioning because many companies using Novell NetWare choose to use ZENworks in light of the fact that it is tightly integrated with NDS. ZENWorks provides a range of tools that are designed to reduce administrate e overhead of workstations and other network devices on a NetWare network.
- NetWare Administrator-A workstation-based utility that allows the administrator to perform much of the administration of the network.
- NetWare Management Portal (NMP)-New to NetWare 5.1, the NMP is a browser-based utility that lets you perform a wide range of network administration tasks.
There are many books available on Novell NetWare and its associated products and technologies. The following sections contain some suggested titles that you may find useful.
Beginner Book Titles
Lindberg, Kelley J. P., and Kevin Shafer. Novell's NetWare 5 Basics. IDG Books Worldwide, 1999. ISBN 0764545639.
Currid, Cheryl C, and Mark A. Eggleston. Novell's Introduction to Networking. IDG Books Worldwide, 2000. ISBN 0764547003.
Advanced Books
- Kuo, Peter, and Jim Henderson. Novell's Guide to Troubleshooting NDS. IDG Books Worldwide, 1999. ISBN 0764545795.
- Kearns, David, Brian Iverson. Tlie Complete Guide to Novell Directory Services. Sybex, 1998. ISBN 0782118232.
- Gaskin,James. Mastering NetWare 5.1. Sybex, 2000. ISBN 078212772X.
Reference Books
- Shafer, Kevin. Novell's Encyclopedia of Networking. IDG Books Worldwide, 1997. ISBN 0764545116.
- Sant'Angelo, Rick. Novell's Guide to Troubleshooting NetWare 5. IDG Books Worldwide, 1999. ISBN 0764545582.
- Lindberg, Kelley J. P. Novell's NetWare 5 Administrator's Handbook. IDG Books Worldwide, 1980. ISBN 0764545469.
