Chapter 3 - Preparing the Server's Disks and External Hardware
This chapter explains how to prepare your server's fixed disks and internal hardware. Ensure that your server is completely set up and functioning properly before you install the Banyan server software.
This chapter covers the following topics:
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Partitioning fixed disks ![]()
Installing server and option codes ![]()
Connecting servers ![]()
Attaching printers ![]()
Testing the server
Review the procedures in this chapter before you install the Banyan server software. Attach LAN cables to your server before installing the server software. Refer to the LAN Cabling Worksheet at the end of this chapter. Check your system configuration and run a diagnostic test to ensure that your server is functioning properly.
If you are not partitioning your server's disk, skip the sections on disk partitioning. If you are not using serial communications, skip the section on serial communications.
Refer to the following chapters for additional information:
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Chapter 10 if your server uses WD1003 fixed disk technology (ESDI, ST506, or IDE drives) ![]()
Chapter 9 if your server has multiple fixed disks or very large fixed disks (over 2 GB) Note: Your server disk must be low-level formatted. Most disks have already been low-level formatted by the disk manufacturer. If, for some reason, you want to format your server's fixed disk, refer to the system documentation.
Banyan server software supports up to four valid partitions on your server boot disk. Multiple partitions allow you to create and maintain configuration or diagnostic partitions on your server. For example, you can load the Compaq ECU into one of the four available partitions. You can then run this utility, as well as diagnostic tools, directly from the fixed disk. You can also create partitions that contain alternate operating systems such as DOS or OS/2.
Once installed, the Banyan server software occupies the largest available contiguous disk space (at least 200 MB). If you do not partition your server disk, the Banyan software occupies the entire disk. Therefore, to have other partitions on your server disk, you must create these partitions before installing the server software. For example, if you want a DOS partition on your server, create a DOS partition and install DOS before you install the Banyan software.
Note: Banyan server software supports multiple partitions only on a primary disk; you cannot partition secondary disks.
If you do not have sufficient space on your fixed disk for the server software, the following message appears during installation:
There is not enough space in the Banyan partition. Please use the Fixed Disk Utilities menu to delete any unwanted partitions.
If this message appears, stop the installation and reboot the server with Install Disks 1 and 2 to access the Fixed Disk Utilities menu. To avoid this inconvenience, make sure that you have one unused partition of at least 200 MB on your server disk.
Managing Partitions with the Fixed Disk Setup Program
Your server software includes a variety of Fixed Disk Utilities that help you manage and repair your server disks. One of these utilities, the Fixed Disk Setup Program, lets you:
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View disk partitions ![]()
Delete disk partitions ![]()
Change the disk's boot partition
To Access the Fixed Disk Setup Program Menu
1. Insert Install Disk 1 into drive A of the server.
2. Boot the server.
3. When prompted, insert Install Disk 2 into drive A and press ENTER. The Installation and Utility menu appears.
4. Select Fixed Disk Utilities. The Fixed Disk Utilities menu appears.
5. Select Change/Examine Fixed Disk Partitions. The Fixed Disk Setup Program menu appears.
To View Partition Information
From the Fixed Disk Setup Program menu, select Display Partition Information. The Partition Information screen appears. The Partition Information screen lists four partitions and the following information about these partitions:
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Partition number ![]()
Status ![]()
Type ![]()
Starting cylinder ![]()
Ending cylinder ![]()
Size (in cylinders) ![]()
Size (in blocks)
The Partition Information screen always lists four partitions regardless of how many are actually set up on your drive. For example, if you have no partitions on your disk, the Partition Information screen shows four partitions labeled as Unused. Partition types unrecognized by the Banyan server software are labeled as Unknown.
To Delete Partitions
1. From the Fixed Disk Setup Program menu, select Delete a Partition. The system displays the partition information and the following message:
WARNING! Partition data will be DESTROYED! Do you want to continue (y or n)?
2. Enter Y. The following message appears:
Which partition do you wish to delete?
3. Enter the number of the partition you want to delete. The system deletes the specified partition and redisplays the warning message. From this point, you may delete another partition by repeating steps 2 and 3, or return to the Fixed Disk Setup Program menu.
4. Press ENTER to return to the Fixed Disk Setup Program menu. The Fixed Disk Setup Program menu appears.
5. Select Exit Fixed Disk Setup Program. The following message appears:
Do you want your changes installed (y/n)?
6. Enter Y. The system installs your changes and displays the Fixed Disk Utilities menu.
Active partition refers to the disk partition that is booted by the system's BIOS following a system reset or power cycle. If you want the server to boot the Banyan server software, the partition containing the Banyan server software must be the active partition. For the server to boot some other partition, set that partition to Active.
When you install the Banyan server software, the installation process automatically sets the Banyan partition to Active.
To Change the Active Partition
1. From the Fixed Disk Setup Program menu, select Change Active Partition. The system displays the partition information and the following message:
Enter the number of the partition you want to make active (1-4):
2. Enter the number of the partition you want to make active. The system activates the selected partition. The active partition is indicated by an A in the Status column.
3. Press ENTER to return to the Fixed Disk Setup Program menu. The Fixed Disk Setup Program menu appears.
4. Select Exit Fixed Disk Setup Program. The following message appears:
Do you want your changes installed (y/n)?
5. Enter Y. The system installs your changes and displays the Fixed Disk Utilities menu.
Installing Server and Option Codes
The Server Code consists of a unique 13-digit number plus a 3-digit Server Enabler that comes on a card with your VINES 7.00 software. The Server Code provides a unique network identification number for the Banyan server. This identification number allows all other servers on the network to recognize your server. When you install the Banyan server software, you enter the Server Code into the database on your server.
The Option Code consists of a unique 14-digit number plus a 3-digit enabler that comes on a card with any system options you may have purchased. The Option Codes tell the Banyan server which options you purchased. During installation of options, you enter the Option Codes to enable the options in your server software.
You must enter the Server Code into the database of your server when you install your Banyan software. Each time you boot your server, the system checks for the presence of the software option code database which contains the Server Code. Your server will not boot unless the software option code database is present. Refer to Chapter 5 for detailed instructions for installing the Server Code.
Note: When you upgrade your revision of VINES software or you fresh install your VINES software on a server with an earlier revision of VINES software, your existing server key must be attached in the server's parallel port. After you successfully install VINES 7.00, the server key is no longer necessary, unless you want to move an Option Key option to an Option Key.
Caution: Do not use the Server Code to boot another server. If you use a Server Code to boot another server, the two servers will have the same network ID - this situation seriously impairs the operation of your network.
Enter the Option Codes when you install options. You enter them with the Manage Software Options selection of the System Maintenance menu at the server console. A backup copy of the Option Codes exists in /disk1/banyan/install/yourOptionCodes.
Retain the Option Code card. After installation, you may move options to another server by removing the option codes from the server database and entering them at the other server using Manage Software Options. Refer to Chapter 5 for detailed instructions for installing Option Codes.
To connect servers in the same building, use either a LAN or a serial communications line. If the servers are far from one another or in different buildings, you will probably need to use a serial communications line, such as an HDLC (High-Level Data Link Control), an asynchronous, or an X.25 line.
You can also connect servers indirectly by using TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) and bridging across a non-Banyan network.
Connections other than a direct LAN connection form an internetwork that allows remote sites to communicate. In such cases, you can control how much information the servers exchange. For more information, refer to Planning a Banyan Network.
Connecting Servers Using a LAN
You should use a dedicated, high-speed LAN to connect two or more servers directly. No PCs should be installed on the LAN cable. This type of LAN connection, known as a backbone LAN, allows for efficient communication among servers on the network.
To connect servers using a LAN, both servers must have a LAN card of the same type. If you connect servers that are pre-revision 7.00, those servers must have Server-to-Server LAN option software. Refer to Appendix A for a list of certified LAN cards and their configuration settings. For more information, refer to the following documents:
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Banyan Server Operations Guide - Provides instructions for installing a software option in a server. ![]()
Banyan TCP/IP Guide - Discusses how to plan, install, and configure the TCP/IP Routing option and the TCP/IP Server-to-Server option.
If you install your server on a Token-Ring LAN, you may need to enable source-level routing (SLR) for the Token-Ring card that connects the server to the LAN. Your server needs to have SLR enabled when the Token-Ring LAN attached to the card connects your server to an IBM Token-Ring bridge. This rule applies only if your server communicates across the bridge; otherwise, SLR is not needed. For instructions on enabling SLR, refer to Managing Communications. If you have purchased the Banyan Token-Ring Bridge option, refer to the Banyan Token-Ring Bridge Option Guide for more information.
Planning the LAN Cabling Setup
To help you plan your LAN cabling setup, a LAN Cabling Worksheet is provided at the end of this chapter. Table 3-1 shows a sample worksheet, partially completed. This worksheet enables you to record the following:
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Cable identifier ![]()
LAN type ![]()
Origin and destination of each cable ![]()
Associated user/server names
Record your LAN cabling setup on the LAN Cabling Worksheet, and maintain the record to reflect any changes you make.
For more information on LAN cabling setup and organization, refer to Planning a Banyan Network.
LAN Cable Identifier | LAN Type | From Room | To Room | Server Name |
337F69 | Ethernet | Lab A | Production | USCHI010 |
4169A7 | Token-Ring | Lab 104 | Room 717 | USCHI015 |
31B476 | Arcnet | Cafe B | Room 924 | USCHI008 |
Connecting Servers Using Serial Communications
To connect Banyan servers using a synchronous HDLC, an asynchronous, or an X.25 line, both servers must have the following equipment:
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A communications card of the same type with an available port ![]()
The modems and cables required for the connection ![]()
Server-to-Server WAN option software
For more information, refer to these documents:
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Banyan ICA Installation Guide - Explains how to install and configure ICA cards. ![]()
Managing Communications - Provides an overview of the operation and management of Banyan network communications. It describes how network communications work in LANs and WANs and provides information about installing and managing serial communications options in a Banyan network environment. ![]()
VINES X.25 Guide - Describes how to install the X.25 protocol option on a server and use it to communicate with other servers and host computers running X.25. It also explains how to meet the requirements of a Public Data Network (PDN) and assign an X.25 communications link. ![]()
Banyan T1 Server-to-Server Guide - Provides instructions for installing and configuring the T1 Server-to-Server option on a Banyan server.
You can attach printers to parallel or serial printer ports on the server, to a PC on the network, or to the network itself. The printer is then a shared network resource available to users of an associated print service. Refer to the documentation that came with your printers to attach the printers to your server.
It is extremely important that your server operate properly before you begin installing Banyan server software. When you have configured and installed all of the internal hardware, and attached all of the external hardware, you should test the server to verify that it is functioning properly.
Checking the System Configuration
If you are using an ISA-bus server, begin testing the unit by running the SETUP program. The SETUP program establishes resource settings on initial installation or at any time when you make changes to the system's hardware configuration. Verify that all of the information in SETUP is complete and accurate.
On an EISA-bus server, you set the system hardware configuration with the EISA Configuration Utility (ECU) diskette that came with your platform. For further information on using the ECU, refer to "EISA Configuration Utility Information" in Chapter 2.
On an MCA-bus server, you set the system hardware configuration with the system Reference Diskette. For further information on the Reference Diskette, refer to "Reference Diskette Information" in Chapter 2.
Caution: SETUP, ECU, or Reference Diskette information must be completely accurate because the Banyan installation program relies on this information.
To test your server, boot the server from the diagnostic diskette that came with your system. Before running the test, have all the hardware of the unit installed and configured with accurate SETUP, ECU, or Reference Diskette information.
To run a diagnostic test, use the instructions in the installation and assembly manual that came with your server. Generally, run all tests at least once.
Do a thorough check of your server. Do not proceed any further with the installation unless the server passes all diagnostic tests. When your server has accurate configuration information and passes all diagnostic tests, you can proceed with installing the server software.