I just installed Vista Ultimate on a New WD Raptor X drive. I originally thought that MS was going to support logging in to a Novell Server. MS decided not to - at least as far as I know. So I downloaded to client for Vista & installed it. The problem is that the server/tree/context comes up with nothing - the pc does not find the Novell domain. I have even tried logging in under windows and then search for the connection once logged on, to no avail.
I was wondering if anybody knows what to do about this? Is there another client that I could download? A workaround through some sort of back door? The antiquated Novell server is Netware v3.12 25-User.
I am open to suggestions.
Thanks in advance.

Netware 3.12 does not use eDirectory.
So no Tree.
It's a bindary based login.
Tried that?

Paul

Forgive my ignorance. Bindary login? What is that and how to I configure it?

1. Rightclick to the little red N in the systemtray and choose Novell Client Properties
2. choose the tab Location Profile
3. click on the default and choose properties
4. in the next window choose Service "Login service" and Service Instance "default"
5. then click on properties
6. now there are several tabs listed in this window. One of it is called Bindery. Click on the Bindery Tab and enable "Active Authenticator"
7. in the Server field fill in your servers name
8. click ok until all windows are closed

Now try and seen what happens.

Paul

No "Location Profile" tab. Obviously all the instructions that follow are not possible.
I am using the Client for Vista.

I don't know the Novell Client for Vista but, when you get prompted to log in to the server, is there a button "Advanced"?
When you click this button, you should see several tabs and one of them you be the bindery tab.

nope. thanks for your continued help.
do any MS services need to be enabled for the client to work properly?

Normally all needed services are configured properly after the client installation.

Have you tried www.novell.com/support to figure out, where the problem is?

yes. it is not really so helpful. i am more of a hardware guy than software. i do not fully understand everything on the site. i am going to try to reinstall Vista and start from scratch.
thank you very much for your help. if i can get it to work i will post it and let you and everyone else know.

Btw. Vista isn't the best choice.
Too much problems on several things.

There is no Windows without the first service pack !!!
This was the case on all windows versions I used til now.

thanks for the advice.
I know. i was hoping to be able to log into the novell server, just to be on par with the rest of my office. we do use a DOS based program in our office. i know that it is quite antiquated, but it works - and to do an upgrade will cost us anywhere from $20,000 - $35,000, including new hardware.
what i was planning on doing was using a virtual pc program for this software. and if i cannot get the novell client to work, i will use the virtual pc for connecting to the server.
again, thanks very much and if you can think of anything else, you can just post it. i get an email every time someone post on this topic.

if you reinstall the client, you should get an option to choose directory based or bindery based - choose bindery!

"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought, which they avoid" - Soren Kierkegaard.

thanks. i actually did a clean install and i have the same problems. i was not given the option to choose directory based or bindery based login. once the client is installed, how can i change the login to bindery based?
the client that i am using is the official release from novell for windows vista.

The vista client is very different than the XP client. I am having the same issue as listed above with my Novell 5.0 server. I'm running IP and IPX, of course Vista does not support IPX at all. So....After disabling the firewall, windows defender, and all antivirus, I still have the issue. However, you may want to disable that stuff and also, go to Control Panel > User Accounts > Turn User Access control on or off > Uncheck User access control. That has been an issue on a lot of software installations and funtionality.

Jonas

Thanks very much. I have been okay without the login. The few times that I needed it, I just used the Virtual PC. That has worked out fine for me.
Also, we are actually going to be doing an upgrade to Windows SBS. We are getting rid of our Novell server.
Thanks.

As an update, After disabling all that, I made two final changes and it worked for me. 1st, I added an entry in the c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\host file to let it know the IP of my server (not sure this is necessary, but my server doesn't run dhcp or dns). 2nd I manually typed in my tree/context/server information and voila, I got on the server.

If you are still having issues, post back and I will be glad to look at more options with you.

Jonas

thanks to all. i appreciate it. the new server has benn ordered already and should be installed shortly after we get it. we had a hardware issue with the Novell server recently, and we felt that a server that is about 10 years old is due for an upgrade.