LM_NET: Library Media Networking
This is the second part of the messages I received from all of the
helpful folks about learning to trouble shoot netware. I am sharing your
replies with my supervisor and the supervisor of the tech. committee etc.
I'll let you all know how I fare in another message after everyone has
been able to read your notes. Many thanks for all your help!
all best,
Roselle
American School for the Deaf
r_weiner@sacam.oren.ortn.edu
From kchepko@garnet.acns.fsu.eduSun Nov 20 18:12:26 1994
Hi!
For the past three years (while I was getting my masters and advanced
masters and starting to work as a media specialist) I have worked in the
library science computer lab at FSU, first as a lab assistant, next as an
assistant LAN manager, now as a special student/volunteer/all-around-pest!
There is so very much to learn! Our middle school isn't networked (yet)
so I don't really know how well I am prepared to be out on my own _but_,
even with all of my experience, I think it would be awfully difficult!!
You are not alone in thinking it's too hard but _please_ don't give up -
you know a lot more than you think you do and it will get easier as time
goes by!
Get as much experience as you possibly can - in your "free" time, visit
other installations. Find out how they do some of those difficult tasks.
Read, read, read! I don't know any current titles but I used to read
anything about LAN's that I could find (that's how I spent a 13 hour
flight to Australia three summers ago!) I believe there are some
magazines out now that deal with networking.
Don't feel bad about making phone calls!! You can't be expected to know
everything! In return, however, you must be willing to help others with
less experience! I have been working with computers for years. At each
stage I find myself calling those ahead of me and helping those behind
me. It's the only way we can get anywhere!!
I have friends who took one or more Novell classes in Tampa (we now have
some sessions held in Tallahassee - wish I could afford them!!) They were
wonderful - lots of help, look good on your resume, boost your career,
etc. If you can find the money, go for it! Probably, however, that's not
a likely possibility so how about finding someone who took the classes and
who have some experience. Pay them to give you some mini-lessons. It is
easier to learn something when you can use hands-on time, especially on
your own system.
It's late so I'd better quit. Good luck to you!
Karen Chepko
kchepko@garnet.acns.fsu.edu
From don.shields@tng.uu.holonet.netSun Nov 20 18:16:04 1994
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 1994 15:22:16 GMT
Dear Roselle,
Novell networks can be complex and are probably not for everyone, but it
can be extremely powerful. Small schools need to be careful that they
have the resources to set up their systems properly. Sometimes local
vendors will not have the expertise to install and set them up for good
usability of the client. The training from Novell would do you very
little good in your situation. The reason is that Novell is only an
operating system. The real "magic" happens behind the scenes with custom
programming, custom menus etc. I would strongly recommend you save up
your funds for a professional consultant / programmer, it's expensive
but will bring you the best results. Large school systems can of course
hire full time technicians. Alternately try involving a good local
consultant in your school. Many professional and retirees might be
willing to donate a little time to the cause.
Typically the networks in our district are fully automated. They allow
the Principal to assign Librarians which then can assign Teachers and
Students to the system. Students and Teachers get different menus
corresponding to who they are and where they are ie. if you are in the
Library you are automatically assigned the shared Library printer.
CD-ROMs are admittedly different on the network. First time installs
generally have to be done by a technician. Each piece of software
presents its own problem and you are best off sticking to commercial
products that are meant to be networked like SIRS, MAS etc. and to stay
away from product that are meant to be used single user.
In our systems once that first CD-ROM install is made the Librarian may
change software in and out of the towers at will. The menu program will
autodetect the change of titles and self configure.
If you want do do things for yourself ie. try new CD-ROMS etc, have some
one set up a local hard drive with a standalone CD-Rom, but remember
some programs you set up locally may not work on the network.
So why do so many schools use Novell fileservers? Typical peer to peer
networks like Novell Lite can only handle a few stations, even up to 25
becomes an unrealistic number. The fileserver can handle up to a hundred
simultaneous stations at once with CD-Roms and heavy database use and in
many cases still be faster than than running off a local hard disks!.
You can also setup logical stations with one command, imagine tring to
make one change to 100 individual PC's. Try also sharing information and
programs between schools on a peer to peer lan, it's almost impossible.
If you have any particular questions drop ne a note.
Sincerely,
Don Shields
Mammoth Unified School District
Network Consultant
0006514431@mcimail.com
From palsdaj@VAX1.Mankato.MSUS.EDUSun Nov 20 18:19:49 1994
Date: Sun, 20 Nov 1994 10:00:45 -0600 (CST)
Roselle,
I share your frustration with the complexities of diagnosing Novell
systems. I believe you (or someone in your building) should bite the bullet
and take the class necessary to become a Certified Novell Administrator.
This is a four day class which costs about $1200 - at least around here.
In our district of 7500 kids and 13 buildings, I have three technicians
with this certification. It has really helped.
Doug
Doug Johnson, District Media Supervisor | The sweat of hard work is not to
Mankato Public Schools, ISD 77 | be displayed. It is much more
Box 8713, Mankato MN 56002-8713 | graceful to appear favored by the
Phone: 507-387-7698 | gods. Maxine Hong Kingston
djohns1@west.isd77.k12.mn.us (or)
palsdaj@va1.mankato.msus.edu
From popeda@heidelberg-emh2.army.milSun Nov 20 18:24:58 1994
I can do much of the work regarding my network, but only after
1. A class on network mgt. aimed really at computer lab folks
2. Persuading the tech support guy that he couldn't come very often
so he'd better let me in on the setup
3. Getting my own supervisor password and learning the ropes by
trying things out
I really can't be of much more help than this, since networks can be set
up so many different ways, but you should have the ability to
install new programs
delete programs
control users and security
set up, add or delete printers, etc.
and your tech support folks are letting you down until you have these
skills for yourself
popeda@heidelberg-emh2.army.mil
From acedos@marlborough.la.ca.usMon Nov 21 15:15:47 1994
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 09:17:22 -0800 (PST)
From: Shannon Acedo <acedos@marlborough.la.ca.us>
Roselle--
I have a new Novelle network, and started out wanting to learn all I
could about the network. When we installed the networkk this summer, we
were working on the premise that we would have a full time technical
support person hired, in part, to help us with the administration of the
network. This did not materialise, and our school's technical support needs are
being met on an ad hoc basis calling in an outside consultant whenever
things get really bad. I've reached the point of dissociating myself
emotionally from the network, and repeating my mantra--"que sera, sera".
I would much prefer to be knowledgeable and able to solve little
problems as they arise, but I've been told that our outside consultant is
"too expensive to do training or answer questions". Our only manual for
Novelle is on disk, which is no help if the network is down.
I'd love to hear what others are doing to educate themselves. I
second the plea for any source that would be useful. The network is
wonderful when it's up, but there are so many mysterious events (which
I'm sure would be very easy to avoid if I knew what I was doing) that it
is discouraging. I hate to feel imcompetent--that's probably the worst part.
Shannon Acedo
Marlborough School
Los Angeles
From ray@nueva.pvt.k12.ca.usMon Nov 21 15:16:57 1994
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 09:52:05 -0800 (PST)
From: Ray Olszewski <ray@nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us>
To: Roselle _ Weiner <r_weiner@SACAM.OREN.ORTN.EDU>
Subject: Netware/libraries & tech shooting (fwd)
It sounds very familiar. I am a network administrator not a librarian,
but my expertise is in UNIX systems, not Netware. I've been having the
fun of making a small Netware 4.01 network run to support our Library's
circ system.
A couple of thing you should know about:
1. If you have access to Usenet news, there are a couple of novell
groups. I haven't used them much, not finding them very useful, but they
are there.
2. If you run a web client, there is a Netware home page run by Novell.
Web to url http://web.novell.com .
What we really need, I think, is a listserv discusson group run by and
for people who want to use Netware and develop their own technical
expertise, not pay by the hour for someone else to improve his or her
technical expertise.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 06:13:38 -0800 (PST)
From: Debbie Abilock <debbie@nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us>
To: Ray Olszewski <ray@nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us>
Subject: Netware/libraries & tech shooting (fwd)
sound familiar?
From: Roselle _ Weiner <r_weiner@SACAM.OREN.ORTN.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list LM_NET <LM_NET@suvm.acs.syr.EDU>
Subject: Netware/libraries & tech shooting
Dear Netters,
Libraries have no money...right? We also are turning to Networks and
notably NETWARE (novell). So it is that I ask...what are other libraries
doing about trouble shooting the network?
When we had a Novell lite system, I could waltz up to it at any point and
diagnose the troubles from unpluged printers to dead batteries and lost
cmos. everything was fair game. overnite, tho, it seems I have been
divorced from my PC and my expertise! I no longer know where to look
first when something happens. Not only that, I can't even install and
try out a new CD rom without calling for tech support. I don't know how
to switch from the menu (established for security) out in the public to
the local hard drive. I don't know how to get onto the menu so as to
access the cd's from my station! When our cataloging program balks and
won't write to disk, I no longer know if its a local problem or a network
problem. I'm told there is training available from Novell for 5,000
dollars. Heck, that's nearly my entire library budget!
Do you have Netware? Do you rely on tech support (out side consultant)
or a local all around technician? Do you have any feel for your system
at all and if so, HOW did you get it? Are there any books you would
recommend? Lists? Forums? I didn't plan for this...I wanted a network
that I could relate to. I think we are in over our heads and very
expensively.
Feeling rather down about the whole situation,
Roselle
American School for the Deaf
West Hartford, CT
r_weiner@sacam.oren.ortn.edu
From: Mark Williams <marwill@eis.calstate.edu>
To: Roselle _ Weiner <r_weiner@SACAM.OREN.ORTN.EDU>
I KNOW JUST HOW YOU FEEL! I am not a system administrator, I am a
librarian. My time and more is fully taken up with that job--I don't
have time to deal with a network's problems. I pay $1500 a year in tech
and equipment support (up form $1000 last year) and it is worth it to
me. If there is a problem, they take care of it or replace the offenting
part that same day. But what happens when I can no longer afford this?
Computers have become so complicated, and the networks so bloated with
features (just look at Novell 4.0!) that working with them has become a
full time job. And I thought computers were supposed to make life
easier--silly puppy!
Regards,
Mark
From: Mark Williams <marwill@eis.calstate.edu>
I replied a moment ago, but forgot to add this word of
encouragement--You
made the right choice in Novell. It is the best (and most widely
supported) network environment around. For menu access, I use a product
called Direct Access, which works very well and is easy to
troubleshoot and runs nicely on Novell networks.
Regards,
Mark
From: PaulAdairS@aol.com
Subject: Re: Netware/libraries & tech ...
I sympathize with your network woes. We have had a hard time with ours, too.
Our tech support person comes about once every two weeks (if we're lucky)
and he never tells me anything. I finally figured a few things out for
myself.
In our system, there is a way to get off the network to access the hard
drive. We don't want the kids to know what it is, of course, but teachers
should know if they plan to use anything not on the network. We have also
installed a menu program called Preface to our hard drive, which we attach to
our network menu. I can log in to the network, choose preface from my
Teacher Applications list, and access programs I have installed to the hard
drive. I am installing this for our teachers as well.
If you can do this, you can have the benefits of the network with the ability
to run things from your local station.
The high school computer teacher has been a big help to me. I wish I knew
where to read about networks in general and Novell in particular (except the
tech manual, of course).
Good luck!
Sylvia Adair, Library Media Specialist
Lomira, Wisconsin
PaulAdairS@aol.com
From: KATHY CLINESMITH <clinesmi@nevada.edu>
Subject: Re: Netware/libraries & tech shooting
God am I glad to hear someone else who had missgivings about this
marvelous monster! I have almost no computer background and our District
had not been helpful or reliable about support so most of us have hired
outside certified technicians at $50 to $75 an hour, some of whom have no
idea what a network in a school is like. My current tech sat at a
station one lunch with his mouth open and later trying to straighten out
a mess said he had no idea kids would be so destructive for no reason. I
see this as a marvelous tool but a bottomless pit as far as money and
time goes. I am not sure my job as a librarian should include wiring
cable ends, diagnosing the ills of hubs and file servers and stations and
trying to explain to a kid who has a peper due next period that I don't
know why WordPerfect 6.0 Windows keeps saying "File Format Invalis" when
he tries to print! How do you ever get the time to figure out how the
programs on the netword work? Other less knowledgable teachers say what
a marvelous job I'm doing, but all I see is a deep dark hole...
K Kathie Clinesmith
ClCClark High School
Las Vegas, NV 89102
From speckham@creighton.eduTue Nov 22 14:56:23 1994
Subject: Re: Netware/libraries & tech shooting
Rosele, I also feel overwhelmed by my sophisticated
networked system that does wondeful things but I
need help with each new CD program that has different
problems. I'm a private school so there is no district
support-I have a tech teacher at the school, but he
thinks the fileserver in the library is my problem
and I should take classes to learn to deal with it.
I just don't see that librarians are all necessarily
technicians-some might be naturally good at it, but a lot
of us aren't. So i'm in the process of writing up
a contract service agreement with the techs that sold
me the hardware and set up my system.Something like 4
times a year i get help-not for emergencies, but for changes I
want made-consulting time, help, etc. I figure it will
be about 500/year. It is just the maintenance cost of having
this sophisticated stuff. I also have "close-up" on my
computers and the techs will have it too, so they can work on
something from their office to help me if necessary.
Anyway this is how I plan to deal with it. I think it is
unreasonable for administrators to expect us to do this
without help. Good luck sarah
I
%**%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%
Sarah Peckham, Library Media Specialist
E-Mail: speckham@bluejay.creighton.edu
speckham@unomaha.edu
MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL
7400 Military Avenue Omaha, NE 68134
TEL: 402-571-0619 (HOME:402-553-2528)
%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%
From: Northfield High School <0659gac@informns.k12.mn.us>
Subject: Re: Netware/libraries & tech shooting
I agree with you, this Novell network we have is not something most of us
that are school library media specialists have any training in or can
intuitively figure out how to use. I have hired a technician so keep
track of ours. It is nearly a full time job. We have two labs on the
network and adding new software, new CDs, or trying to figure out how to
preview CD-Roms is a nightmare. Things are going to have to get a lot
simpler for all of our elementaries to go on-line.
Gayle Collins
Northfield High SChool
Northfield, MN
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