The version of Microsoft Corp’s Windows95 that is now available from supermarkets, bars, and all the usual computer software outlets may be proved eventually to be missing many things, but one of the gaps the Redmonder noticed before the roll-out was the lack of 32-bit support for Novell Inc NetWare Directory Services. This was also noticed by Novell itself, and the company will have a 32-bit client for NetWare 4.X out two months before Microsoft. Maple is the code name for Microsoft’s 32-bit client for NDS due out before the year-end. Until that time, Windows95 will work in NetWare 4.X environments only if they are running bindery emulation, and therefore the only way Windows95 can use NetWare Directory Services is by running 16-bit NetWare Virtual Loadable Modules, VLMs. Maple integrates the directory services of a NetWare 4.X local area network into Windows95, and a beta version was recently tested by the US edition of PC Week’s laboratories. Problems occurred when migrating from standard NetWare binderies to the new directory services, because Maple forced the user to choose one of the NetWare 4.X directory trees, which prevents the use of a NetWare 3.12 server. Such a server could be accessed, but log-in scripts would not be processed, rendering it impratical. Microsoft said it hopes to have these problems solved by the time of the full release by something called automatic context detection and NetWare 3.X log-in options for organisations that are using mixed 3.X and 4.X environments.
Maple
The beta version of Maple also apparently lacks some log-in options specific to NetWare 4.X, but again, Microsoft promises full support come the year-end. The test revealed that Windows95 really does operate better with its Explorer file manager rather than with MS-DOS commands, inasmuch as the log-in command at the MS-DOS prompt occasionally caused Windows95 to hang, necessitating a shut-down. Windows95 network management utilities can be integrated with NetWare Directory Services, such as users and groups, which can be pulled directly from the Directory Services. Novell’s answer to the problem only went into its first beta stage on the day of Windows 95 release, so details are sketchy. But it is expected to offer all NetWare services to Windows 95 users on a local area network while taking advantage of the 32-bit architecture. The second beta phase is due to start at the end of September. Raj Panesar, who is the brand marketing manager for Novell in the UK said the client is due for release at the beginning of November. Novell is working towards a generic 32-bit client that will eventually work under IBM Corp’s OS/2 Warp, Windows NT and the Macintosh operating system, but somewhat curiously has only just got going, with the youngest and most over-hyped 32-bit operating system of them all. Meanwhile, individual releases for the other operating systems will follow before the generic version arrives.
