Compaq Advanced Server for OpenVMS
Server Administrator's Guide


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1.2.4 Groups

To simplify administration of access permissions, you define groups of users. The members of a group are users and other groups. Groups provide an easy way to grant common capabilities to several users; group permissions are provided to all its members.

A group can be either global or local. A global group is a collection of user accounts allowed to access resources in one domain. It can also be assigned permissions to use resources in a trusting domain. A global group:

A local group can include users and global groups from its own domain and from trusted domains. Thus, it provides access to resources in its domain to users in its domain and in trusted domains.

If a trust relationship has been established between two domains, you can grant access to resources for groups from the trusted domain. To grant permissions to the members of a group from another domain, include the domain name when you specify the group name.

For more information about groups, see Chapter 3, Managing Users and Groups.

1.2.5 Logon Validation

The Advanced Server can validate requests of users to log on to the network. Logon validation is provided by the NetLogon service and allows the following:

You create the master security accounts database for the domain when you configure the primary domain controller. This database is automatically copied to the backup domain controllers in the domain that are running the NetLogon service. You do not have to create user accounts separately on each server. All the servers in the domain that run the NetLogon service use identical copies of the same domain-wide security accounts database.

Through external authentication, specified OpenVMS users are automatically validated on the network when they log in to the OpenVMS system running the Advanced Server. This pass-through style of authentication ensures password synchronization between OpenVMS user accounts and their corresponding Advanced Server network account. For more information about external authentication, see Section 3.1.17, External Authentication.

1.2.6 Logon Scripts

As the network administrator, you can use logon scripts to configure the working environments of your users by allowing them to automatically make network connections and start applications. The network administrator can create logon scripts and then assign a different logon script to each user, or create a logon script for multiple users. A logon script runs automatically whenever a user logs on at a workstation running Windows NT, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows 2000.

1.2.7 Home Directories

As the network administrator, you may want to assign a user a home directory on a server. Users can store private data in their home directories and have access control over these directories to restrict or grant access to other users. If users have home directories on computers other than their own, connections can be made automatically to home directories whenever users log on. Depending on the client operating system, you may need to specify the home directory in a logon script. For information about how to specify a logon script and home directory for a user account, see Section 3.1.3, User Account Attributes.

1.2.8 Advanced Server Licensing

To access the Advanced Server, clients must be properly licensed with a valid Client Access license. The Advanced Server includes the Advanced Server License Server, which distributes client-based licenses to clients during client startup. The Advanced Server License Registrar validates client-based licenses when the client establishes a session, and it allocates server-based licenses. The Compaq Advanced Server for OpenVMS Server Installation and Configuration Guide describes how to install the License Server. Refer to the Compaq Advanced Server for OpenVMS Guide to Managing Advanced Server Licenses for more information about Advanced Server licensing.

1.3 Resource Sharing

Sharing is the process of making resources (printers, directories, and files) available to users. As the network administrator, you make a resource available to clients who access the printer or directory, by specifying a share name and permissions to control access to the share.

Users gain access to a shared resource by:

  1. Logging on to the domain or a trusted domain
  2. Connecting to the share

As the network administrator, you define which resources to share, which users and groups can access them, and the type of access each user and group can have.

1.3.1 Disk Directories

The Advanced Server automatically shares the root directory of all disk devices connected to the server that are mounted when you start the server process. This type of share is called an autoshare. It is accessible by Administrators only.

Advanced Server lets you audit user attempts to access shared files or directories. You specify the types of access attempts to be audited. When one of those events occurs, the Advanced Server records an entry in the Security event log.

For information about setting permissions and auditing for individual files and directories, see Chapter 4, Managing Directory and File Sharing.

The OpenVMS system supports two file systems:

1.3.2 Printers

The Advanced Server lets you share printers connected to the network. With Advanced Server, you can:

By default, you manage Advanced Server printers and print shares on the server using the ADMINISTER command interface. However, you can configure the server so that you can manage its printers remotely with a Windows NT system.

For information about managing print shares and queues, see Chapter 5, Managing Printers, Print Queues, and Print Shares.

1.4 Monitoring Events and Troubleshooting

The Advanced Server provides log files for monitoring server resource use and for recording client and server problems.

The event log records client and server events. It contains the following information about each event:

You can establish an audit policy for event types on a server and set auditing for individual directories or files. The audit policy defines the types of events to be logged. Auditing also allows you to record server resource use. It can provide the following information about each access attempt:

For information about setting auditing for specific events and about troubleshooting server problems, see Chapter 6, Monitoring Events and Troubleshooting.

1.5 Network Administration Interfaces

You can administer the Advanced Server, another server, or a workstation in the network, from either a Compaq OpenVMS server or from another computer, using one of the interfaces listed in Table 1-1, Network Administration Interfaces.

Table 1-1 Network Administration Interfaces
Computer Type Interface
Advanced Server for OpenVMS and PATHWORKS V6 for OpenVMS (Advanced Server) Includes the following:
  • Advanced Server ADMINISTER commands (a command-line interface) -- to administer servers, domains, and shares. The complete command set is described in the Compaq Advanced Server for OpenVMS Commands Reference Manual.
  • Advanced Server Configuration Manager (a character-cell interface) -- to manage server-specific parameters that are not stored in the OpenVMS Registry. These parameters are, directly or indirectly, related to the environment in which the Advanced Server operates, such as the server's usage of OpenVMS system resources and physical memory. This is described in Section 7.1, Managing File Server Parameters Affecting System Resources.
  • On Advanced Server for OpenVMS only, PWRK$REGUTL (a command-line interface) -- to manage the server configuration parameters stored in the OpenVMS Registry and which affect the behavior of the Advanced Server but not, for the most part, file server resource consumption. For more information, see Section 7.2, Managing Server Configuration Parameters Stored in the OpenVMS Registry.
  • Advanced Server License Manager (a character-cell interface) -- to manage the Advanced Server licenses and License Server. For more information about the License Manager, refer to the Compaq Advanced Server for OpenVMS Guide to Managing Advanced Server Licenses.
Windows NT Server Windows NT server administration tools (Windows-based interfaces, including Server Manager, Print Manager, User Manager for Domains, and Event Viewer).
PATHWORKS (LAN Manager) ADMIN/PATH utility (a character-cell user interface), or Net commands (a command-line interface).
LAN Manager V2. x (retail) servers Net commands (a command-line interface), or NET ADMIN (a character-cell interface).
Advanced Server for UNIX pwadmin commands (a command-line interface), or net commands (limited functions).
DOS client Net commands (a command-line interface).
Windows, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 95, or Windows 98 client MS-DOS Net interface (a command-line interface), Windows NT server administration tools (Windows-based user interfaces).

1.6 The Advanced Server ADMINISTER Command-Line Interface

You can control most aspects of the Advanced Server using the Advanced Server ADMINISTER command-line interface. You invoke the Advanced Server ADMINISTER command-line interface by entering the ADMINISTER command in response to the OpenVMS system prompt. The Advanced Server command-line interface prompts you with the name of the domain and the name of the server you are currently administering. For example:


$ ADMINISTER 
LANDOFOZ\\TINMAN> 

In this example, you are managing a domain called LANDOFOZ and a server called TINMAN. You can enter ADMINISTER commands at the prompt.

You can also execute ADMINISTER commands on the DCL command line in the following way:


$ ADMINISTER SET PASSWORD SCARECROW "YellowRoad" "EmeraldCity" 
%PWRK-S-PSWCHANGED, password changed for user "SCARECROW" in domain 
"LANDOFOZ" 
 
$ 

In this example, the command-line interface executes a single command and returns to the OpenVMS system prompt.

The ADMINISTER command-line interface will prompt you for information required for a given command if you do not supply it on the command line. For example, you can log on to the network using the LOGON command, as follows. Note that the password is required, so the software prompts you for it. When you are prompted for the password, it is not displayed as you enter it.


$ ADMINISTER 
LANDOFOZ\\TINMAN> LOGON ADMINISTRATOR 
Password: 
The server \\TINMAN successfully logged you on as Administrator. 
Your privilege level on domain LANDOFOZ is ADMIN. 
The last time you logged on was 07/19/00 06:41 PM. 
 
LANDOFOZ\\TINMAN> 

1.6.1 Getting Help on ADMINISTER Commands

The Advanced Server ADMINISTER command-line interface has online help that describes command syntax, options, and qualifiers. It also explains each command and gives examples of command use. The Help facility for the ADMINISTER command-line interface has the same structure as OpenVMS DCL Help.

To use online help, enter one of the following commands:
Syntax Information Provided
$ ADMINISTER HELP A list of help topics
$ ADMINISTER HELP command The description, syntax, qualifiers, and examples for the specified ADMINISTER command
$ ADMINISTER
domain\\ server> HELP
A list of help topics

For complete information on ADMINISTER commands and their syntax, refer to the Compaq Advanced Server for OpenVMS Commands Reference Manual or the ADMINISTER command-line interface Help.

1.6.2 Administering Domains and Servers

There are two types of Advanced Server ADMINISTER commands:

By default, you are set up to administer the local server and the domain to which it belongs. The default domain remains in effect for the duration of the current OpenVMS login session, or until you log off the domain or change the default domain. Commands are executed on the domain and server indicated by the ADMINISTER command-line interface prompt. For example, the following prompt indicates the domain currently being administered is LANDOFOZ, and the server is TINMAN:


LANDOFOZ\\TINMAN> 

For administering other (remote) domains and servers with the ADMINISTER command-line interface, you have these options:

You can use the SET ADMINISTRATION command to administer resources, services, and server operation in another domain or server, if you have been validated for a user account that is a member of the Administrators group. For more information, see Section 2.1.4, Administering Another Domain.

If you have OpenVMS system management privileges SYSLCK and OPER on the system, you can execute any server-related ADMINISTER commands on the local server without logging on to the network, except commands that require operations with other servers. If your local server is a primary domain controller, you can also execute any domain-related commands that do not require operations with other servers. When you have these OpenVMS privileges, you are treated as if you had logged on to the network as Administrator. If you do not have these OpenVMS privileges, or if you wish to manage a server other than your local server, you must log on to a network user account that is a member of the Administrators local group (for example, the Administrator user account).

To log on to the network, use the LOGON command. For example:


LANDOFOZ\\TINMAN> LOGON 
Username: ADMINISTRATOR 
Password: 
The server \\TINMAN successfully logged you on as Administrator. 
Your privilege level on domain LANDOFOZ is ADMIN. 
The last time you logged on was 09/19/00 06:41 PM. 
 
LANDOFOZ\\TINMAN> 

You are prompted for your user name and password. The password is not displayed as you enter it. Once you log on to the domain, you remain logged on after you exit from the ADMINISTER command interface. To log off the domain, use the LOGOFF command before exiting.

You can administer another server using the TELL command. TELL sends the command to be executed to the specified server. In the following example, the server currently being administered is TINMAN, and the other server is WOODMAN. The command to be executed on server WOODMAN is SHOW COMPUTERS.


LANDOFOZ\\TINMAN> TELL WOODMAN SHOW COMPUTERS 
 
%PWRK-I-SRVINFO, the server type is: Advanced Server for OpenVMS 
 
Computers in domain "LANDOFOZ": 
 
Computer              Type                       Description 
--------------------  -------------------------  -------------------------- 
[PD] TINMAN           OpenVMS (NT 4.0) Primary   Advanced Server V7.3 
                                                 for OpenVMS 
 
[BD] WOODMAN          OpenVMS (NT 3.51) Backup   Advanced Server V7.2 
                                                 for OpenVMS 
 
  Total of 2 computers 
 
LANDOFOZ\\TINMAN> 

Be sure to use the proper command syntax for the server you are administering. For example, to administer a server running PATHWORKS V5 for OpenVMS (LAN Manager), use LAN Manager NET commands. In the following example, the PATHWORKS V5 for OpenVMS (LAN Manager) server name is QUEEN.


LANDOFOZ\\TINMAN> TELL QUEEN NET SHARE 
%PWRK-I-SRVINFO, the server type is: LAN Manager 2.2 for OpenVMS 
 
Sharename        Resource                  Remark 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
ADMIN$                                     Remote Admin 
C$               USERS:[PWRK$ROOT]         PATHWORKS share 
IPC$                                       Remote IPC 
USERS$           _QUEEN$DUA1:              ODS-2 volume USERS: 
VAXVMSV0.55$     _QUEEN$DUA2               ODS-2 volume VAXVMSV0.55: 
NETLOGON                                   Logon Users Directory 
PWUTIL           C:[LANMAN.SHARES.WIN]     PATHWORKS Client-based Utilities 
RONNIE           USERS:[RONNIE] 
RPL              C:[LANMAN.RPL]            Remoteboot server share 
RPLFILES         C:[LANMAN.RPL.RPLFILES]   Remoteboot server share 
USERS                                      Logon Users Directory 
The command completed successfully 
 
LANDOFOZ\\TINMAN> 

1.6.3 Administrative Groups

Some of your network users may be designated as members of administrative groups, such as account operators, print operators, server operators, or administrators. These users have administrative or operator privileges that enable them to perform specific tasks, as described in Table 1-2, Administrative Groups.

Table 1-2 Administrative Groups
Group Name Tasks
Account Operators Create and manage user accounts and global and local groups.
Administrators Access servers and computers from the network, take ownership of files, manage auditing and security logs, perform all account operator tasks, assign user rights, create groups, keep a local profile, share and stop sharing directories, files, and printers.
Print Operators Keep a local profile; share and stop sharing printers.
Server Operators Access servers and computers from the network, take ownership of files, manage auditing and security logs, share and stop sharing directories, files, and printers.

If you have different operators responsible for different parts of your network and you do not want to assign them full administrative privileges, make them members of the Server Operators group only at the server they can administer.


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