S 6.55 Reduction of restart times for Novell Netware servers

Initiation responsibility: Head of IT Section, IT Security Management

Implementation responsibility: Administrators

To reduce the time required for restarting a Novell Netware server after a failure, the necessary software and start drivers (for hard disks, network adapter cards etc.) should be saved separately on external data media in case a new installation is required at any stage. It is advisable to stow these data media together with the remaining data backup media. The required configuration parameters are provided by the server documentation (refer to S 2.153 Documentation of Novell Netware 4.x networks).

Furthermore, a procedure for restarting the Netware server should be developed in co-operation with the responsible staff members. This procedure should be simulated regularly as part of emergency routines so that it can be verified and tested in terms of functionality. In particular, such routines should test whether the exclusive use of software and data stored in internal or external backup archives is sufficient for performing a full reconstruction.

The steps required for restarting a Novell Netware server must be described in an emergency manual (refer to S 6.3 Development of an contingency manual, Part D). Such steps include, for example:

• Configuration and installation of any required hardware components

• Loading of the system software

• Loading of the start drivers

• Supply of the required data, including configuration files

• Restarting

Depending on the scope and complexity of the NDS, restarting can take a great deal of time. The times required by the restarting steps can be ascertained with the help of such emergency routines, and must be taken into account when reviewing the restart plan.

Additional controls:

• Has the restart plan been tested?

• When was a check last made to ascertain whether backed-up data can be reconstructed?