NetWare Directory Services

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Implementing NetWare Directory Services
Implementing NDS on Various Sizes of Networks
Time Services
Although small-sized business might be restricted to a single- or multiple-
segment LAN, time services is still important.
A Single Reference time server is usually adequate for LAN-based
networks. The Single Reference time server is monitored and periodically
adjusted for time by the network supervisors.
All other servers in the network are designated as Secondary time servers.
Partitions
Workgroup boundaries generally determine the number of partitions
required in a tree. You should partition your tree in relation to the use and
physical location of network resources. You should create partitions only if
they provide better performance or fault tolerance to the network and tree.
Small networks may not require partitioning.
If you think it is necessary, create a small number of partitions at the top
levels of the tree.
Replicas
Each server on the network should contain all the resources needed at its
location, because small-network users rarely connect to servers at other
locations. Replicas, in this case, will most likely not decrease WAN traffic.
However, replicas provide fault tolerance. You should copy two to three
replicas of each partition somewhere on the network to provide fault
tolerance.
Medium-Sized Network
Implementing NDS on a medium-sized network is typically based on your
business’s organizational chart with some geographic considerations for
your branch offices.
The following figure shows an example of a common Directory tree
structure for a medium-sized network.