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Preface
This manual presents installation and configuration information for NCD NCBridge software and network computers. It is written for system and network administrators responsible for installing network computers in a distributed-computing environment. The procedures in this manual assume familiarity with:
The following conventions and terminology are used in this manual.
- Pointing: Using the mouse to position the pointer on an object on the display.
- Moving: Using the mouse to change the location of the pointer on the display.
- Clicking: Pressing and releasing a mouse button without moving the pointer.
- Dragging: Pressing and holding down a mouse button while moving the pointer.
- Releasing: Releasing the mouse button to complete a dragging action.
Figure 1 on the next page illustrates the typographical conventions used in this manual.
Preface
Map to the NCBridge Documentation
Table 1 presents the contents of the manuals in the NCBridge Documentation set. These manuals are included on the NCBridge Documentation CD-ROM.
In addition, System or Network Administration manuals for your computer are also helpful for looking up additional options, subnet masking, and broadcast addresses.
Discontinued Software Features
As NCD continues to add new features to make your NC hardware more valuable, we are forced to discontinue support for some of the older software features. The following is a list of features that were supported in NCBridge 3.2 and earlier software releases, but are not supported in NCBridge 4.0.
Serial Xpress
Serial Xpress enabled a NC or X terminal to connect to a remote host and transmit X Windows data over an RS-232 cable, or indirectly over a phone line using modems. The NC can now be connected using PPP over an RS-232 connection, or connected to a DSL or ISDN connection using the standard network port to provide remote access to a host replacing the need for Serial Xpress.
Local OpenLook Window Manager
The local OpenLook window manager (OLWM) is a window manager for the X Window System that implements parts of the OPEN LOOK graphical user interface, original developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. This feature was previously provided to allow the OLWM program to run as a local client on the Network Computer (NC) to help off load server resources. The OLWM window manager is still supported on the NCs under X Windows by simply running OLWM directly from a Sun host. OLWM is one of the standard window managers on Sun's Workstation products running Solaris. NCs still offer Local Motif (MWM) or (XPWM) window managers to use in place of OLWM where a local window manager is necessary.
Local 3179G Terminal Emulator
The local 3179G Terminal Emulation is no longer included. The local IBM 3179G Terminal Emulation included IBM3720 support along with special IBM Graphics functions (GDDM), including support for older IBM host graphics applications. The NC still offers support for IBM3270 Emulation.
Pieces of the Puzzle
Configuration is the key to the successful integration of network computers into your environment. System configuration is represented as a puzzle: each piece must be completed and integrated before the entire system configuration is complete. The configuration puzzle is illustrated in Figure 2.
Throughout this manual, the individual puzzle pieces are used to visually guide you through the system configuration process. As you complete each piece, you are one step closer to a centralized system. When the puzzle is complete, you have created a custom environment tailored to your computing resources, your applications, and your users' requirements. As an added bonus, the system is centrally administered, easy to maintain, and has the flexibility to adapt to your changing computing needs.
Chapter 1, Installing the Software, is the first step in the configuration process. This chapter describes how to load the network computer software onto your computer.
Chapter 2, Getting Acquainted, introduces various tools and utilities for configuring and booting the first network computer. At the end of this chapter, you should be logged in to your host from the network computer.
Chapter 3, Making Choices, helps you analyze your environment and select the best methods to configure your network computers and your environment. Strategies for using a centralized configuration, integrating additional network computers, and using Flash memory are also included.
Chapter 4, Building a Centralized System, implements the choices you made in Chapter 3. All of the configuration files are discussed: xp.cnf, gateway.tbl, hosts, tbl, nodes.tbl, nfs.tbl, fonts.tbl, rgb.tbl, and xhosts.tbl. Refer to Chapter 3 for information on which files to modify.
Chapter 5, Supporting a Centralized System, offers host-specific procedures for implementing the configuration decisions you made in Chapter 2. Refer to Chapter 2 for information on which procedures to perform.
Chapter 6, Using Additional Fonts, describes the procedures and utilities necessary to make your fonts available to the network computer.
Chapter 7, Troubleshooting, describes debugging methods and solutions to help troubleshoot your configuration.
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