If you’re using a mixed network environment containing Win 2k and NetWare, then you’ll need separate logins and passwords to access the resources on these networks. However, this can be avoided by using a feature called GSNW (Gateway Services for NetWare) in Win 2k.

Using GSNW, you can integrate the two networks in such a way that you can access both using a single login. Basically, GSNW acts as a gateway between the two operating systems and gives access to resources, like printers, volumes, directories, etc, on both the networks. This service is present in Win NT too, and works the same way in Win 2k.

Let’s see how to have it up and running.

Configuring the NetWare server

Log on to your NetWare server with administrator rights. Open NetWare Administrator and create a new group called NTGATEWAY. Set up the group with rights to the resources you want to give access to. Now, assign a user account as a member of this group. This account will be used by Win 2k server to access the gateway.

GSNW on Win 2k server

Adding services in Win 2k is slightly different from Win NT. Right click on "My Network Places" and select Properties. You’ll see a lot of network segments here. Select the properties for the network segment where you want these services. Click on Install, select Client, and Add. Choose Gateway (and client) services for NetWare from the list that follows. You’ll be prompted to restart your PC.

The installation creates an icon called GSNW in the Control Panel. Here, you have to specify your NetWare network details, like preferred server, default tree and context, etc. Click on the Gateway button and enable it from the window that follows. In the account name, enter the username and password you added to the NTGATEWAY on NetWare server. Your gateway should now be ready for some action.

The next step is to create shares for the clients on your network. For this, open GSNW again and click on the Add button. The "New share" dialog box opens up. Enter a share name, and other details about the drives you want to share on the NetWare server. These include the network path to the NetWare volume or directory you want to share, the drive letter to map it to, a share name, and other comments. You also need to define user permissions from here.

When clients access the Win 2k network, they’ll get all the drive mappings defined in GSNW, and won’t be able to tell which server’s resources they’re using.

GSNW can be convenient as long as there aren’t too many clients who need access. Otherwise, you’ll be putting extra load on the Win 2k server, as all NetWare requests will pass through it, which could slow down access. The benefit is that you don’t need to install multiple clients on user machines.

Sachin Makhija with Sanjay Majumdar