Bypassing Novell Login Scripts for Troubleshooting Purposes

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q121271
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 3.3, 4.x, 5.0, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.1, 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

When you are troubleshooting Novell NetWare issues, it is sometimes helpful to eliminate the NetWare login script as a source of possible configuration problems. This is consistent with the "clean boot" approach of eliminating as many unknown factors as possible to isolate the cause of a specific problem.

MORE INFORMATION

Novell NetWare employs a system of login scripts. These scripts are similar to batch files and are executed whenever a user logs on to a NetWare file server. Listed below are some of the various login scripts.

System Login Script

This script is processed first and applies to all users who log on to the file server. It can be edited only by a NetWare Supervisor through the SYSCON utility.

User Login Script

This script is unique to each user and is processed after the System Login script. It can usually be edited by the user through SYSCON.

Default Login Script

This script is processed after the System Login script if there is no User Login script for the user who is currently logging on. The Default Login script is hard-coded into LOGIN.EXE and therefore cannot be edited.

There is a parameter on the LOGIN command that allows the user to specify a text file to be used as an alternate login script, overriding all the standard login scripts listed above. The command 

   LOGIN /S C:\LOGIN.TXT
logs the user on to the currently attached file server and processes the file C:\LOGIN.TXT as the login script, overriding all the standard NetWare login scripts.

For a "clean logon" during troubleshooting, it is suggested that this login script contain the following command line: 

   MAP INSERT S16:=SYS:PUBLIC
This command assigns the drive letter Z: to the PUBLIC directory on the file server (which contains the standard NetWare user utilities) and adds this drive to the search path (MS-DOS PATH) so that the standard NetWare commands are accessible to the user.

Novell NetWare is manufactured by Novell, Inc., a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

REFERENCES

This information is documented in the "NetWare Help Utility" version 3.11 under "Commands and Utilities L - R" (Login) and "Administration, Maintenance, Troubleshooting, etc." (Login Script Commands).

KBCategory: kbnetwork kb3rdparty kbtshoot
KBSubcategory: wfw wfwg win30 win31
Additional reference words: tshoot msdos 3.30 4.x 5.0 6.0 6.20 6.21 6.22
3.0 3.1 3.11

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.