Starting a Server

After compiling the server as explained in the Section called Installation on Unix Systems using ns_install in Chapter 13, the executable of the NetSolve server is located in:

$NETSOLVE_ROOT/bin/$NETSOLVE_ARCH/

The proper command line for this program is

NS_server [-f config_file] [-l logfile] [-k] [-a IP_address] [-s]

UNIX> NS_server

UNIX> NS_server -f /path/to/my_config

The -l option specifies the name of a file to use for logging purposes.

UNIX> NS_server -l /path/to/agent_logfile

This file is where the server logs all of its interactions (and possibly errors) since it is a daemon with no controlling terminal and therefore has no way to do this otherwise. If the -l option is not specified, the default log file is $NETSOLVE_ROOT/nsserver.log. Successive runs of the server with no specification of a log file will overwrite the original log file, so if the information is needed, it must be copied to another file!

The -k starts the server in Kerberized mode.

UNIX> NS_server -k

The -s options marks a server as softwareserver, i.e. the server acts as a repository for problems but does not execute any problems.

UNIX> NS_server -s

	Note
	Also set the environment variables NETSOLVE_KEYTAB (pointing to the keytab) and NETSOLVE_USERS (pointing to the list of authorized users). The -k option is only useful when installed with KERBEROS libraries

The -a options assigns a specific IP address to the server. This allows the selection of which IP to use on servers with multiple network cards.

UNIX> NS_server -a <ip address>

Note

Multiple NetSolve servers can be running on a given machine if and only if they have a different NetSolve agent. When running multiple servers within the same directory tree, if a unique log file isn't specified, then the most recently started server will take over the log file. Log messages from other servers will be lost. Use the -l parameter to specify a unique log for each server to avoid this.

When the server has been compiled with the Kerberos libraries, the administrator has the option of having the server require clients to authenticate before rendering services. To mandate this authentication, the -k option must be used, otherwise no authentication will be asked for, and the server will be available to service requests to ANY client asking for services.

To terminate an existing server (or query an existing NetSolve system), the user should refer to the NetSolve management tools as outlined in Chapter 16.