Installing NetWare Client Pre-release 1993-11-03 on Windows NT 3.1
This is a pre-release version of the NetWare client for Windows NT 3.1 from 3 November 1993. At least two further pre-relases were made (3 March 1994 and October 1994) before Novell gave up on building a client for Windows NT 3.1.
This client is pretty similar to version 3.5b for Windows NT 3.50, just a bit more basic. It allows using either ODI or NDIS drivers and is available for MIPS and Alpha workstations as well. I'm installing it using NDIS drivers and Microsofts IPX implementation as while this can apparently use NetWare 4 LAN drivers somehow NDIS is already working so it seems like thats probably the easiest path.
Installation
This is being done on the retail version of Windows NT 3.1 with networking already setup and working using an NDIS driver. To install it you'll need the files on a floppy disk or in the root of some other drive. To make things easy, here is a disk image of the intel version. Put the disk in/mount the disk image then open the control panel.
Then open the Network control panel.
Click Add Software
Choose NWLink IPX/SPX Compatible Protocol and click Continue.
Insert the Windows NT 3.1 CD-ROM and click Continue.
NWLink now installed. Click Add Software again.
Choose <Other> Requires disk from manufacturer and click Continue.
Insert the disk/mount the image and click OK.
Click OK.
Choose Microsoft NWLink and click OK. The other option, Novell IPX/SPXII uses ODI drivers - you've got to uninstall any NDIS drivers before doing that.
NetWare Workstation is now installed. Click OK.
Configuring...
NWLink Configuration - the defaults are probably fine unless your NetWare network is using a different frame type. Click OK.
Configuring...
Click Yes to reboot.
Rebooted.
As with the client for Windows NT 3.50, this client doesn't bring its own login screen and doesn't run login scripts. Whatever username and password you use to login to Windows NT is also used to login to NetWare.
We can see the NetWare Network!
Mapped drives work
A few extra buttons in the properties window. The Trustees button appears to do nothing.
The Rights button gives you this.
Followed by an error. Clearly unfinished.
But we do get something!
There is a new Control Panel item
Which just tells you where you're logged in
The configure button just gives you Network Settings.
NetWare Workstations only configuration option is the preferred server.
That seems to be about all there is to see. It seems to work but is a bit unfinished and probably not entirely stable. Better than nothing though!
Disclaimer & Comments
I'm not a netware expert, don't have any of those fancy novell certifications and have never administred a netware network; I've just played with it at home occasionally since 2004 or so. Email me if you've got any suggestsions or corrections for this page or any extra information you think is worth including here. My address is david at this websites domain name (without the www bit of course).