Tips on VMware v4 and NetWare 6.5 

 

NOTE: NetWare 6.5 Service Pack 2 overlay cd-rom installation fails to mount CD-ROM as a volume.

 

1. Use VMware v4 or v5 to run NetWare 6.5

If you try to install NetWare 6.5 in VMware workstation v3.2 it will abend early in the installation process

2. Use the patch for the Pentium M and Centrino if applicable

If your computer has a Pentium M with Centrino chipset NetWare 6.5 will not install with VMware 4.0.5. It doesn't matter if you try in VMware or on a real PC. Novell had provided a patch for this processor with a new SERVER.EXE. You can More information in the Novell Knowledge base.

Technical Information Document 2966754 - Updated Server.exe for NetWare 6.5 
! ! ! NetWare 6.5 runs fine now with NW65SP1 - SP2 - SP3 overlay cd and VMware 4.5x and 5

3. Use the Snapshot feature of VMware v4.x / v5 during installation

During installation, and mainly in the GUI-part i had some occasions where the installation screen would freeze and stop working. Starting the installation over and over again becomes annoying soon. But if you use the new Snapshot feature you can revert back to a previous point in the installation. Based on my experience create a snapshot everytime you succesfully reach the following steps in the installation:

 

4. Remove the platform support module from STARTUP.NCF

It depends on your hardware but it might be necessary to remove the Multiprocessor  Platform Support module (MPS14.PSM) that is added during installation. With this module loaded i frequently had "FOUND SPINLOCK TO BE BUSY WITH SINGLE PROCESSOR ACTIVE" Abends.More info on this in this TID: