My work is mostly with the main frames so I am PC challanged. Our accounting department has an AT&T 386 StarServer S using Novell NetWare v3.11. Is the 386 BIOS upgradeable for Y2K? Also any network folks on this forum know if the above Novell network software will choke come Y2K? This system is supported by a shop in Kansas City which is some distance from here. If this system is likely to have problems I would like to warn those concerned. Thanks ahead of time for any advise.

PS: This system has the payroll system so I deem it mission critical. (chuckle).

-- Ed (ed@lizzardranch.com), November 22, 1999

Answers

At my last company, Novell told us that they are NOT y2k compliant in 3.11. In fact, we had to upgrade many systems to newer versions.

If you want to be sure though, Novell has posted a couple ways for you to find out if you are compliant. Visit this URL

http://www.novell.com/year2000/

As for 386....uuuuhgh!!! There are some free bios utils on the net, or you can go down to the store and pick up a copy of Norton 2000. It is a basic Y2K software set, but they have a software fix for bad bios (not sure if it works on 386 though)

I hate to say this bud, but you don't have much time left.

-- C. Hill (pinionsmachine@hotmail.com), November 22, 1999.

There is a patch available for v3.12 but not v3.11

-- Tim Jacob (tjacob@nb.aibn.com), November 22, 1999.

Netware 3.11 was not even tested by Novell as they say that 3.12 requires an upgrade to 3.2 (stands to reason for not testing 3.11). My last company thought they were fine with 3.11 and 3.12 servers according to their IS guy. They were bummed when I told them they weren't and had to drop a couple of k for upgrading.

The IS guy, who no longer worked there when I started, was happy to come back as a "consultant" to upgrade their systems for a 100 bucks an hour. This was a guy who Y2k tested the companies machines by rolling over from 12-31-1999 to 1-1-2000 and the leap year and said everything was just fine. No apps testing.

You gotta wonder how many other times this has happened in other small businesses who really can't afford to have a "real" IT professional as opposed to "home grown".

I'm sorry that I don't remember what the issues were for the 3.xx versions but you can find them available on the Novell web site.

Good Luck and Best Wishes!

-- Ken Mitcham (ken_mitcha@yahoo.com), November 22, 1999.

It is also my understanding that patches are available for 3.12, but not 3.11.

As for the 386, it needs to be checked. Some old machines do have a problem with the rollover, but are OK if the date is set on or after 1/1. Some are not, so check it out.

Tick... Tock... <:00=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), November 22, 1999.

yeah, it's pretty funny to hear people tell me that they "rolled the clocks forward" and watched for a few minutes. "NOTHING HAPPENED". I fear that this is the standard Y2K test in the US (for small and medium companies) Lots of people don't even take the leap year into consideration!

-- C. Hill (pinionsmachine@hotmail.com), November 22, 1999.

Just upgrade the thing to a Pentium 90 or 120 or something. It's 1999, not 1991! Don't run mission critical apps on old cheap technology - it'll come back to bite you.

-- Jim (x@x.x), November 22, 1999.