Adding Multiple NCs

You can use this method to set up many NCs with the same parameters. This module enables you to specify the starting IP address, the number of NCs, the lease time, the NC locale, keyboard, vendor-specific options and the default application for these clients.

Using this method works for NCs that only use DHCP for initial configuration. If your NC uses reverse address resolution protocol (RARP) for initial configuration, you need to assign the Ethernet address of the NC using either the Add single NC, or the Modify Network Computer menu. The Modify menu is only available after you have already added some NCs.

NCs added through this form use dynamic IP address leasing. This means that IP addresses are assigned on a first come first serve basis. The address is assigned for a few days (temporary lease) or forever (permanent lease) depending on the lease time value specified.

You can change NCs with dynamic leases to static leases by modifying them individually once they are added (use the Modify Network Computers option and insert an MAC (ethernet) address). Vendor specific options can also be changed on an individual basis.

To Add Multiple NCs

1. From the Main Administration page, under "Network Computer Administration," click Network Computer Server.

   The Network Computer Configuration page is displayed.

2. Under "Network Computer Management," click Add Multiple Network Computers.

   The Add Multiple Network Computers page is displayed.

3. Complete the form using the information in the following table.

   Table 2-9 Individual NC Specific Parameters

   Parameter	Description
   Host Name Prefix	The host name of any NC is generated using the name_prefix. If the IP address of the NC is aa.bb.cc.dd, then the generated host name for this computer is name_prefix-dd.
   Starting IP Address	The initial host address you assign to the NCs being set up. If a host address is already used by some other system in the network, that address is skipped.
   Number of NCs	The number of NCs to be set up. If an IP address is already used in the network, that address is not used. So the number of clients actually setup can be less than the number of NCs requested. Maximum number of NCs is 254.
   Host Name	The name of a computer within the local domain. It is a text string of up to 24 characters composed of letters (a-z and A-Z), digits (0-9) and hyphens (-). The last character cannot be a hyphen. The first character must be alphabetic.
   Host Address	An assigned number that uniquely identifies each computer connected to a TCP/IP network. The address consists of two parts: a network number and a host number. The network number identifies the network to which the computer is connected and the host number identifies the computer on that network. The host address is composed of four integers separated by periods. The first integer must be in the range 0-223, the second and third integers in the range 0-255 and the fourth integer in the range 1-254 (for example, 127.144.0.1).
   Ethernet Address	This address is a number that uniquely identifies each computer. It is built into the hardware of each computer and is displayed at boot time. The Ethernet address is composed of six hexadecimal numbers separated by colons; each number is in the range 0-ff. Upper- or lower-case letters can be used to specify non-decimal digits.
   Enter Lease Time (days)	The duration (in days) of the IP address lease to the NC client. By default, this field is set to 3 days. After this period of time, if an IP address lease is not renewed, the NC shuts down its network interface. A value of -1 specifies an infinite (permanent) lease.
   Default Application	The default application that runs on this computer. views specifies HotJava Views, browser specifies HotJava Browser, you can have none, or you can add other applications. To add other applications as options to the Default Application list use "Network Computer Application Management". If you are using the JavaOS image with a statically linked HotJava Browser, you must set the Default Application to browser. Otherwise, the HotJava Browser fails to open on the NC.
   Select NC Locale	The language the user plans to use with this NC. For Asian languages, input method and fonts need to be configured in global parameters. See "To Modify Localization Properties" for more information. See the JavaStation Client Software Guide for a detailed description on this topic.
   Select Keyboard	Select the keyboard for use with this NC. Currently, PS2 keyboards are supported
   Vendor Specific Options (optional)	A formatted text string containing definitions of either JavaOS or system properties.The JavaOS command line is delivered to JavaOS during the boot sequence. It can be delivered by DHCP or other methods. There are no spaces between the option and the value. Different command line options are separated by a space. Exact syntax must be used to specify the command line options.    By default, all JavaOS and system properties configured in the NC server database (using JOScmd1) are displayed.   For example: If you do not want the login prompt for an application to be run on the NC, type -djavaos.login=false.   See JavaStation Client Software Guide for additional information.