IdoNotes (and sleep)

HCL has announced and launched HCL Now: Cloud Native-as-a-Service for your HCL Software products in a cloud-first architecture.  Easily move your HCL Software products to the HCL managed cloud, start using new updates as they become available and ease administration work of on-premises deployments.  HCL Now also helps you avoid cloud lock-in by retaining ownership of your data and deploying in the cloud of your choosing.


Some early highlights and takeaways from the launch video and materials are:  Continue Reading here" HCL Now: Cloud Native-as-a-Service launches!" »

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On Tuesday, July 20th, 2021   by Chris Miller        

For years, with IBM Sametime, we had to use some older administration monitoring screens for Sametime Meetings or get creative with tools.  HCL Sametime Meetings has a new whitepaper on Kubernetes monitoring using open source tools.


The authors of the HCL Sametime Meetings monitoring whitepaper have been around since the early days of Sametime, giving valuable insight into what you should begin with and step by step how to set it up using open-source Grafana and Kibana (which sound like twins).  You will need servers to run these tools but they can be expanded for service across many of your enterprise systems and networks.  Not just for this case.
Continue Reading here" HCL Sametime Meetings monitoring for Kubernetes" »

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On Monday, March 8th, 2021   by Chris Miller        

IBM and HCL had a webcast/chat about IBM Sametime and the futures of the product. Overall, it seems the feedback they have received is based around simplifying the product deployment, keep most every feature and simply make it easier to use meetings, video and tuning.
In Sametime 9.01 for Notes 10 IBM will allow the use of the mobile client (some limitations) with the entitlement.  There that summarizes the initial license change.  One simple line.

In the first half of 2019 IBM will add some other things to Sametime 10    Continue Reading here" IBM Domino 10 and Sametime #domino2025" »

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On Thursday, September 20th, 2018   by Chris Miller        

Not much can be found online about IBM Arch Room Live right now. It seems IBM and HCL are putting together another whiteboarding tool for DevOps.

Software designs start with many whiteboard sessions to sketch an idea, get insight from peers and ultimately, total buy-in from the team.  How this is accomplished by different teams can be laborious, time-consuming and often frustrating.  Relief is now available with a new design solution that is as simple as a whiteboard and enabled for real-time, multi-user, cross-site collaboration.  Oh yes, come to this webinar to hear and see the demo sharing how you can have real-time web-based collaboration using simplified UML to sketch, build use cases, visualize with a collection of diagrams and integrate with your DevOps pipeline tools. Introducing IBM Arch Room Live! – available now! 

There is a webcast coming up very soon where I hope to get some public information to post. If it is truly simplified in approach then it may work for quick team collaboration.  However, there is so much competition in the space I want to see all differences first.

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On Monday, August 20th, 2018   by Chris Miller        

IBM has partnered with HCL Technologies to invest in a long-term roadmap for the IBM Domino product line and family. This means updates for Domino, Notes, Sametime, Verse, and more

.To show IBM’s level of commitment to stakeholders, the company is entering into a strategic partnership with HCL Technologies to begin delivering on the roadmap with the intent to release version 10 of the Domino portfolio next year. The goal of the partnership is to drive future development of the Domino product family, energize the offering, and protect clients’ investments.

This means to customers that the original  fixpack featurepack and support only announcements are totally gone. IBM had previously promised small enhancements and bug fixes through more consistent featurepacks. They were staying away from delivering an entirely new version number for many reasons. One was speed of delivery, legal naming and all that stuff we geeks just say give us a 10.  With this move and the below #domino2025 jam announcement, IBM has fully committed to enhancing the entire product family.
Continue Reading here" Announcements on IBM Domino and Notes 10 and Beyond for numerous products" »

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On Thursday, October 26th, 2017   by Chris Miller        

IBM has a package called IBM Sametime Complete 9.0.1 that claims to have at its core the most advanced standards-based media engine. Here is more information on IBM Sametime Complete

IBM Sametime V9.0.1 features content curated from IBM Connections Chat Cloud and IBM Connections Meetings Cloud as well as new powerful capabilities designed specifically for on-premises deployments. The following features are included in Sametime V9.0.1:

• A new direct-registration softphone that gives users the ability to use the Sametime desktop client to place and receive phone calls as an extension of your existing telephony system.
• Optimized support for Citrix XenApp on Microsoft Windows Server 2012 and Windows desktops.
• 64-bit Microsoft Office support.
• A more intuitive, easy to use meetings experience.
• Single Sign-On (SSO) for Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) support for authentication on IBM Connections Cloud.
• Support for Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and the U.S. Government's Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS.)
• A native Sametime Web Player browser plug-in (no Java dependency) for audio and video and screen sharing in Meetings on Microsoft Windows workstations.
• Enhanced annotations on the Web and mobile Meetings clients (not available on the desktop meetings client in this release.)
• Security improvement for safer HTML usage in Meetings.
• Desktop and browser client support on Apple Mac OS X 10.11 and Microsoft Windows 10

I found a huge chart of differences between IBM Sametime Communicate, IBM Sametime Conference and IBM Sametime Complete. The funny hting was the page would never come up on the IBM site.  I had to find a Google cache of the page. Continue Reading here" What is IBM Sametime Complete 9.0.1" »

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On Friday, June 3rd, 2016   by Chris Miller        

The issue of IBM Sametime screen sharing and Google Chrome came up again in a chat and with a customer so I figured I would point everyone to my SocialBizUg recent article:

Chris,
We used to use Sametime screen sharing successfully with Google Chrome. After recent Chrome updates, this stopped working for our users. Do you know of a fix or what happened?

‎I turned to notes Sametime expert Carl Tyler of Epilio to get some info on the versions and what he had been seeing. He knew right away what the issue was and a fix.

You can read the entire article and the rest of the answer in my monthly newsletter on SocialBizUg.  Make sure to subscribe to Sys Admin Tips.

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On Monday, June 8th, 2015   by Chris Miller        

I am happy to be back presenting at Lotusphere aka IBM Connect aka IBM ConnecED 2015, This time I am honored to partner with Wes Morgan for Sametime Deployment Do's & Don'ts and my own Considerations for the Cloud..
In each of these sessions I hope to bring you a unique perspective on decisions you will make while deploying your solutions and how to avoid the common mistakes.  Also we look at mistakes that come to haunt you after you have begun roll-outs. I sit in a unique position at Connectria in seeing so many varied deployments both in the cloud and on your own site.

Take a look at the agenda via the Session Preview Tool to get one of the remaining seats for IBM ConnecED 2015. You can get the current pricing at the registration page.

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On Tuesday, December 16th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

IBM has announced that AOL will charge IBM Sametime Gateway customers to connect through the Clearinghouse to the AOL AIM public IM service. There is also a new form that everyone must fill out to continue your federation and this comes with a cost now.
AOL has offered this magical behind the scenes service for a long time. The Clearinghouse acts as the intermediary connectivity point between enterprises and the public AOL IM service. It has been free up until this point. Based on the above image I imagine there is tiered pricing that will be given.  You have to fill out this form to even get a quote on the pricing.

You should also be aware of the quickness at which you need to act on this announcement

AOL needs to complete all on boarding requests by the end of the year. They will start deprovisioning on January 5, 2015 for those companies that do not reach out to them before December 31, 2014

I did manage to find an FAQ on the AOL site about the changes. This new agreement also elevates you into the AIM Total Access program for enterprises. There is a ton of benefits to being in this program if you are a heavy Sametime to AOL user. If you use it sparingly then this program offers way more than you will use.

What is changing?
Since 2006, in partnership with AOL, IBM has intermediated the set-up of federation between AIM and IBM Sametime with its own provisioning process. This process is being decommissioned at the end of the year. Both AOL and IBM recognize that there is still a demand for AIM Federation with IBM Sametime, and we are working together to minimize disruption and ensure that the change will not have any impact on your daily operations.

I will update this article soon on what pricing I receive back and other obstacles. Yes my old book on Installing the Sametime Gateway is still out there.

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On Thursday, December 4th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

IBM announced they added one-to-one audio and video calling to IBM SmartCloud for Social Business this past week. This has been needed for many years.
While Lync in Office 365 has had this capability since as far back as 2011 (from what I can find), it is a welcomed addition to the IBM SmartCloud. While it is limited to only the SmartCloud and web only, they are promising expansion to mobile devices.

As you can see in the image above, right clicking on any name in your contact list (that is also on SmartCloud) will allow you to launch into the new audio and video capabilities. No, you cannot just do a video call by itself, audio is always required.

I hope this spurs some more interest in the SmartCloud, but I wonder if adding this now is way too late against some of the competitors. There is a bit more on the Sametime blog posting

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On Wednesday, August 27th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

In the middle of IBM Sametime client preferences is an option to warn when you have too many chat windows open.  However, it had no information. Here is what I found.

This setting in your Preferences, disabled by default, will generate a warning when you have too many chat windows open. Adding to the confusion I already had is that  the documentation actually uses an entry in the preferences file which does not match the UI name, making it even harder to find for the normal person.

Continue reading the entire article in my Sys Admin Tips newsletter for August right here

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On Wednesday, August 20th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

IBM has made diagnostics enhancements for the Sametime 9 Community Server directory applications. These enhancements in IBM Sametime 9 will, by default, generate diagnostics statistics for the StUsers, StResolve and StDirectory services inside of Sametime
It is cool what they did by making them available to help you troubleshoot:

The diagnostics data is written to a file and formulated to csv format which gives an easy and friendly way to create graphs and charts. In a few clicks, using Excel Chart Wizard, one can demonstrate Directory diagnostics data over time in a clear and concise manner.

See more and a sample chart on my SocialBizUg Sys Admin article right here

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On Wednesday, July 16th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

Has your company wanted to remove the IBM Sametime client from the sidebar? It is possible with the following steps for uninstalling the embedded Sametime client in Lotus Notes.

After some digging around for the best option for existing users, I came across steps to uninstall the Samteime embedded client  for all the client platforms. One thing to highlight (shown below) is that uninstalling the Sametime embedded client still leaves the necessary required components for some of the awareness features to still work.

You can read the entire article in my Sys Admin monthly newsletter right here on SocialBizUg.

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On Tuesday, July 15th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

Have you created an IBM Sametime status message by accident or that isn't appropriate? One of my readers did. See their question and my answer

Q: Chris,
As a joke, I made a Sametime status message in my client. It wasn't flattering when I was contacted about it after someone hovered over my name and saw it. They then made a call which caused me some headaches.

Find out the rest of the question and my answer on SocialBizUG right here

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On Monday, July 14th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

IBM has yet another survey, this time asking questions based on product documentation, installation, wizards, integration and more. This is from their quality group I think.
Continue Reading here" IBM Collaboration Solutions Quality survey" »

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On Tuesday, May 20th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

I wrote Is renaming Sametime a mistake? Again? about a week ago. While the discussion thread here was limited, LinkedIn took off. Here are some excerpts and links.

I made the same discussion thread inside of a couple LinkedIn groups and the feedback has been terrific. Some of the threads are generating some good conversation. Starting with the ICS Lotus Software Professionals group:             Continue Reading here" Follow up: Is renaming Sametime a mistake? Again?" »

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On Thursday, March 27th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

At IBM Connect 2014 we watched, well tried to catch, the announcement from Jeff Schick that IBM was changing the IBM Sametime name to IBM Connections Chat and IBM Connections Meetings. Is this a repeat mistake from years ago?

First let me look at how fast the announcement was made. I barely had time to pic up my trusty camera to capture the moment. It was on the screen and gone so fast you can see the words changing


Here are my thoughts on why the IBM Sametime name change is a mistake (again)    Continue Reading here" Is renaming Sametime a mistake? Again?" »

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On Wednesday, March 19th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

IBM is enhancing SmartCloud for Social Business in March 2014 to include Sametime with SAML support, IBM Docs enhancements, also web users and Notes user enhancements.
IBM Sametime chat with SAML support is coming

If your organization uses federated identity management handled by Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), you can now download and chat using a stand-alone Sametime Connect client and log in with your organization's authentication credentials

There there is SmartCloud Web user enhancements.        Continue Reading here" IBM SmartCloud for Social Business enhancements for March 2014" »

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On Wednesday, March 5th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

IBM announced an update to the entitlement program for IBM Sametime that version 9.0.1 is now supported.

The new IBM Sametime Limited Use Entitlement for IBM Notes and Domino V9.0.1 customers delivers a way to chat with coworkers in real time, view online presence status, availability status, customize status messages, view someone's geographic location, and location awareness. It contains the functional equivalent of the capabilities provided in previous releases of IBM Sametime to IBM Notes and Domino V9.0.1 customers and includes support for the following capabilities embedded in the IBM Notes rich desktop client, in IBM iNotes® for web client access, or via the Sametime Connect client:

If you have been waiting to move up from IBM Sametime 8.5.x now is the time.  Read more on this topic on my Sys Admin Tips article on SocialBizUG

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On Monday, February 24th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

I recap IBM Connect 2014 day one activities and the Opening General Session (OGS) in this Lotusphere Podcast video. We dig into the backpack, the badge attendees wear and how the opening party went. From there it is all about the OGS:

• IBM Mail
• Sametime getting renamed
• lack of demos
• tons of customer stories with no demos
• Snuch in announcements
• Alcatraz the product

You can also catch the replay of our OGS commentary on LotusphereLive, just select 2014 from the archives.

See the video for the whole story and make sure you subscribe to the IdoNotes podcasts and Spiked Studio channels on YouTube,

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On Monday, January 27th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

At IBM Connect 2014 opening session minutes ago, we watched Jeff Schick announce the new IBM Connections Meetings and IBM Connections Chat. This ends an era of Sametime

This doesn't mean much to you about the current path of enhancements. What it does mean is that a long term and known name is being changed. They did this one before when they renamed Sametime to Lotus Instant Messaging and Web Conferencing. That failed and one year later it was back.

I do not see this name ever going back to IBM Sametime. The path of consolidating is clear. Welcome IBM Connections Chat and Meetings.

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On Monday, January 27th, 2014   by Chris Miller        

I received the notice twice today that IBM is transitioning from Prometric to Pearson VUE for testing services effective January 2, 2014.

The IBM Professional Certification Program will transition certification and mastery exam delivery to Pearson VUE (PVUE) on January 2, 2014. There will be no disruption to your ability to take and report your exams. As always our goal is to make this transition as easy as possible for IBM testing candidates, and if you have taken an IBM exam in the past, you will be able to continue using your current Candidate Testing ID. Additionally, Pearson VUE will honor IBM promotion codes and most valid and unexpired IBM vouchers. Please note the certification requirements and testing prices will not change.

With the transition to Pearson VUE the test numbers are changing. Correlation Tables have been created that map the current test numbers to the new test numbers

Read more of the very long FAQ on the certification website announcement

Ok I wanted to highlight this one part of the FAQ

Starting January 13, 2014, most unused Prometric vouchers that have not been redeemed or expired will be valid in the Pearson VUE system.

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On Tuesday, December 10th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

IBM has released an IBM Sametime 9 compared with Microsoft Lync 2013 report from the IBM Competitive Project Office
Here is an overview of the report IBM Sametime 9 compared with Micrsoft Lync 2013:
Continue Reading here" IBM Sametime 9 Compared with Microsoft Lync 2013" »

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On Monday, November 25th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

IBM has announced that forums, wikis and apps on www-10.lotus.com, www-12.lotus.com and infolib.lotus.com will be down the afternoon of Friday November 22 2013 to morning of Monday November 25 2013.

all other wikis, forums and other applications hosted on www-10.lotus.com, www-12.lotus.com, and infolib.lotus.com are expected to be unavailable from 4:00 PM EST (9:00 PM GMT) Friday, November 22nd, 2013 to 9:00 AM EST (2:00 PM GMT) Monday, November 25th, 2013 due to maintenance work at our facility. This outage does not apply to IBM SmartCloud for Social Business itself.

Just an FYI for everyone that may be looking to read, catch up or post this wekeend.

Go join my IdoNotes Network Facebook page or YouTube channels, I am trying to grow those too :-)

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On Friday, November 22nd, 2013   by Chris Miller        

IBM has released version 9.0.0 for IBM Sametime and IBM Sametime Meetings for iOS devices.  Here are some highlights of the updates
UPDATE AND WARNING: Others in the comments, and also confirmed by myself, are showing this app crashes and will not work now.
Continue Reading here" IBM updates IBM Sametime and IBM Sametime Meetings for iOS" »

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On Thursday, November 21st, 2013   by Chris Miller        

If you have not read Gabriella's posting at The Turtle Partnership Blog about IBM Sametime 9 and user polices I suggest you go read it.

The Sametime 9 Community Server no longer has any stpolicy.nsf database or a policies view under the old school web based admin. If you upgrade to Sametime 9 you must install the system console (and db2) to be able to manage and maintain policies going forward

Go read and join the conversation here

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On Monday, October 28th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

So you want to migrate from IBM Sametime 8.5.2 to Sametime 9.0? It is not a straight migration.  Gab and I warned you of this at the Consultant In Your Pocket webcast you need to go watch.

Because of changes to Websphere Application Server architecture, it is not possible to perform a straight migration from Sametime 8.5.x (based on Websphere 7.0.0) to Sametime 9 (based on Websphere 8.5.5). Instead, you must deploy Sametime 9 separately from your 8.5.x deployment and then reproduce any custom configuration items the Sametime 9 deployment.

That is straight from IBM in a recent technote that backs up our planning steps for migration to IBM Sametime 9.0 from Sametime 8.5.2. There is much more involved in the technote we may go into in some supplemental material.

Go watch the webcast replay from Consultant In Your Pocket on "What's New in IBM Sametime 9.0"

See also the post on IBM Sametime 9.0 Platform  architecture.

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On Monday, October 7th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

IBM Sametime 9.0 brings some new capabilities. IBM has provided an IBM Sametime 9.0 architecture diagram sample listing some of the components.

Keep in mind that you may have portions clustered, some not in use and others spread out across multiple pieces of hardware. This is only a sample of the pieces you can include in your deployment.

Make sure to go back and watch "What's New in IBM Sametime 9.0" webcast with myself and Gabriella Davis of Turtle Partnership.  We talk new server features, licensing, migration and deployment

IBM also did a What's New in Sametime 9 webcast that can be found here

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Please subscribe to all of the Consultant In Your Pocket webcast playlist on YouTube and sign up to the newsletter on the right to get notices of upcoming events.

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On Friday, October 4th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

The What's New in IBM Sametime 9.0 webcast from Consultant In Your Pocket is online and available. Special thanks to Gabriella Davis for joining me and providing so much valuable information in the Consultant In Your Pocket webcast.

Please visit our sponsor for the webcast:

Instant Technologies develops innovative, enterprise IM compliance and social applications for IBM Sametime.  Instant products for IBM Sametime include IM archiving, IM help desk, click to chat, search and eDiscovery tools.  Learn more today at http://www.instant-tech.com/products/Sametime.cfm

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Watch the replay and subscribe to the Consultant In Your Pocket playlist on YouTube or the entire IdoNotes channel.

You can stream any previous webcast at the Consultant In Your Pocket site and on YouTube.  Recent webcasts include:

• What's New in IBM Domino Designer 9.0
• What's New in IBM Domino, Notes, Traveler and XWork Server 9.0
• What's New in Notes, Domino, Traveler 8.5.3

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On Monday, September 30th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

You have a few minutes left to get into the What's New In Sametime 9 webcast.  You can register right here

http://idonot.es/sametime9webcast

If you do not get the final confirmation link it is right here but please register above first
http://idonot.es/CIYPSeries4g

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On Thursday, September 26th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

Did you hear the awesome echo there? Registration has seats left for What's New in Sametime 9 webcast on September 26th at 10am CST
In this webcast you can look forward to the following:

Join a panel of expert IBM Business Partners in discussing, and giving their unbiased opinions, on what is new in IBM Sametime 9.0.  We will discuss additional features, enhancements, fixes, and capabilities.
We will also look at server requirements, possible migration scenarios and deployment.  The new multi-person video capabilities, licensing and packaging changes, and what happened to the entitlements?
Our panel currently includes:

• Chris Miller of Connectria (IBM Champion)
• Gabriella Davis of Turtle Partnership (IBM Champion)

Registration is now open with limited slots available.


Please visit our sponsor for the webcast:

Instant Technologies develops innovative, enterprise IM compliance and social applications for IBM Sametime.  Instant products for IBM Sametime include IM archiving, IM help desk, click to chat, search and eDiscovery tools.  Learn more today at http://www.instant-tech.com/products/Sametime.cfm

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On Tuesday, September 24th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

What's New in IBM Sametime 9 is the upcoming webcast on Sep 26 2013 from Consultant In Your Pocket.


 In this webcast you can look forward to the following:

Join a panel of expert IBM Business Partners in discussing, and giving their unbiased opinions, on what is new in IBM Sametime 9.0.  We will discuss additional features, enhancements, fixes, and capabilities.
We will also look at server requirements, possible migration scenarios and deployment.  The new multi-person video capabilities, licensing and packaging changes, and what happened to the entitlements?
Our panel currently includes:

• Chris Miller of Connectria (IBM Champion)
• Gabriella Davis of Turtle Partnership (IBM Champion)

Registration is now open with limited slots available.


Please visit our sponsor for the webcast:

Instant Technologies develops innovative, enterprise IM compliance and social applications for IBM Sametime.  Instant products for IBM Sametime include IM archiving, IM help desk, click to chat, search and eDiscovery tools.  Learn more today at http://www.instant-tech.com/products/Sametime.cfm

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On Friday, September 13th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

If you run IBM Sametime clients on iOS or Android you will both have been updated the past few days. Here is what you need to know about each update


Android - reviews have been all over from awesome to it crashes my device and useless.  I always suggest removing and reinstalling in that scenario.  Here is the Android updates:

• IBM SmartCloud support
• Tablet support
• Updated UI for the phone
• Improved chat history functionality
• Selectable communities

iOS - updates to 8.5.2.10

• This update supports iOS 5 and iOS 6. However this is the last update for iOS 5 for IBM Sametime.  All the new updates will require iOS6 on the device

Are you users using the mobile interface against the Sametime Proxy server? Does the addition of multiple communities on Android help?

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On Wednesday, July 31st, 2013   by Chris Miller        

IBM has announced an upgrade to IBM SmartCloud Meetings. Enterprise grade audio conferencing has now been made available to subscribers.

IBM is pleased to announce a new global audio conferencing offering complete with VoIP, toll and toll-free calling in more than 50 countries available after July 23.  

This service is delivered using a security rich private audio network which is tightly integrated into the SmartCloud Meetings experience for true enterprise grade audio quality.  

Users can hold reservation-less meetings for up to to 200 attendees, with Operator support available in 18 languages.  

IBM Audio Conferencing Services for SmartCloud Meetings is available as an add-on for SmartCloud Meetings or SmartCloud Engage.  Pay as you go, or buy a discounted monthly bundle of minutes.  The no-charge, enterprise VOIP service is available for every minute of toll / toll -free dialing you purchase.

I am not sure what back end audio services are in play here, but the addition of the audio conferencing bridge will help reach some more customers maybe.

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On Tuesday, July 30th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

As we roll out IBM Domino 9 the question of is IBM Sametime 8.x supported comes up quite often.  In a way, yes it is.  Luckily IBM has prepared a bunch of answers.
The first thing that should be noted is that IBM Sametime cannot be installed on IBM Domino 9 servers. There is no support or supported plans.  You must install a Domino 8.5.x server to support IBM Sametime. Domino 9 will not be supporting the older versions. Instead look to the new Sametime 9 beta announcement that came out.

Next you should note that you can run a Domino 9 directory on the Sametime 8.5.x server without any issues.  That is supported by IBM. So making your mail, Lotus Traveler, XPages and application servers to IBM Domino 9 is a great idea.  This includes iNotes against a Sametime proxy server.

Good luck with the upgrades.  Any other questions?

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On Thursday, June 27th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

Have you wanted to set your Sametime Connect client, embedded or stand-alone, auto-status change preferences via a policy? Well you can not. This is a shortcoming in Sametime policies.

For Sametime Connect clients you can use the Sametime policies to set and enforce a few preferences.  In the embedded Sametime client inside of IBM Notes you also rely heavily on the Notes client preferences dialog.



While I can manually go in and set these on my IBM Notes client, there is no Desktop policy setting nor Sametime policy that allows me to control this. IBM documentation covers the variables and attribute for auto-status change preferences but that is all behind the scenes. The location os such preferences are also notes in the IBM Sametime wiki, but again no easy way to manage and manipulate.

In talking with some awesome Sametime partners looking for something I missed, I learned just the opposite.  IBM has some preferences that allow users to set their own destiny, but no administrative control or option.

Do you have issues with people appearing online when they are away? Do you wish you could control setting and preferences in IBM Sametime like this?

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On Friday, June 7th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

It has always been hard to track the growing list of technotes, fixpacks, hotfixes and SPR's that IBM Lotus collaboration software has.  Over the years I have made my own tools:

• Lotus Support Mega Feed sidebar widget
• Lotus Tech Documents feed on Twitter using Yahoo Pipes
• Blogger and technical search widget right from inside your client
• SNAPPS and IdoNotes enhanced search plug-in for Lotus Notes

So as you see it has evolved over the years as the material to collect grows and the capabilities grow the list of fixes have too.  So I will be adding the Notes/Domino Fix List full RSS feed to some of the above to give you timely information when fixes and being addressed and in what version

Let me know what other tools you need or sources added and I will make sure I get them included to help you find the information quicker.  Ok everything but IBM PartnerWorld.  No one can help you there.

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On Thursday, May 23rd, 2013   by Chris Miller        

Join Scott Souder and Louis Richardson of IBM as they keynote BLUG (Benelux Lotus User Group) 2013 in Leuven, Belgium.

Scott Souder covers IBM Notes and Domino Social Edition, Lotus Traveler and more.
Louis Richardson discusses creativity crisis

This is an outstanding keynote worth paying close attention to all the details

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View the list of all the IamLUG 2013 sessions and then make sure you register now while there are still seats. You can also register for this TackItOn session from the IamLUG website
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note: sorry for the angle as the full  tripod did not make it in time.

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On Friday, March 29th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

IBM announced a tune-up for SmartCloud for Social Business coming on March 9 2013.  There are two keys areas:

As part of ongoing service improvements designed to help business users work more effectively - this first tune-up of 2013 introduces changes to enhance the user experience:

You’ll see a new, configurable Instant Messaging widget in the lower right corner of the dashboard. This capability is entitled for customers who have SmartCloud Engage or SmartCloud Connections. We’re making the service more personal and visual - user profile pictures are now prevalent along side or in-place of a contributor or members name within the service.

Look for a prompt with the new license agreement starting March 9, 2013 that the administrator for your environment must accept. I think both of these will be a welcome change with easier web access to Sametime and better user profile picture usage.  Having to use a separate Sametime client for this made no sense with the Sametime Proxy and web capabilities

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On Monday, March 4th, 2013   by Chris Miller        

http://www.idonotes.com/IdoNotes/IdoNotes.nsf/dx/IdoNotes-Episode-88-sametime-community-icons-free-download.htmAlmost exactly two years ago I published IdoNotes Episode 88 - Sametime Community icons and free download on how to modify and enhance your IBM Sametime Connect commuinty icons. With the introduction of IBM Notes 9 this will become important yet again.
Looking at the previous posting for Episode 88 you will what the Sametime default icons used to be. Looking at the image above you will see what the Sametime icons look like now. The new icons are different shapes but are so dim and only grey the green status indicator covers the entire dim graphic.

Here is the video explaining how to add the additional icons and change them for each community. I then show the result of the look in your inbox.


I have given you an entire set of icons for use inside of your Sametime Connect client. There are various colors and even fun shapes. All are properly sized.

Let me know of any problems you have in the comments below. Also what do you think of the new icons?

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On Tuesday, December 18th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

Download the IBM SmartCloud What's New & FAQ for December 2012 by simply sending a tweet

IBM is introducing new capabilities to IBM SmartCloud and adding enhancements to IBM SmartCloud Engage and IBM SmartCloud Notes.  Here is a breakdown including IBM Docs, Sametime Meetings and IBM Connections capabilities. Make sure to get the pdf version of the FAQ and What's New by clicking here to download by sending a tweet back to the blog post!

IBM SmartCloud Docs will be a huge boost to productivity with the co-editing features if users can start working with the online tool instead of locally.

This is a new cloud-based office productivity service providing teams the ability to work on word processing, presentation and spreadsheet documents and offers real-time co-editing support designed to help users quickly edit files and manage file versions within IBM SmartCloud Connections. Users have the ability to upload, create, share, and edit Microsoft Office or IBM Symphony documents.

IBM SmartCloud is then bringing in Sametime Meetings to augment what was Webdialogs. I imagine eventually it will replace the existing system.
Continue Reading here" IBM SmartCloud launches IBM Docs, Sametime Meetings and more enhancements" »

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On Tuesday, December 4th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

The notice came today that LotusLive.com (SmartCloud for Social Business) will be officially changing over it's domain name to CollabServ.com starting December 1 2012.  While the LotusLive.com domain will still work with redirects, they are strongly urging you to make the necessary firewall and rules updates as needed.

Early in 2012, IBM announced rebranding of our service, from LotusLive to IBM SmartCloud for Social Business.  This quarter, we are announcing the next phase of the rebranding -- changing the service domain itself.

From:  *.lotuslive.com
To:       *.collabserv.com

The above change will take place on or after December 1 2012 so anything that you specifically allow to this domain should be updated.  Additionally..

Continue Reading here" SmartCloud for Social Business aka LotusLive.com is changing it's domain name and adding Sametime meetings" »

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On Thursday, November 15th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

IBM has given another free paper to share with my readers on IBM Secure Authentication for Mobile Devices that revolves around the Tivoli suite of products. You can download the whitepaper here.

IBM Research has developed an innovative security architecture that leverages several Tivoli products including Tivoli Endpoint Manager, Tivoli Identity Manager, Tivoli Directory Server and Tivoli Directory Integrator to provide the validation of a device, device posture and a user's identity prior to authentication to the network.

This solution will be the basis for a 2012 IBM CIO internal offering for managing remote access of Android and iOS devices. This will provide the first ITCS300 compliant access for mobile devices.

You can request and download your free copy of the IBM Secure Authentication for Mobile devices right here . If you are getting into the mobile device management and need to secure access from these devices I would be looking into this right away.

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On Wednesday, November 7th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

With the update of Spokes, Plantronics now has a great call control software for Mac users as it does for Windows.  The Spokes software update includes support for Skype and IBM Sametime on the Mac when paired with one of the supported headset devices.

Plantronics Spokes software supports both Skype and now IBM Sametime, on Mac, giving users an opportunity to enhance their communications environment.
Spokes for Mac enables remote call control and synchronized mute in addition to basic receive and transmit audio capabilities. Lion, Mountain Lion and Snow Leopard versions of Mac OS X operating system are supported.

You can download and get the installation notes on the Spokes software page

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On Friday, September 28th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

I have been trying to use IBM SmartCloud Meetings app on my iPad and I am frustrated by the experience. With the variance in behind the scenes meeting services that are supported SmartCloud you cannot often join meetings. This leads to confusion for the users and frustration in the product reliability.

Scenario 1: A user with an actual LotusLive (now SmartCloud) sends you an invite with a meeting id that contains a DASH as in apps.lotuslive.com/meetings/join?id=xxx-xxx.  Yes it needs to have a DASH.  If the moderator has not started the meeting you get an error

Notice
Unable to join meeting session

Not that it hasn't started yet.  Unable to join.  Why am I not able to? There is no more help screens or info.  The user has no way to know they should wait or if the product is working.

Scenario 2: A user gets an invite to a meeting that looks like one of the following: www.ibm.com/collaboration/meeting/join?schedid=xxxxxxx
www.webdialogs.com/join/?schedid=xxxxxxx
www.lotuslive.com/join?schedid=xxxxxxx
Those seven digits are an entirely different meeting service that was previously WebDialogs in the IBM cloud family and will have NO DASH.  However if they attempt to use IBM SmartCloud Meetings app on iOS they get

Notice
Unable to join meeting session

One again the user has no idea what is wrong or why they are being denied. This is incredibly frustrating there is no direction or error controls.

With the constant flux of meeting invites you never quite know which service you are getting.  I hope this helps.

Testing was done on IBM SmartCloud Meetings for iPad build 8.5..201202230736 and should not be confused with the IBM Sametime Meetings Viewer for iPad

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On Tuesday, September 25th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

IBM has announced the retirement of numerous technical sales mastery exams to be replaced with new Associate Level certifications.  The following are being retired:

• 000-M38: IBM Lotus Notes & Domino Technical Sales Mastery Test v2
• 000-M46: IBM WebSphere Portlet Factory Technical Sales Mastery Test v2
• 000-M48: IBM Lotus Web Content Management Technical Sales Mastery Test v2
• 000-M61: IBM Lotus Protector Technical Sales Mastery Test v1
• 000-M62: IBM Lotus Connections Technical Sales Mastery Test v1
• 000-M63; IBM Lotus Forms Technical Sales Mastery Test v2
• 000-M64: IBM Lotus Sametime Technical Sales Mastery Test v1
• 000-M65: IBM Lotus XPages Technical Sales Mastery Test v1
• 000-M82: IBM Lotus Quickr Technical Sales Mastery Test v2
• 000-M83: IBM WebSphere Portal Technical Sales Mastery Test v3

The credit will be active until March 2013, but that seems short as well.

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On Monday, September 17th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

This month I talk about the end of an era via the closing of the Lotus Notes based Business Partner forum.  A unique database for over 15 years that allowed partners and IBM to interact directly.  From there I move into:

• IBM X-Push Error in Lotus Traveler
• Sametime Configuration Validator
• Updated security certificates for iOS
• ID recovery failures

Related posts:
I post all the Sys Admin Tips links each and every month

Visit the Connectria website today and find out why we offer the best in Lotus Software hosting and management.

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On Thursday, August 23rd, 2012   by Chris Miller        

Another free Dummies ebook is being offered to my readers, this time it is Small Business Unified Communications for Dummies compliments of Avaya.  As you know Avaya is big in the UC space and has hooks into IBM Sametime.


The book runs about 50 pages and covers the why and how unified communications help your business.  It then moves into creating a strategy and reasons to implement.

You can download your free copy of Small Business Unified Communications for Dummies right here

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On Monday, August 6th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

After my post yesterday on Android for Sametime. Google Play or your server? I forgot I lastly installed from my own server.  When I checked Google Play it prompted me to update IBM Sametime on the Android device to connect to the IBM Sametime Proxy Server.  What this means is that the version found in the installations for IBM Sametime 8.5.2 and IFR1 on your server is older than the most recently updated version.

So if you have installed from your own servers I suggest you make sure everyone grabs the public update. You will it is version 8.5.2.1 201201121317

Related Posts:
Android for Sametime. Google Play or your server?
IBM Sametime for iOS update 8.5.2.5
Additional mobile controls for Sametime Proxy Server 8.5.2 IFR1 announced

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On Friday, August 3rd, 2012   by Chris Miller        

One of the features of IBM Sametime Proxy Server is the ability to have downloadable clients for iOS and Android.  For Android you have the option to download from Google Play or your own Sametime Proxy Server.

If you choose to download from your own server via servername:port/stmobile/Sametime.html then you and your users are prompted that the application is from an unknown source outside of Google Play.  This will be more difficult for user as they have to go and adjust security settings that they will forget they enabled.


The simpler solution is to find IBM Sametime in Google Play and download from there and then configure the correct URL the the IBM Sametime Proxy Server host you will be using.

Related Posts:
IBM Sametime for iOS update 8.5.2.5
Additional mobile controls for Sametime Proxy Server 8.5.2 IFR1 announced

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On Thursday, August 2nd, 2012   by Chris Miller        

As I deploy more and more with the Sametime Proxy Server for customers hosted or managed Sametime environments, it is good to see IBM actively pushing ou fixes, enhancements and changes.  Yesterday they released Sametime 8.5.2.5 for iOS.

Enhancements include:

• Improved chat history functionality
• Performance on resume when Sametime was in background
• Share your location
• iPad Retina display support
• Mange settings from the native app

While this doesn't look like a ton of items, each one marks usage improvements for the mobile users.

Related postings:
Additional mobile controls for Sametime Proxy Server 8.5.2 IFR1 announced
Saying goodbye to Sametime Connect stand-alone and integrated clients

Visit the Connectria website today and find out why we offer the best in Lotus Software hosting and management.

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On Tuesday, July 31st, 2012   by Chris Miller        

From a blog reader comes this new technote from IBM announcing how to implement a few additional settings for Sametime native mobile clients when the Sametime Proxy Server already runs 8.5.2 IFR1.

• A setting to enable/disable the location reporting by the native Sametime mobile client
• A setting to allow/disallow the end user from exporting the Sametime mobile client contacts to the device address book

You can only implement this as shown below if you have the Sametime System Console at 8.5.2 IFR1.

Continue Reading here" Additional mobile controls for Sametime Proxy Server 8.5.2 IFR1 announced" »

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On Thursday, July 26th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

An IDC report came out in February 2012 stating how the future of email is social.  I was interested to see that IBM was the sponsor of the paper.

This IDC white paper takes a look at the current state of enterprise email and the perceived and real problems that surround its use.  The paper discusses the changing nature of collaboration and work fueled by the social web by examining current email trends and the emergence of new social collaboration tools.  Rather than envision "a world without email," it revels a future where email converges with social tools...

The paper begins with a situation overview and a team that needs to work on a project before jumping to a section on the history of email and a statistic that email will reach 2.4 billion users by the year 2014.

The paper covers the standard challenges about the number of emails, mobile access and blurring personal and business use of devices and email. Filtering is given a section on pages 4-5 which I feel is the basis for most of the overload.
Continue Reading here" IDC reports the future of email is social - sponsored by IBM" »

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On Thursday, May 24th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

AusLUG 2012 kicked off in Melbourne, Australia with Mat Newman introducing Ed Brill as the keynote speaker in this video replay.  Ed covered strategy and futures before handing it over to Stuart for live demos and Ted Stanton with more insight.  This keynote runs just at an hour and thirty minutes.

Visit AusLUG to get more information on sessions and register for their Lotus Connections community.

Also make sure to watch the keynote from Chris Crummey at BLUG 2012 in Antwerp, Belgium from the week before,  Spiked Studio is happy to have produced both videos for replay.  Make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel to stay up to date on all the videos as they get released.

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On Wednesday, April 4th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

I received notice about this new app store for Lotus Notes from PDQ Information Systems that launched and went to take a look called LotusAppStore.  As some of you know we investigated and launched into this some time ago, and well it does not float.  Vendors did not have the capability to sell this way were not willing to do so.  So this came as a surprise.  Here is a screenshot of how LotusAppStore looks today with the first listings their own products (of course)



Continue Reading here" LotusAppStore launches to sell Lotus apps - my initial review" »

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On Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012   by Chris Miller        

Watch Chris Crummey of IBM at the Belux Lotus User Group (BLUG 2012) in Antwerpen as he covers the strategy, futures and enhancements to the IBM Lotus suite of software. He walks us through live demonstrations of his daily life using the technology and case studies on other businesses embracing the new IBM direction.

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On Saturday, March 24th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

You can read the entire newsletter for the February 2012 edition of Sys Admin Tips to read my editorial on names changes again for what was Lotusphere Comes To You.  I then tackle the following:

• From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Public Name Error in Mailfile
• Doing the Shindig
• Quick Tip: Sametime Security Servlet Security Reminder
• From the IdoNotes Mailbox: The Mail.box is growing!

Look for a bunch of new webcasts coming along from Consultant In Your Pocket as we kick off the spring season   Subscribe to the newsletter on the right to get notified as registration opens and for some free whitepapers.

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On Thursday, February 23rd, 2012   by Chris Miller        

The IBM Pulse conference has been around a while and it seems IBM Collaboration Services (ICS) will be there in a large amount this year talking mobility.  To aid in getting information out to the masses, and after they saw how Lotusphere works apparently, IBM Pulse 2012 will stream the keynote from Kevin Cavanaugh.
Continue Reading here" IBM Pulse 2012 - set to stream keynotes for first time" »

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On Tuesday, February 7th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

In the January 2012 edition of Sys Admin Tips I cover OpenSocial and Social Business in the editorial section and the following articles:

• From the Idonotes mailbox: Citrix performance and Notes Standard client
• OpenSocial as an administrator
• Lotus Traveler device ids and names of devices
• From the IdoNotes mailbox: A failed Sametime 8.5.2 IF1 upgrade attempt

Look for a bunch of new webcasts coming along from Consultant In Your Pocket as we kick off the spring season

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On Monday, January 30th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

As a customer and even partner you may struggle with all of the terms that Lotus uses for things outside of the full point version numbering schema.  With some digging I was able to bring together a short list for you to use as reference.

MR= maintenance release

This is the building block of the number system.  Where 8.5 would be the base install version, the MR would be the .1 behind it to make 8.5.1.  You get more fixes with a later MR than an earlier MR with FPs applied.

Extensive testing is done on these and usually we see 1-2 a year.

Hotfix = it's broken and here is a tiny fix till next FP

Self explanatory.  These are normally not mass released and you have to call support to get them (even ones that other customers have) so Lotus can keep track of who installed it.  Beware they are not hard core tested and may contain regressions.

CCH = cumulative client hotfix

A bundle of hotfixes all wrapped nice and pretty. Extensive regression testing is not done on CCHs but will be done when it moves to FP level.

Oh you need like four hotfixes together to make that work.  Here is a CCH for you.

IF = interim fix

This should sit up near fixpack as it is a temporary fix.  They seem to word it more than a hotfix, but not quite a fixpack. These are publicly available, where hotfixes are not

FP = fixpack

This represents fixes applied on top of a specific maintenance release.  They are issued between MRs and are cumulative.  This means installing FP4 would include the same fixes from FP1-3 with new ones to make 4.  A version will be represented as 8.5.1 FP4 for example.

However, you must uninstall hotfixes before applying fixpacks that contain the hotfixes.

"By providing a small number of fixes, customers are able to accept fewer code changes with lower risk, allowing them to "patch" an older Maintenance Release until a more extensive upgrade to the current Maintenance Release is possible" from IBM.

FR = Feature Release

These are normally blended into maintenance releases and now Upgrade Packs (UP).  IBM snuck some into the following IFR, but you will find new features being introduced when they talk of feature releases.

IFR = Incremental Feature Release

This is a new naming idea that showed itself in the IBM Sametime 8.5.2 codestream.  While it added quite a few fixes it also added enhancements.  Some of us feel the new features should have made it an actual maintenance release, but IBM stood strong and made up the IFR.

UP = upgrade pack

This is quite new to the Domino family.  it is totally optional and adds capabilities to an otherwise stable version.  It has made it first appearance in 8.5.3 to add social capabilities.  I can see IBM doing many more of these since it is not required by anyone.

The new Notes and Domino Social Edition that is pending release will sit atop of Domino 8.5.4 but is optional and in my opinion will be called an Upgrade Pack.

Digging around to get this information found one IBM technote with some of the information.

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On Monday, January 30th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

In this Dec 2011 edition I give my annual gift guide in the editorial section and the following:

* From the Editor: Chris' 1.0000 XMAS
   - Fitbit Ultra
   - Kindle Devices and Kindle Fire
   - Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tablet
   - Roku XS streaming device
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: iNotes Account Got Hacked
* I Upgraded the Sametime Proxy and No New Features Work
* Quick Tip: Remove Unwanted Sametime Connect Status Messages
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Domino Servers On Different Operating Systems


Do not forget to watch the "What's New in Lotus, Domino, Traveler & IBM XWork Server 8.5.3" webcast that was on October 4th from Consultant In Your Pocket.  

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On Wednesday, December 21st, 2011   by Chris Miller        

If you are planning on taking any certification exams with IBM, they have tightened down on their policies and thoughts about how you should study in recent years.  The above blog title was received as an email.  Here is the email content that was received.  I thought it was valuable enough to share with everyone.

Please review this important information regarding the IBM Professional Certification Testing Policy.

In order to ensure the validity and integrity of the IBM Certification Program, testing data and results are randomly audited.

All test takers are required to agree to a confidentiality statement which specifically prohibits test takers from discussing test content or questions at any time. This includes casual conversation with colleagues, and especially discussing test content with prospective test takers after completing testing. Additionally, IBM Certification tests are the exclusive Intellectual Property of IBM. Per your IBM Business Partner Agreement the IBM Business Partner Code of Conduct sections referring to Intellectual Property and Unauthorized Sources apply to certification testing. When you (or your staff) are preparing for an IBM Certification test it is imperative to use only the links provided on IBM's Web pages for recommended education and sample practice tests. Many of the "sample" or "practice" test vendors make use of unethically acquired testing material.

IBM has taken, and will continue to take, appropriate actions when testing data indicates that unethical methods were used to prepare for or take an IBM Certification test. Actions may include a temporary or permanent ban from taking additional Certification tests

For full information you should visit Information on IBM Professional Certification Program and Certification testing policy to get up to date on apporoved study material and sources (IBM)

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On Thursday, December 15th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

Back at NLLUG 2010 I had the pleasure of presenting to the large group about the idea and planning stages moving to Sametime 8.5.x.  I went ahead and edited the video and got it online for everyone to see.

You may also watch the video in HD on YouTube.

Brought to you by Connectria, you leader in IBM software and hardware hosting.

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On Tuesday, December 13th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

I was happy to have Lisa Harris, Offering Manager, and Stefan Jonsson, mobile development manager for IBM Sametime to talk about the IFR 1 release for version 8.5.2.  It brought an incredible amount of enhancements and features to mobility not usually found in an IFR type release.

We discuss:

• Why this was called IFR instead of a full point release
• Android client enhancements
• iOS client enhancements
• SUT capabilities
• Offline messaging
• and more..

Visit the Sametime team on the Lotusphere 2012 exhibitor floor and in the developer lab and also catch up with the latest news on their Sametime Blog.


Visit the Connectria website today and find out why we offer the best in Lotus Software hosting and management.

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On Friday, December 9th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

In this Nov 2011 edition I discuss disaster planning in the editorial section and the following:

* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Update on Words with Buttons Disappearing
* Sametime Security Vulnerability Announced
* Quick Tip: Upgrade Domino or Traveler First
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox : Lotus Traveler Issue - Help!

Do not forget to watch the "What's New in Lotus, Domino, Traveler & IBM XWork Server 8.5.3" webcast that was on October 4th from Consultant In Your Pocket.  

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On Thursday, November 17th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

IBM has released a public security notice and reference for Sametime servers that utilize LDAP as the authentication source. Much thanks to Integrasys for finding and bringing this to the eyes of IBM.

DESCRIPTION: The Sametime server contains a configuration servlet that is accessed by several Sametime server processes. By default, this servlet does not require authentication, which could potentially allow an unauthorized user to obtain read access to configuration data. Administrators are advised to protect this servlet by configuring Sametime to require authentication to this servlet.

The full remediation and workaround can be found in reference #1569452.  This affects servers from 7.0 forward (and earlier if you have a server that old still).

NOTE: We will be having a podcast or webcast around this to take feedback, answer questions and give more information.

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On Thursday, October 27th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

In the September 2011 edition I cover architecture review in the editorial and the following:

* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Single Sign-on and Active Directory
* What Is the Sametime Proxy?
* Quick Tip: Searches Against Non-existent Databases Can Cause High CPU
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: A List of Authorized Sametime Users

*******************************

Do not forget to sign up today for the "What's New in Notes, Domino & Traveler 8.5.3" webcast on October 4th.

It will feature Paul Mooney, Marie Scott and other partners and customers

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On Monday, September 26th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

After much thought on this, I felt it was time to make the prediction of what is to soon come for the IBM Sametime Connect client, both integrated and stand-alone.  There is no insider knowledge, no NDA being broken and nothing that has been shared.  It is simple summation from what we are seeing being delivered as well as capabilities in the IBM Sametime family.

With the evolution of the Sametime Proxy client, based on Websphere, there is no need for the stand-alone client to continue.  Let me walk through my reasoning:

Deployment

The Sametime Connect client package, both stand-alone and integrated, force hundreds of MB of installation.  This is quite prohibitive for small incremental needs and also widescale deployment scenarios.

The new Sametime Proxy as a web interface removes this entire deployment need.  Changes are done on the fly. Fixes are instant.  Sure you must be ready to know it is all web calls and traffic load.  This also means the client will use the embedded browser even more.

If this truly becomes a widget (and not a plug-in) the catalog could push it out.  If it is a plug-in, then simply make the update site for the client.

Mobility

Currently Domino Web Access (DWA or iNotes as you wish) had the older stlinks type integration.  Now with the Sametime Proxy, you get a fully functional client.

Android and Apple based clients are getting the same web based experience through the Sametime Proxy server.  Yes yes there is a download in the marketplace, but it is just a freaking bookmark to the proxy.  So I do wish they would stop calling it native, but that is a different posting.  Coming in 8.5.3 is native SUT capabilities (see this public blog post from the Sametime team).

Functionality

Really not much is different.  With the new widgets and plug-ins it makes it even easier.  Imagine a sidebar widget that shows your upcoming online meetings? Done.  Rich text in chats? Done.  Business Card lookups? Done.  Frequent contacts? Yep. You get the idea.

So this means that I can see IBM slowly moving you toward the web proxy interface and less toward the heavy installed client. More development time seems to keep moving into the Websphere based side as the Domino server side gets less updates and even is now called Legacy in some literature for the meeting services.

Thoughts? Discussions?

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On Monday, September 12th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

In the August 2011 edition I cover some thoughts on all the user groups popping up plus the following:

* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Notes Standard and Published Citrix Apps
* Domino Web Access and Archives
* Quick Tip: Mail Quotas and Out of Office
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Sametime Problem After Upgrade to 8.5.2


************

You can head over now to watch the AusLUG 2011 keynote and NerdGirls panel in streaming HD!  

Edited, produced and brought to you by Spiked Studio Productions.  Your niche podcast network

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On Wednesday, September 7th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

While reading a document in the Sametime wiki I ran across this gem of a line

Sametime 8.5.x includes a Classic Meeting server. You can upgrade to 8.5.x and continue using Classic Meetings if you do not want to use the new Sametime 8.5.x meetings. However, your meeting environment will be outdated

So if you run the current version of the software, you are outdated.

Related Posts

• Sametime 8.5.2 and widgets?

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On Monday, August 29th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

Lotus is looking for volunteers to submit for a futures usability study.  It runs this and next week.  Details below!

The Lotus User Experience Research team is conducting user research the week of August 22nd (extending to the week of Aug 29th as needed) and is looking for participants.

You will be asked to attend a 60-90 minute online session (connection details to follow) where strategic design direction, encompassing multiple IBM products, will be shown and discussed.

We are looking for a diverse audience to represent a rich set of perspectives.

NOTE: This is not a usability assessment of current products nor a commitment to implement what is shown. This is directional research but your feedback will be used to shape the future direction of the products you use.

If interested, please tell us a little about yourself and available days and times using the brief survey [https://www-950.ibm.com/survey/oid/wsb.dll/s/ag3e3]. Someone will contact you if there is a day/time match.

Thank you for your time!

Regards,

Brian

Brian S. Utesch, Ph.D.
STSM, Lotus User Experience Research (UXR) Lead
IBM Software Group, WPLC, Lotus User Experience Group
butesch@us.ibm.com

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On Wednesday, August 24th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

Back at the beginning of July, we launched the FREE Android app version of the Lotus Custom Searches.  The response has been great.  The idea was to test having the technical content you need at your fingertips.

The searches include the following options:

Lotus Custom Blogger Search -
The ability to search across over 300 Lotus related blogs, technical resource sites, whitepapers and more

Sametime search -
The ability to search across blogs and technical sites only related to Sametime

XPages Search -
The ability to search against only XPages blogs, technical resources and more for quick, filtered XPages information

You can find the application in the Android Marketplace on your phone and tablets. A YouTube video and screenshots show you more on the application information page.

So the statistics look like this:

Platform version

LotusCustomSearches 1 Android 2.2 53.8% 2 Android 2.3.3 28.2% 3 Android 2.1 7.7% 4 Android 3.0 1.3% 5 Android 2.3 1.3% 6 7 8 9 10

Device

LotusCustomSearches 1 Samsung Galaxy Tab 9.0% 2 HTC Desire HD 7.7% 3 Samsung Galaxy S 7.7% 4 Samsung Galaxy S2 7.7% 5 Motorola Droid X 5.1% 6 HTC Desire 5.1% 7 HTC Evo 4G 3.8% 8 HTC Wildfire 2.6% 9 LG Optimus One 2.6% 10 Motorola Droid 2.6%

Country

LotusCustomSearches 1 United States 29.5% 2 Germany 16.7% 3 India 7.7% 4 Spain 5.1% 5 Sweden 3.8% 6 Malaysia 3.8% 7 France 3.8% 8 United Kingdom 3.8% 9 Austria 2.6% 10 Switzerland 2.6%

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On Friday, July 29th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

Through the development skills of OzzyDeveloper, I am pleased to announce the launch of the free Lotus Custom Search application for Android.  OzzyDeveloper took the custom searches you find on the right side of my blog and moved them to a mobile web Android application.  We are happy to give you this application for free.  Look for more additions to the application!

What is included?

Lotus Custom Blogger Search -
The ability to search across over 300 Lotus related blogs, technical resource sites, whitepapers and more

Sametime search -
The ability to search across blogs and technical sites only related to Sametime

XPages Search -
The ability to search against only XPages blogs, technical resources and more for quick, filtered XPages information

You can find the application in the Android Marketplace on your phone and tablets. A YouTube video and screenshots show you more on the application information page.

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On Wednesday, July 6th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

The IBM Collaboration Solutions community call was held this morning and a guest speaker was Scott Neuman, Director of Social Business Marketing at IBM.  He ran through a number of high level slides around social strategy and futures.  But I think he made it very clear in the middle.  I will summarize in MY words

Lotus will be folded into coupled solutions with other IBM software products and services to provide these magical social solutions. Gone will be the days of a laundry list of products you have to wade through.

So you will see things like Sametime, Connections and maybe Portal as a vertical solution offering to customers for example.

Learning WAS, Sharepoint or whatever shouldn't matter to the big question.  If there is a software IBM owns then learn it.  Plain and simple.  If there is a bundled solution approach that covers seven products, learn them.

If social is the keyword of the bi-annual to IBM, then we say ok!  Domino was social, Sametime was social, Connections (for 4 years now) was social.  But now we have the term social applied and we can approach it as new.

The mass world doesn't know or doesn't like the Lotus name, but love and trust IBM as recognizable.   This was ten years coming when IBM bought Lotus.  No need to ponder it now.

We didn't sell previous solutions as social, we did it as collaboration. Guess what, collaboration had to be social to work.  We just have a new word.  Move along.


********
This article brought to you by IamLUG - the North American "Lotus" User Group.  Hotel rates expire July 7th!

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On Tuesday, June 28th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

In this June 2011 edition I talk about IBM removing the Lotus brand name and the following:

* From the Editor: Chris' 0.0123122 GIP
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Split Notes Data Over Multiple Volumes
* Free IBM Connections testing?
* Quick Tip: Sorry, We Are Unable to Process Your Request At This Time
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Sametime 8.5.2 Deployment Options

************

You can head over now to watch the IamLUG 2011 keynote in streaming HD!  The keynote was amazing, given by Brian Cheng of IBM.

Edited, produced and brought to you by Spiked Studio Productions.  Your niche podcast network

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On Friday, June 24th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

The View once again live streamed the keynote address that contained Kevin Cavanaugh, Ed Brill and Chris Crummey for Las Vegas, NV.

After years of it being said that attendees wanted the printed material, WIS announced it went green and would not print materials.

Debbie Lynd announced the Three Musketeers to the stage, Ed and Chris are up first.

Ed started covering:

• all the product releases, versions and some features
• three updates to LotusLive since Lotusphere
• Lotus Protector 2.8 about to ship (or is it IBM Protector now?)
• Traveler companion for iOS now caches the password
• Ed wants to talk about XPages Application Server licensing model

Chris Crummey stepped in for live demos:

• a Notes demo and social demo were on tap
• Live text was a huge showing of the initial part of the demo

From here I got lost in the flow and point of the demo.  He stated he wanted to do a demo where social and Notes were so blurred that you didn't know which was being covered.  But, then he switched over to the Connections experience which showed the defining line.  Social integration and analytics.

Ed stepped back in and highlighted LotusLive Notes.  They are using an optional FTP approach to send data into the staging servers.  I am still unsure what happened to good old replication that we here at Connectria provide.

"Social Mail" is their idea of next generation messaging.  Back to Chris for the demo.

Chris brings up iNotes as the demo client with Sametime, calendar and the OneUI look and feel.  Makes me think "Social Mail" will head towards my posting of Saying Goodbye to the Notes Client I did back around the #ibmexperience announcements.

Kevin Cavanaugh takes the stage and talkes of Sametime 8.5.2 launch in May.  You can watch a great webcast on "What's New in Sametime 8.5.2"

Chris launched a demo of the new web based IBM Connections client from the Mobile betas.  He shows the IdeaJam Ideation blog from the mobile device as well to vote on topics.  

Funny I would think working with files would be more important immediately than working with uploading photos.  I can see some companies wanting to do this, but more work with files would be higher on my personal listing.

He then went into the native Sametime client on the iPhone, including groups.

Kevin went back into more Sametime 8.5.2 tools like NAT and Bandwidth Manager.  (See above webcast for more info on those.)  Presence and IM on the Android devices including a SUT Dialer for calls and preferred numbers. As well as Sametime Meeting clients for BlackBerry.

Kevin announces that the Connections mobile client is awesome and ahead of schedule. It will be in all the major app stores.  I have heard rumblings from iWildfire not knowing about this coming.

From Kevin:

"Activity Stream services for IBM Connections 4 will also have an installable app to take things offline as well as pivot on those activities and launch into a full embedded experience using the Open Social 2 standard to launch actions from your mobile device."

With Open Social they can make items in the stream actionable.  Meaning click to do something.

After a brief Symphony demo showing off color coded web editing for Lotus Symphony by Chris, we moved to his iPad.  He mentioned iWildfire which I wonder how this fits with the new Connections mobile client.

He then shows the new dashboard, Morning Report, to show everything for the day on his iPad.  It sees the messages, calendar, tasks and more.  Basically back to the old dashboard of the Notes client. You can adjust some settings around showing unread and others. He uses the word analytics and the social business toolkit.  I think widgets.

Kevin talks about the openness being brought into the product line with Open Social standards and 2.0.  The work being shown was being run on an Open Social public sandbox site. We went to some demos of the work IBM has done and Kevin wants Open Social widgets to be brought to the next Lotusphere SocialSphere.

An interface was shown in a browser on the iPad, including file preview from the stream. Basically widgets hooking together social sites.

Ed then announced the IBM Champions, congrats to all the winners!

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On Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011   by Chris Miller        

IBM has announced that Yahoo is ending the provisioning available via the Sametime Gateway.  Instead, IBM will be offering a new plug-in for the Sametime client that allows users to have their very own Yahoo id to connect.  Basically removing the entire idea behind corporate identity.

Today, your Lotus Sametime Gateway integrates directly with the Yahoo! Messenger servers through single sign-on capability, letting your employees use their corporate Sametime identity to exchange presence information and text chats with Yahoo! Messenger users. Yahoo has notified IBM that it intends to discontinue this method of interoperability in the near future.

As this reads, it is not IBM's fault at all.  But here is my issues with creating and allowing this new plug-in.

• The loss of corporate identity in how an employee represents themselves is immediately removed.  Users may not create, connect and pretend to be whatever name they wish.  With the Sametime Gateway you knew they showed as their corporate email address.  This represented the company.  Once you open the ability for this plug-in, they will be able to connect as any identity they desire.
• The current connectivity and presence established will not transfer or migrate.  Users will need to notify clients, customers and partners that they usernames will be changing.  This means that not only are employees required to rebuild an entire buddylist for Yahoo, but outside vendors that may not get notification will simply cease to see your corporate users on Yahoo any longer.
• Depending on how Lotus writes this plug-in, and the outcome and answers given in the upcoming Open Mic call on June 7th, I imagine that users will go directly to the Yahoo servers.  Unless the users are still ported through the Sametime Gateway, you must now open the Yhaoo ports for any and all users needing this capability
• You must now change security controls.  This follows the above point.  Your enterprise may have already established their presence using only the Sametime Gateway.  You were then able to eliminate all installed chat clients to the public networks.  This effectively brings you back to that point.
• The UI for Sametime goes back to the version 3.1 idea of a consolidated client offering multiple logins for different chat systems.  Losing the single sing-on look and controls found today.
• I must open the policy that currently restricts users from adding multiple communities so they may now add the public chat community for Yahoo.
• I must push a plug-in out to users
• Many of the features found in the native (and amazing) Yahoo Messenger client will not be present, driving many avid Yahoo users a bit crazy.

I do not agree with the plug-in move forcing users to install a new community that connects to public networks. I may have already restricted anyone from adding external networks to force connectivity points across the Sametime Gateway.  Opening this allows them to add any community. Including the great ones at Bleed Yellow and Greenhouse.  However, it then opens them to go and connect to any  Sametime server that will have them.

If you have not installed the Sametime Gateway, I would suggest this book being your first stop. Installing and Administrating the Sametime Gateway.  While written for version 7.5, it contains all the base information needed to understand the steps and requirements.

Disclosure: Yeah that is my book.

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On Monday, June 6th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

Long ago I made some commentary that Lotus was wrong to close the Lotusphere Online system each year, instead of making it a growing and nurtured community.

Shouldn't Lotusphere be a growing and nurtured community? Not reborn every 12 months?

Lotus has made a decision here that could have changed some of the communication landscape between tens of thousands of customers, partners, employees, vendors and press.  A living breathing system that grew over the years and integrated more technology, connecting more people together.

Lotusphere should be a constant community with security wrapped around the resources by the the year I attend.  I would maintain an account that allowed me to chat, communicate and look up people.  Lotus would integrate new technologies of social networking tools (outside of Lotus Connections as we went along).  I would be able to access past files from all the years of content that was afforded to me for the years I attended.

Lotusphere should be a Sametime chat community that never closes, now with the zero download client found in Sametime 8.5.  Socialbookmarks should have kept growing.  Throw out Activities since I can only use one such plug-in in my client at work and use it already.  Streamline what communities are there.

So today we received notice via email that Lotusphere Online will be merged into IBM Greenhouse (I am skipping ahead and dropping the Lotus name).

We listened to your feedback that you wanted one ongoing community for Social Business and the IBM Collaboration Solutions. Therefore during June, the existing Lotusphere 2011 Online will be closed and combined into our IBM Connections community on Lotus Greenhouse to establish that single, long term community. Before the site is closed, you will receive an invitation to join the established IBM Collaboration Solutions User Experience Community in Lotus Greenhouse.

The communities will be rebuilt, the presentations moved over and ready for all to access.

We will be making Lotusphere 2011 presentations available and will use the new community for collaboration before and after our events.

You will have to go and create a Greenhouse ID if you do not have one.  But it will allow you to also join into a global IBM Sametime community for chat and other services.  So rejoice in the announcement they are closing Lotusphere Online 2011.  I would like to think I was one of the voices they heard

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On Thursday, June 2nd, 2011   by Chris Miller        

On May 18th, a panel of IBM Sametime experts held a webcast to talk about what was new, fixed, enhanced or didn't change in Sametime 8.5.2.  Join the following panel:

• Carl Tyler, Epilio
• Gabriella Davis, Turtle Partnership
• Chris Miller, Connectria
• Lisa Harris, IBM - Sametime Offerings Manager
• David Marshak, IBM - Sametime telephony Senior Strategist

You can watch this "What's New in Sametime 8.5.2" and all streaming webcast at any time for free on Consultant In Your Pocket.

To keep up to date on webcasts, replays and early registration news for events, I suggest joining the newsletter in the right sidebar of this or any Spiked Studio site.

Also, remember that IamLUG is back August 1-2, 2011 followed by an awesome day of TackItOn.  IamLUG is free for all attendees and is in it's third year of giving the top technical content.

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On Tuesday, May 31st, 2011   by Chris Miller        

In this May 2011 edition I talk about Lotus' attempt at the Exceptional Web Experience and the following:

* From the Editor: Chris' -0.0123 SOC  
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Removing Encryption On a Local Database
* IBM Social Business Toolkit and Wiki
* Quick Tip: Free Sametime Plug-ins
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Plug-ins and Updatesite

Make sure you also:

* Register for IamLUG 2011!  The doors are open for attendees, speakers and sponsors.  The event will be FREE for all attendees and is being help Aug 1-2, 2011.

* Register for TackItOn again right after IamLUG.  This full day (paid) event brings Matt White for XPages 201 and Paul Mooney for Lotus Traveler

* Sign up for both the Consultant In Your Pocket and IdoNotes newsletters in the upper right corner of the blog.  Get early notices before the public, webcast information and commentary not found on the blog.  Did I mention the two free whitepapers on DCC and Search in Lotus Notes just for signing up?

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On Thursday, May 26th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

Yesterday I posted on the announcement made in the UKLUG keynote address by Ted Stanton on the sunsetting of brands (not products) in the IBM naming world.  Earlier in the year I had written an article for publication that I am providing following this news coming true.

In the first week of February 2011, the annual Lotusphere conference by IBM was held in Orlando, FL. Each year a new theme is launched to drive the flow around the conference as new products are announced and futures discussed. The theme for 2011 from IBM/Lotus was Social Business

IBM/Lotus entered the realm of social business about two years ago by placing social networking into the enterprise with Lotus Connections. They soon became self proclaimed, and known to some, as an industry leader in this space.  With the recent release of Connections 3.0, they have made a strong statement.

However, the stigma of the name Lotus hangs heavy. It carries with it 20 years of weight from Lotus Notes and the nagging thought of the old 1-2-3 anytime you say Lotus.  So how would IBM break away, while moving forward the implementations of such products as Connections, Portal and and freshly remodeled and painted Notes?  Removing the Lotus moniker is a first step in that transition.

In no way am I hinting or saying that the actual products under the Lotus banner would be retired.  Simply the Lotus portion of the name itself. They have begun this movement years ago by placing IBM at the head of each product name. Many have been cross branded for some time, such as IBM Lotus Sametime.  Removing the Lotus from the middle is not a trivial task. Nor should IBM treat this decision lightly.

Back at Lotusphere, Social Business was pushed into everyone's minds as soon as the Opening General Session kicked off. while many still sit at companies globally wondering how this affects their email and applications based on Lotus Notes, even the sales reps are being told to push this initiative. The link for Social Business does take you to a Lotus branded URL, but one of the main links announces the IBM Social Collaboration Platform and the just completed IBM Social Business Jam

This new initiative focuses around social analytics, tracking, enhanced customer and web experiences and platforms to deploy these solutions.  All based on a collection of IBM software properties.  From this alone is makes perfect sense for IBM to bring these all together as one brand face and name, much like Cognos was brought into the IBM banner.

Since Lotusphere both the products Connections and Sametime have had the Lotus name removed from the product marketing.  While we do still the the name Lotus in the actual installed product in some places, new efforts will not show it when making future announcements and marketing.

IBM held massive press events last year around Project Northstar.  Their first move of taking software like Websphere Portal and making it the foundation for the IBM Customer Experience Suite.    I blogged extensively on Project Northstar  and during the launch.  While much of the press was there, the splash was not made.

Where does this leave Lotus in the new IBM picture?  As a name that held strength in the enterprise messaging and application platform space.  As a name that still haunts many people as a horrid experience because they were stuck on older versions or never experienced the full customer experience.  As a name to soon be retired, it's jersey hung in the banners and all the awards placed high on the IBM trophy case as an acquired, assimilated and merged product line in the IBM behemoth.  Goodbye Lotus brand name. Hello IBM collaboration.

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On Tuesday, May 24th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

During the keynote today from Ted Stanton (his bio from UKLUG):

Ted Stanton is a World Wide Executive Consultant for IBM's Software Solutions Group. Ted is committed to maintaining high customer satisfaction while helping customers align software solutions with their strategic business goals. Ted’s strong technical background includes over twenty IBM product certifications allowing him to proactively work across technical teams and line of business to build solutions and articulate the business value, ROI, and transformation required for success

He confirmed that over the next two years that IBM will be retiring many of it's brand names by the end of 2012.  Products (think Sametime, Connections and more) will not be going away at all. Brands like Lotus, Websphere, Tivoli and DB2 will be folded in.

We have already seen this with IBM Connections and now IBM Sametime just last week.  Many were questioning and looking for a statement from IBM.  I think we have some answers they were looking for.  This is an overhaul of direction and branding to make IBM seen more as a single package, instead of multiple requirements.  For example installing Lotus Sametime was including Websphere Application Server, DB2 Enterprise and possible Tivoli Directory Integrator.  With the change you will install IBM Sametime that includes an IBM Application Server, IBM Data Enterprise server and IBM Directory Integrator.

Earlier this year I wrote and article for another online publication which I will post in later today in a follow up article.

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On Monday, May 23rd, 2011   by Chris Miller        

Get ready to talk with a panel of experts including business partners and IBM as we talk about "What's New in Sametime 8.5.2" tomorrow at 10am CST.  You can still register to learn all about the new items, enhancements and fixes.

You can register for the May 18th 2011 at 10am CST webcast right here.  If you want early notice make sure you subscribe to the Consultant In Your Pocket portion of the newsletter in the upper right of the blog.

Also visit our sponsor for the event, GSX for the best in Sametime monitoring tools.

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On Tuesday, May 17th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

Just a reminder that the Consultant In Your Pocket webcast series is in full swing with DDM & DCT: What a Team! tomorrow at 10am CST.

Have you fully dipped into Domino Domain Monitoring with modular documents, collection hierarchies, event workflow and reducing the noise through filtering?  Have you completed a run of the Domino Configuration Tuner ?  Explore all the DDM options, choices and variables to get the most out of your Domino environment.  Use DCT to find out what areas to improve and what to monitor closely with DDM.  Use some of the new automation in DDM to correct problems before you even know they existed.

Join this FREE webcast to learn all about these underutilized features that come free with Lotus Domino.

Then on May 18th come and learn all about What's New in Sametime 8.5.2 with a panel of experts.

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On Tuesday, May 10th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

Yet another webcast in the month of May for Consultant In Your Pocket.

What's New in Sametime 8.5.2 on May 18th 2011, 10am CST
Join a panel of experts as they hold an open discussion on Sametime 8.5.2.  Enhancements, fixes, additions and your questions will be answered during this free webcast event.

You can register for the May 18th 2011 at 10am CST webcast right here.  If you want early notice make sure you subscribe to the Consultant In Your Pocket portion of the newsletter in the upper right of the blog.

**More upcoming webcasts**
May 3rd is Social Business & UX Lab with Mary Beth Raven and Velda Bartek
May 11th is DDM & DCT - What a Team

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On Wednesday, April 27th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

I was doing some peeking on the web for some information and ran across this public wiki article titled "Working with Sametime 8.5.2 and Widgets" on the Sametime wiki site. Something new is coming...



There is some additional information online in the draft Sametime Administration & Installation Guide as well about configurations

Related Posts

• Classic line from Sametime wiki about Sametime Classic

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On Friday, April 22nd, 2011   by Chris Miller        

I went in with the suggestions I received and tweaked the LotusTechDocs account on Twitter some more.  Apparently you all are finding it useful.  I bring in a bunch of technical document feeds together from Lotus using Yahoo Pipes.  I label and then output the entire thing as RSS.

Everything is there: Domino, Sametime, Connections, Quickr, LotusLive, Redpapers and more.

You can then use your favorite Twitter client to make a column or channel and see them in almost real-time as they are published.   You could also use Wildfire from OpenNTF in your Notes client sidebar.

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On Thursday, March 17th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

Just as I wrote this morning about IBM having tons of Twitter accounts, a great resource launched on Twitter and RSS for those administrators and developers in the Lotus software world.  If you need to keep up with news and alerts close to real-time, then this is the solution for you.  It covers all the Lotus products.

LotusTechDocs on Twitter and the Lotus Support Megafeed via RSS are both available.  Using Yahoo Pipes, the multiple feeds are brought together, each entry labeled and then output into a single stream in real-time.  Included are:

• Domino 8.5
• Domino 8
• Quickr
• Connections
• Sametime
• LotusLive
• Redbooks
• Whitepapers
• Tech articles
• Tutorials

Both are identical information (with Twitter a few minutes behind due to pushing).  So you can choose to get your technical updates via Twitter or RSS.  Subscribe today to either resource via Twitter or RSS.

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On Tuesday, March 1st, 2011   by Chris Miller        

The session BP120 - The Sametime Gateway: Business Case, Implementation & Best Practices was given at Lotusphere 2011.  I am sorry these do not have tons of meaning without the commentary, but people asked for the slides.

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On Tuesday, February 1st, 2011   by Chris Miller        

Mark Noble, Director of Product Marketing, shows off Vidyo by hosting our video meeting to explain the integration with IBM Lotus Sametime.  We talk about the plug-in architecture, deployment, multi-video capabilities, screen sharing and more.  From one to many participants, public Internet to behind the firewall, this is a tool for those investing in HD video conferencing.

This is a must see video.

Lotusphere Podcasts - Vidyo for Lotus Sametime from Lotusphere Podcasts .

Visit Vidyo on the Lotusphere vendor floor and their website for more information.  Below is a sample multi-participant conference.

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On Friday, January 28th, 2011   by Lotusphere Podcasts        

I am happy to announce the launch of SametimeGuide.com, a video tutorial source for installing, configuring and managing Sametime 8.5.x and higher installations.

While the videos are being built out, we are currently offering an introductory pricing through the end of February to celebrate the launch, Lotusphere and early access as content is added.  Head over to the SametimeGuide site and get more information and take part of the launch.


I would also like to note this is going to be an excellent companion to the upcoming Sametime Administration book being authored by Gabriella Davis, Marie Scott and Tom Duff for Packt Publishing.

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On Wednesday, January 26th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

If you have access to the LSonline.info site that was launched, you now have access to Lotus Traveler and Sametime



So for those wanting to test it out , now is the time to get in and communicate.  Now I still feel most people will be in BleedYellow for Sametime or even extst.ibm.com but it is nice to see them extend the ability.

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On Thursday, January 20th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

I am happy to share what sessions I will be presenting at Lotusphere 2011 (#ls11), including the Birds of a Feather (BOF's) up for vote.  Feel free to drop by and see me at any of these and vote for some of the awesome Birds of a Feather:

Sessions

• LDAP - the Amazing Infrastructure Challenge (and solutions) for BP104
• IBM Lotus Domino Admin to IBM WebSphere Application Admin -- in an Hour!  for BP109
• Sametime Gateway: the Business Case, Best Practices and Implementation  for BP120
• Inspector Widget - How to Successfully Deploy a Widget Catalog (riding shotgun with Jo Ann Card driving) for BP115

BOF's

• Using Social Media to Consume Lotus Information
• Sametime Gateway 8.5.x Open Discussion

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On Friday, December 17th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

In this December 2010 issue I talk about Christmas geek gifts and the following:

IN THIS ISSUE #65
* From the Editor: Chris' 0.02000 PAB
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Move Registered Community Server in Sametime 8.5
* Lotus Traveler - the Movement
* Quick Tip: What 8.5 Version is Needed for Which Feature
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Sametime 8.5.1 and Groups in Domino LDAP


Make sure you:
* Register now for the best pricing at IdoSphere - the live online event
* head over to Consultant In Your Pocket and catch upcoming FREE webcasts and full replays of previous webcasts including "What's New in Domino 8.5.2 Administration
* catch up on the entire Google Apps Migration for Lotus Notes (GAMLN) series here on IdoNotes
* Sign up for both the Consultant In Your Pocket and IdoNotes newsletters in the upper right corner of the blog.  Get early notices before the public, webcast information and commentary not found on the blog.  Did I mention the two free whitepapers on DCC and Search in Lotus Notes just for signing up?

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On Wednesday, December 15th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

You can also watch this video in full HD directly on YouTube.

Carl Tyler, Epilio, and myself discuss the new Sametime and Notes telephony plugin he helped develop for Plantronics.  The features are awesome, the installer smooth and it is only in beta.  The plug-in works across VOIP products, integrates with your status updates and more.



We then walk through numerous headsets and give our opinion on what we use daily.  My go to headsets are:

•  Plantronics Voyager Pro UC
•  Plantronics Savi Office Over-the-Ear
•  Plantronics Blackwire C420

Get in touch with Carl for more information on the plugin beta!

Disclosure: The above links are affiliate links.

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On Tuesday, December 14th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

Since 2006, when I first posted a set, I have used different icons for the multiple Sametime communities I connect to.  I can then blend groups by project or other means, not just public groups.  What you get is icons showing which community the person is associated with.  The steps are easy to do and I have attached a grouping of ones I have in use.  For example a cool green one for Lotus Greenhouse, yellow for BleedYellow and some fun ones you will find enclosed.

Icon link: Feel free to grab or redistribute


You can also watch this podcast in HD on  YouTube

Below is the preference panel where you add the icon in and select it for the communities.  You can find this in the community settings for each individual community.  Remember you must also enable the ability to see them in the buddylist preferences screen.

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On Monday, December 6th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

Something that has been missing from the administrator ability in Sametime was the simple step of configuring and pushing out multiple communities to end user clients.  Sametime 8.5.1.1 added this fix

KRED85SJJ8 - Added the ability to preconfigure then push multiple community and meeting server name values to clients

This should give you more flexibility when wanting to have users access partner, customer or even Lotus Greenhouse.

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On Monday, December 6th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

Radicati Group had a webinar this morning on Instant Messaging Market: An Evolving Landscape that piqued my interest.   The panel that was put together included:

• Jan-Joost (JJ) Rueb - CEO of eBuddy, an awesome aggregator of IM services
• Eric Young - Sr Director of Field Services at Facetime
• Dave Kong - Product Manger at Microsoft Lync Server 2010

Sara showed the numerous reports they just released on eDiscovery, email platform for service providers, this one and wireless email market.  She then entered the panel discussion before open Q&A.  Her question in italics and my summary following.

Why is IM still a competitive market?  Microsoft gave the best answer saying IM is part of the broader solution and framework.  Clearly it has value that communication may start with IM and escalate or be solved with the capabilities such as web conferencing.

With more and more solutions forming federation agreements, how is this changing the IM landscape and what you all are doing?  All aggregate or federate a connection in some form,  Outside of Facetime that provides a service around the evolution and merging of enterprise and public networks.  Security is something you want multiple layers.  Some is built into the platforms, the rest is needed to be applied.

Security continues to be a concern for business and consumer users.  How well do you think the current IM security technology is keeping up with IM threats?  People are not advertising the fact they are being hit by malware over IM channels.  Some enterprises cannot tell if it came from the web, IM or even brought in from home technology devices.  In general IM has had more security with things such as presence control.

All speakers agreed secure authentication procedures should be used.  From encrypted wifi networks to SSL.

Will IM move to a bit more mobile technology? It is a personal way of communication so it makes sense to use your phone.  But the need for advanced capabilities, it is a messaging system and some features will need a computer.

Will IM move to be a simple feature of social networking? Speakers had some opinions and didn't commit either way.  Each is a unique piece of a social network, so needing a social network to just have IM and presence will not make sense.

Does eBuddy connect with or work with SMS networks? He can see it happening, but not short term.

Is Microsoft planning support for iOS and Android for Instant Messaging? Microsoft is looking into different devices right now, but no timeframe .
************************************************************************

My summary
She really didn't dig into anything hard or not presented in their slides.  Quite disappointing with the group she brought together.  I hoped for more content and deeper questions about market and movement.  I wish Lotus Sametime had been part of this as well as it fit right into the conversation numerous times.  I left slightly empty.

***********************************************************************
Sara Radicati did the brief introduction at the very beginning and let each vendor take about five minutes to talk about their product.  Read on that summary below
Continue Reading here" Live blogging: Instant Messaging Market from Radicati" »

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On Thursday, December 2nd, 2010   by Chris Miller        

In this November 2010 issue I talk about widget catalog issues and the following:

IN THIS ISSUE #64
* From the Editor: Chris' 0.0191762 CHF
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Duplicate Bookmarks Pushed Via Policies
* Options for Connecting to IBM Via Sametime
* Quick Tip: Sametime Client Does Not Have Audio/Video for Some Users
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Notesview Getdocumentbykey Error


Make sure you:
* head over to Consultant In Your Pocket and catch upcoming FREE webcasts and full replays of previous webcasts including "What's New in Domino 8.5.2 Administration
* catch up on the entire Google Apps Migration for Lotus Notes (GAMLN) series here on IdoNotes
* Sign up for both the Consultant In Your Pocket and IdoNotes newsletters in the upper right corner of the blog.  Get early notices before the public, webcast information and commentary not found on the blog.  Did I mention the two free whitepapers on DCC and Search in Lotus Notes just for signing up?

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On Thursday, November 18th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

I am taking a non-biased approach to the book review, knowing both of the incredible authors Marie "CrashTestChix" Scott and Tom "Duffbert" Duff.  

The book, IBM Lotus Sametime 8 Essentials: A User's Guide is written for users, just as the title suggests.  While some edges of administraiton are hit for purely reference points, they do a great job of telling users to call their Sametime administrators for questions and items beyond the scope of the book.  The book is hefty for a user at 284 pages and $40 USD (at time of writing).  But if you want "soup to nuts" information on the Sametime client in your users hands, this is it.  Even as an administrator you learn quite a few tips and tricks on the UI side you did not know existed.

The screenshots and attention to detail makes it almost a show and tell type scenario for implementing anything the authors discuss and suggest.  Sametime is a large product between chat, communities, external contacts, Advanced, meetings and even integration with the Notes client.  Tom and Marie conquer it all breaking each part into it's own chapter.  They build upon previous chapters well and slowly move the user experience into productivity and not just bells and whistles.  This is what makes their style together work.

Explaining what a community is, who authentication and login works and variations in usernames is beneficial to an end user that will read this.  Something most end users books do not take into account.  I also appreciate how they taught buddy list name lookup and management to get users chatting right away once they are connected.

I honestly wished they had included two things.  One, I hoped that they would have chosen the native Sametime Connect for Blackberry instead of Enterprise Messenger, but that is a personal preference.  Two, that they had touched on the plain text integrated chat that shows in the basic client as numerous enterprises still use this as their chat client due to licensing or running Notes (even 8.x and higher) in Basic mode.

This is the only book on this topic and no other will come close.  They have set the bar high for any end user guide in the Lotus software community.  When they wake up, I hope they prepare for another round of writing.


Disclosure: Packt Publishing sent me a free ebook copy wit no review guarantees and I was a reviewer for a couple chapters (of course those chapters rock too).  The links directly to the book are Amazon affiliate links.

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On Tuesday, November 9th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

We need to have a long talk, mr developer.  Yes we do.  I am getting slightly frustrated at the number of "widgets" being placed into catalogs (OpenNTF, Greenhouse and more) that are shown as widgets.  They make the instructions read to just drag and drop this into your widget box.  Yes for a widget that would be correct.

The moment that widget tries to prompt me to install plug-in code from a remote site it changes the game.  The security mechanisms are different.  The controls are different.  The policies are different.  The updating architecture is different.

Go watch this webcast, see what some of the differences are and come back and label all your widgets to the appropriate name.  Yes, you are allowed to deploy plug-ins via a widget.  Fully supported.  But it is not a widget.

This plug-in XXX is deployed via a widget

Just say that.  Also make your plug-in downloadable to place into my site updates.  Not yours.  I don't let my users just go anywhere to get code.  That is what policies and proper site update management is for.


"Deploying Plugins and Widgets for Lotus Notes and Sametime" -  the webcast from Consultant In Your Pocket

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On Monday, October 25th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

www.flickr.com IdoNotes' Collaboration University 2010 photoset

We closed out another year for Collaboration University, this time in reverse with Chicago being the last city.  With year number five under our belts, it moved along smooth and it is great to see students attend for all five years!  As you can see in the limited pictures I have posted, there was so much going on we forgot to take tons of them during the events as we have in past years (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006).

This was a big year of learning for attendees as both Quickr and Sametime received major updates since last years graduation.  While you should have been there in person we at least recorded the opening sessions for you.  You can replay all the opening sessions right here on the Collaboration University channel on uStream.

I had the pleasure of presenting the "glue" sessions this year.  LDAP, LTPA and plugin deployment were the starting set.  However, what session drew the attention of myself and attendees was governance, security and ui considerations for social media.  Some attendees have taken to the idea and even blogged about the governance already.

While we can't post all of the content here from the sessions, look for more on the governance on TheSocialNetworker blog.

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On Friday, October 1st, 2010   by Chris Miller        

For your viewing pleasure we present the replay above of the Collaboration University 2010 keynote address.  It starts with Gabriella Davis of Turtle Partnership covering Sametime 8.5.1.  Next is Troy Reimer of SNAPPS providing Quickr 8.5 and then then a great thinking keynote from Louis Richardson, WW Sales Executive of Lotus Software.

For those that must see Rob Novak provide the brief intro you can see that video here from the Collaboration University 2010 uStream channel.

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On Tuesday, September 28th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

Collaboration University returns for it's fifth year with the best technical training for Sametime, Quickr and Lotus Connections in one event.  Join us in the live stream as we deliver to you the following sessions all in Central Standard Time (-6:00):

• 09:00-9:15              Introduction and Welcome
• 09:15-10:15            What's New in Sametime 8.5.1 with Gabriella Davis (Turtle Partnership)
• 10:15-11:15            What's New in Quickr 8.5 with Troy Reimer (SNAPPS)
• 11:15-12:15            Keynote Address with Louis Richardson, WW Sales Executive for Lotus Social Software

Feel free to share this across your blogs and social networks using the hastag #collabu.  You can watch the stream embedded in this posting or click here to watch the stream live native on uStream.

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On Sunday, September 26th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

This actually happened a couple of weeks ago but if you have grabbed the Plantronics plug-in for Sametime (both in and out of Notes) then you should get prompted for a software upgrade.  I know I run the option to prompt for software upgrades.  The image shows the upgrade and the install screen with the ton of integration options outside of Lotus Sametime


Imagine a single headset with phone and all the telephony integration? I live with the Savi Office one on all day now switching between both the office phone system and VOIP calls with the click of a button.

Here are the headsets I use in the office and on the road.

Road Warrior Mode
Unboxing of the Plantronics Voyager Pro - my choice for on the road.  Bluetooth connectivity to the PC and about 5 other devices.  You can get it right here

Office Mode
The Plantronics Savi Office headset (PC and Phone connectivity

Home Mode
Plantronics Calisto Pro - speaker, headset, handset, phone and pc connectivity.

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On Thursday, September 2nd, 2010   by Chris Miller        

Consultant In Your Pocket webcasts are back in full swing with two awesome upcoming webcasts.  They are both free and include a chance to win the most talked about "Bag O' Schwag".  You can register for both today and one is this coming Wednesday!

***************************************************************************************************************************
Tom Duff and Marie Scott are back for the launch of their upcoming book of the same topic from Packt Publishing:

This session shows you exactly how you can effectively collaborate with your colleagues and teammates both in your organization and outside your organization by using the features of Sametime. It's practical, down-to-earth, and most of all, fun!

You will be able to attend this session on August 25, 2010 at 10am CDT.  Registration is now open!!

Visit our sponsor Plantronics.  Explore how they can help your Unified Communication direction.

****************************************************************************************************************************

Consultant In Your Pocket welcomes Victor Toal for a webcast on Lotus Protector for Mail Security on Sep 1 2010 at 10am CDT. He will cover the following on this awesome product:

Lotus Protector for Mail Security - a comprehensive webinar about this do-it-all appliance

Some of the topics we will cover:

• What is Lotus Protector for Mail security: capabilities and functionality
• Architectural options - where can it fit in my environment?
• Installation and configuration - how to make it work for you
• Lotus Protector and the Domino integration - the part your users will love

You can register for this event starting now right here.

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On Monday, August 23rd, 2010   by Chris Miller        

I am pleased to announce that we (Connectria) have brought in our subsidiary Managed Hosting division, RedPlaid, to create a unified hosting solution.

Launched in 2006, REDPLAID Managed Hosting (“REDPLAID”) targeted small to mid-sized organizations that wanted secure and reliable Windows & Linux hosting solutions with a wide range of managed services. REDPLAID leveraged Connectria’s experience in delivering highly reliable and secure solutions that it had built for companies like Deutsche Bank and IBM. These solutions were packaged into standardized offerings that could meet the needs of a wide audience at very attractive prices. Since its inception, REDPLAID’s business grew exponentially, providing a complementary offer to its parent, Connectria, whose focus has been providing complex hosting solutions for large enterprises.

With the blending of all the services, we now offer under a single umbrella:

• self managed
• managed
• complex
• cloud

Visit our new Connectria website today and find out why we offer the best in Lotus Software hosting and management.

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On Monday, August 23rd, 2010   by Chris Miller        

In this August 2010 issue I talk about the cloud over coffee with you and the following:

IN THIS ISSUE #61
* From the Editor: Chris' 1.0000 LUG
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Are Agents Executed At Once?
* LotusLive Hosted Notes
* Quick Tip: Spellchecker in 8.5.1 Doesn't Skip All
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Sametime 8.5.1 Released, Now What?

Make sure you:
* head over to Consultant In Your Pocket and catch two upcoming FREE webcasts (one being August 18th!! )  or free   full replays of previous webcasts
* catch up on the entire Google Apps Migration for Lotus Notes (GAMLN) series here on IdoNotes

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On Tuesday, August 17th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

We have been pushing the edge of deploying Sametime 8.5 to customers and numerous issues have been found along the way.  Gab has been a strong proponent of finding and logging them.  Well one of our fix wishes has shown itself  in the fix list for Sametime 8.5.1.  While you think it is simple, it does solve some things we did not want to work around.

MHEG7ZMKX7  -  Domino LDAP now allows a blank DN

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On Monday, August 16th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

With some awesome upcoming webcasts at Consultant In Your Pocket (for awesome online Lotus related training) and due to the great sponsors, we will be giving away a "Bag of Schwag" to some attendees drawn for each webcast.  Consultant In Your Pocket will begin giving away the "Bag O' Schwag" at the following webcasts** you need to attend:

Join Kathy Brown as she returns to provide you a fun session "Going Beyond Deploy and Pray"  on August 18th 2010, 10am CST,  covering the following:

Thanks to Lotus and Domino’s rapid application development platform, many developers find themselves in a deploy-and-pray application release cycle.  That can be fine for simple applications in uncomplicated environments, but what happens when the feature requests get more and more complex?  Come hear about different techniques for managing Lotus and Domino application deployment and how to get beyond deploy-and-pray!

You can register for Deploy and Pray  immediately right here.

Join Tom Duff and Marie Scott (Tommy and Marie as they are known now) on Sametime: A Users Perspective taking place August 25 2010 at 10am CST .  With the pending launch of their upcoming book on this very topic, follow along as they take you down the path of what a user sees in your environment and how to better think like them when deploying features and functions.

You can register for Sametime: A User Perspective right here

** Yes, we will be using the webcast attendee names of those that actually attend (not just register) to be fair.  You can always watch the replay online after the event, but then you only get to see virtual "Bag O' Schwag".

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On Monday, August 16th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

With joyous anticipation, we begin the downloads and installs of the gold code for Lotus Sametime 8.5.1 from IBM.  Supposing we just check the boxes for Windows versions, we were blessed with this..



I can't wait till we get all the file downloaded for the different systems.

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On Friday, August 6th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

I am happy to have finally received, in email, my certificate for

IBM Certified System Administrator for IBM Lotus Sametime 8.5

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On Thursday, August 5th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

In a recent news story from Unified Communications Headsets, Plantronics beat revenue expectations with some great commentary about UC2 and a blurb on Sametime:

Plantronics also came out with new audio functions and tools for the IBM (News - Alert) Lotus Sametime and Sametime Unified Telephony products. The Plantronics Plug-in for Sametime is new software that delivers intelligent call control between Plantronics’ full UC product portfolio and IBM Sametime, providing users with exceptional online meeting and telephony experiences with enhanced audio quality.

Disclosure, I have been testing some of the Plantronics headsets, especially the UC Pro discussed in the article.  A headset I would definitely check out for Skype, Sametime and any VOIP calls.  Join Plantronics as a SIlver sponsor at IamLUG in just a few days.

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On Friday, July 30th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

Join a webcast next week,  Jun 2nd at 10am CST, that will walk through the components that make up a plug-in and the administrative knowledge you need to deploy them.  Learn about widget catalogs, user rights needed, administrative controls and automatic site updates.  Both Lotus Notes and Sametime will be covered.

You can learn more and register for the Consultant In Your Pocket even right here.

The event is sponsored by Plantronics with a special offer during your registration process.

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On Thursday, May 27th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

The YouTube video above walks you through my commentary on this awesome headset device, the Plantronics Voyager Pro UC.  This is a bluetooth solution for all the calls you take over your computer.  Couple it with the new plug-in from Plantronics for Sametime and you have one heck of a way to save on PC calls via Sametime, Skype or whatever VOIP software you load.  I would peek at the IBM announcements from Plantronics here.

Disclosures:
The headset was sent for me to give an honest review with no stipulations.  However, it has become my headset of choice when using my laptop.

The above link is an Amazon affiliate link so you can find the best deal.

Also,  make sure you keep up with all the product reviews from Spiked Studio on YouTube.

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On Wednesday, May 19th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

Great news for all third party plug-in developers for Lotus Notes an Sametime as the keynote kicked off with demos of Gist, Tungle, TripIt and more.

For help in learning how to deploy these plug-ins I would catch the Consultant In Your Pocket webcast on Jun 2 right here.

LotusLive is a key push with the ability for any enterprise to get involved in the beta early on.

We all know that Sametime 8.5 is picking up steam and they want companies to start looking at migrating and upgrading to the new features. If you are entering new into Sametime, it is an easy move and you never know the difference.  If you are migrating up, you can stay with what you have now and run Sametime 8.5 without all the new bells and whistles.  But for the full experience, you need to plan your Websphere deployment parts.

Let's not forget all the UC2 stuff and Sametime Unified Telephony.  VOIP is a big topic all over and the recent Skype integration into LotusLive adds to that argument.

They mentioned social analytics in Lotus Connections version 3.  This is something that was more of an asset in previous versions, I wonder if they are adding some of Atlas for free into version 3.  That would be incredibly helpful.

It will be interesting with the last part of open Q&A, not the normal for a keynote but a great idea!  I wonder if people will step up and ask what they want to know.

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On Wednesday, May 12th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

We have been heavily testing Sametime audio services inside the firewall for a side project and found some nuances along the way I wanted to share as well as some compliments.

1) If you open an audio call with someone and then decide to chat with them, the chat is closed when you close the call.  Losing all the chat data.  Unless you already have multiple chats open in a vertical or horizontal list.  Then all is well.  But just a single chat with that person on the call and poof, it goes away.  Here is an example image:


2) Next up we had an issue adding video when only one party had a video camera.  The other got an error there was no input device.  While the one with the camera got a wait status, but could still talk.  The only way out of the wait was to kill the conversation, which took Notes down with it.  Not elegant and downright frustrating to users.

3) We also found that the whole firewall thing sucked for outside callers.

There were compliments on the clarity and the ease of starting an audio conversation and the ability to have multiple people join in.  Call controls overall were tough, and no way to mute anyone as the call organizer, but it was not a meeting center and more like people in an open room.  Once that was explained it was taken much better.

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On Wednesday, May 5th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

I wanted to make sure I fully tested it before making any early comments on the performance and added support for more Blackberry version in Sametime 8.5 mobile.  So far the performance has been faster, the screen reacting better and overall, much more pleasing.  So we decided to roll it out to everyone that wanted the update before a big push through BES.

To read the story of the testing, results and the BES push planning, join the IdoNotes newsletter in the upper right of the blog.

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On Wednesday, February 24th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

QUESTION: Chris,

We are investigating placing photos of employees in the Domino Directory for use in Sametime business cards and maybe in Lotus Connections later. Is this a good idea and is it easy to do?

Jacob

Continue Reading here" From The IdoNotes Mailbox - Business Card Photos In The Domino Directory" »

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On Tuesday, January 19th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

Just weeks ago Lotus was happy to announce the release of Sametime 8.5 to anyone and everyone. If you are looking to upgrade or implement Sametime 8.5, you should be aware of necessary changes to your architecture and server environment. I would need pages to inform you fully, so I'll give an overview of the most important portions you should be aware of.

The first thing to remember is that the core presence and chat services as we know them will still run on Domino and operate as before. You can even run meetings the exact way you do now, just under the name Sametime Classic. You maintain the same functions, with little change.

The big change is in the meeting services, which will require an increase in the number of servers you need to support the new features. The meeting server will include:

·        WebSphere Application Server

·        DB2

·        A LDAP server (which might exist in your environment now)

Then there are optional components you may want to run that require more hardware, including:

·        Media Server, for audio and video services

·        Proxy Server, for a new web chat client

Even more hardware that runs WebSphere and DB2 will be needed.

In essence, this does not include clustering, scaling or anything else for you to take advantage of the new Sametime 8.5 services. I suggest informing yourself on deployment, architecture and capacity planning as you plan the migration. Use online resources, or speak with someone knowledgeable and involved in Sametime 8.5.

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On Tuesday, January 19th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

I held on from making any fuss around this until it was moved twice and then confirmed.  The night before Lotusphere, IBM will officially take their Sametime Gateway to a new address on the Internet.  This DOES NOT affect extst.ibm.com that some of you connect to.  It only affects those that communicate with IBM from gateway to gateway (SIP to SIP).

This was supposed to take place at the end of December, but due to various reasons (read as it seems some larger customers had issues) with the timing so they moved it.  The date, the day before Lotusphere.  So if anything goes wrong, the connectivity and awareness to IBM will go away for those affected right before communication might be very important.

If you are currently pointing to IP address 207.25.251.165, please change it to IP address 170.225.31.215.
If you are currently pointing to IP address 207.25.251.166, please change it to IP address 170.225.31.216.
If you are currently pointing to IP address 207.25.251.167, please change it to IP address 170.225.31.217.
If you are currently pointing to IP address 207.25.251.168, please change it to IP address 170.225.31.218.

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On Tuesday, January 12th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

Sametime 8.5 as as have all hopefully learned, includes quite a bit of Websphere for the meeting services.  Yet, it does still have the chat and presence on Domino.  The portion of Sametime 8.5 that runs only on Domino, and does include meeting services as we know them today will be called, wait for it....wait for it...

Sametime Classic

That is right.  Like an old car, you now run a Classic infrastructure (link to naming and technotes).  Time to think about trading up for the new model.  Then again that requires more insurance and a new loan, oil changes, tires and brakes.

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On Thursday, January 7th, 2010   by Chris Miller        

We know they fixed it for Domino with much push by Ed.  I thought he meant all Lotus products.  Apparently Sametime has not been fixed yet or was not in the game plan

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On Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009   by Chris Miller        

In order to download just about everything you need for a Windows install of Sametime 8.5 you will be grabbing about ~10GB of files.  The main reason is due to the packaging and installers needed to allow you to install across physical machines easily.

I offer a different approach they could have taken.  Instead of including WAS and DB2 in many of the parts (Media, Proxy and Meeting), the package could have been required to be placed and named a specific way accessible to the installer and then point the installer to it.  This would have saved numerous GB of downloads.

Some would say that my proposed ideas would have meant a change to the installer itself.  True, but since I need WAS and DB2 for any core piece, it is already there anyway.  Why am I forced to have it included over and over?  This would also streamline versioning across the packages with a central code repository for deployment.

I am just saying

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On Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009   by Chris Miller        

As we talked to a customer about the choice between implementing Sametime Mobile or Enterprise Messenger on the new Storm 2 devices (which will not work right with Sametime Mobile right now), we can across this gem of a demo on the Blackberry site.   We were a bit stunned.



You would think they might update the demo a bit to include new devices and the new features that 2.5 supports.  Plus , with the IBM relationship, possibly update the client they use in the demos.

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On Thursday, November 19th, 2009   by Chris Miller        

Smarter Planet is about recognizing the need to see how we are interconnected, how it is instrumented the intelligence contained within.

Bob P - "There is never a better time to be involved with collaboration"

If something meaningful happens it affects people, companies, institutions and man and nature systems.  IBM is driving Smarter Planet thorugh four categories:

• New Intelligence - data exploding and in silos
• Green and Beyond - efficiency
• Smart Work - helping people work smarter together
• Dynamic Infrastructure - responding faster with cheaper and more flexible infrastructure

Investment was needed to let people know what the Lotus brand stands for.  It was iportant to have a top level cmapaign to let people know what Lotus has to offer.  The backdrop of the campaign is LotusKnows.  Some of us were the behind the scenes ideas of what went into the campaign.

Bob gave examples of what the LotusKnows ad showed and what it meant in their marketing thoughts.  Like situation awareness when the LotusKnows campaign talks about knowing about recent news event.  

Me - Does the public get this message however? I saw this in the cab on the tiny screen and while it was a cool ad the message was lost as to what I would get

This campaign is being invested in for multiple years in multiple markets.  

me - It is agreed that the general business partner reaction is high to have marketing surrounding LotusKnows.

You can now obtain and modify LotusKnows marketing for your own needs through Partnerworld.  Drive your message and customized collateral for internal company needs and business partners.  1439 new customers were added in 4th quarter. with 16,859 new customers since Domino 8 was launched.  Lotus Connections is the fastest growing software product in Lotus history.

The solution delivery strategy is cloud/online and on premise/appliance for all of messaging, communication, connecting and integrating.  Whether that is plug-in, mashups or a portal.

LotusLive is the launchpad of the cloud strategy.  it began with web conferencing, into collaboration and now email.  Click-to-cloud is being offered for not only company to company collaboration, but as ways to create support for communities to include file sharing, meetings and activities.  The goal is to be able to integrate services, such as Sametime in the Click-2-Cloud services to maximize value and consumability.

me - It will be difficult to offer provisioning, integration and policy management between the two worlds.

Email is coming back to being the collaboration console.  With the future of email being Lotus Notes.

Bob P - Panasonic is a recent announcement of a full migration from Exchange to Notes.  They are starting with a few thousand users and then moving down the migration path. The largest company has 2 million mailboxes on LotusLive and grow by 20k a day?

The press is loving the movement and showing it off in press articles and covering the movement.

me - but isn't that largest customer actually an ISP that was purchased as part of Outblaze and not a Lotus collaboration customer in general with each person being unique and not as a single organization?

Lotus Foundations is a growing market as a solution.  Xerox is on board, as seen at Lotusphere, in integrating services and layers on top of Foundations.
Current customers moving to Lotus - Bank of NY Mellon, KBC, Continental, PNC, Ineos

The current product pipeline before we move to live demo by Chris Crummey - Sametime 8.5 (coming shortly), Notes 8.5.1 and Quickr 8.5.  In plans is Connections Next with more netowrk building, compliance, deeper integration and LotusLive integration.  Portal 6.1.5 and Mashups 2.0 with more customization, analytics, Connections portlets and end user page creation.

We will see some new paradigms in collaboration at Lotusphere 2010 (we can't ruin any surprises though)  Bob did a great whirlwind job of running through the strategy and handed off to Chris Crummey for live demos.  Copies of the presentation will be available.

Chris starts out by focusing on the Business Card feature.  This is showing across al of the products and shows more than just a name and picture.  it drives self service with title, location, phone (Sametime UC), microblog status and links to all of your Connections information.  The person can go to your items through your card instead of having you interact.  For example knowing you keep files on Connections, clicking your card and going right to your shared files.

Chris jumped into the unified phone book and phone/ip audio connections.  You don't know how the end user wanted to be contacted, the system uses their current preference and makes the connection.  You can then transfer the call to one of your other numbers or another not in the system.

Chris moves on to widgets, sidebars and the coolness of how they can work together before how IBM does customization.  Of course, Ron Sebastian made a cameo in the demos via VOIP and a business card.

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On Monday, November 9th, 2009   by Chris Miller        

If you have no idea what this is about go read my posting right here, this is big for users people

• Starting on Tuesday the 19th 2009, web browser users who access various applets hitting a Domino/Sametime/Quickr server may receive a message that the certificate associated with the applet has expired
• This doesn't affect functionality, just the warning error unless the user trusts IBM
• The certificate was unable to be renewed until they got close to the expiration.  They were limited in time to renew earlier.  Then there was testing to do and prep for posting
• -----> Open Q&A begins here by pressing *1 and recording your name<--------------
• Shawn asks - due to time sensitivity there is not much testing time on the new fixes.  Answer: you can test it via java/applet API's to see how it is signed and when it will expire.  Since this is a browser that is impacted you can actually on a test machine try it but setting your clock into the future.
• Irv asks - on a test server he has overwritten the files.  In the java section of the browser will that date be automatically updated on the next connect?  Will the people with the older expired certificate get the update automatically or will they have to delete and reinstall soemthing?  Answer from Scott Vrusho: The technote will be updated to clarify the this.  The user will be prompted to accept the new certificate in the browser just as they were 3 years ago
• Ray asks - the remediation effort is just a file swap?  Answer - yes
• Steve asks -  the new applets on Sametime will force the user to be accepted on a prompt if they previously trusted IBM?  Answer from Scott - yes even if the user trusted IBM previously they will be prompted
• Rob asks - will this affect BES?  Answer from Scott - nope
• Scott asks - I just shut down HTTP on the Domino server and it would not allow me to replace some jar files due to them being locked  Answer from Scott - in testing they could just shut down HTTP but you might have to shut the Domino server down
• Steve asks - they are using the Sametime Limited client, is there anything to do?  Answer - there shouldn't be since this is meetings and HTTP , not chat
• Tim asks - they are using 7.0.3 with Sametime integrated but they use webmail.  Will they get the prompt to accept certificates?  Answer from Scott - DWA and iNotes shouldn't.  all other stock templates have applets
• John asks - why the NCSO jar file (sorry missed some of it)  Answer they will update the technote to see why that NCSO file is included
• ?? asks - On sametime server there is both Domino and Sametime fixes to be applied? they did a test and moved server to later date to see behavior and is that it? Are instant meeting users affected?  Answer - yes to all parts
• Mark asks - on the technote for Sametime it states version 7 and above yet they run 6.5.1.  Is it the same of a different patch?  Answer - that version is EOL so there is no signed applets for that version.  So get to upgrading or you will get prompts
• ?? asks - Domino and Sametime with EMS in front.  Do these jars impact/work with the FIPS encryption?  In preliminary testing they did not get into meetings with the new jars.  Are they compatible?  Could they grab the certs and move them into the jar files  Answer - they are not sure and will research.  A FIPS version was not ready
• Tino asks - specific question for version 7.5 of Sametime and they do not see a fix for that version.  Answer - they were suggested to move to 7.5.1 and the CF1 and CF2.  While it may not be possible, it would be encouraged.  Yet this didnt answer the question.
• Mike asks - they have 6.5.6 servers with iNotes 6 template.  Is it affected? They loaded a test on a Domino 8,.5 server with the patch.  They had no change for the trust question.   Answer from Scott - they are not affected.  DWA/iNotes is not impacted and no applets on any version
• Wayne asks - Quickr on Domino, no Sametime.  They use ActiveX verus java for drag and drop is there any concern?  Answer from Jennifer - no concern in either case
• Lisa asks - running Domino 7.0.3 server with mixed R6 clients and R7 clients on both versions of iNotes/DWA templates. Sametime Connect for browsers are in use, are they affected?  Answer from Scott - iNotes/DWA no impact. Sametime Connect is affected and is in the patches
• Alan asks - are the expirations time zone related? What about chat functionality through DWA?  Answer from Scott - they aren't totally sure but there is an hour associated with the expiration that will adjust based on timezone.  Yes the chat for stlinks files used in DWA for awareness are affected and should be checked to see if they are unsigned or signed.
• Ian asks - are there any updates for jar files in the client distribution?  Answer from Scott  - this is fairly niche case where you run and develop web apps to preview in web browser.  The applets would show then with the prompt.  They are not advertising for normal use case to update the client yet it could affect those "rare" instances.  Fixes will be in the later normal later release and fixes for clients.  The 8.0.2 FP2 and 8.5 FP1 will have these updates.  Later when these expire in 2012 this wont cause the same issue due to timestamping in signing so no future prompts they are rolling into future products
• Lisa asks - Domino 7.0.3 in house and they had to bring the server down to replace the one program file directory file.  She got a prompt for an applet to choose to always run for it not to come up anymore.  Is that normal? Answer from Scott - he questioned which one to see if it was a normal prompt or about the date.  It was about accepting to run the software entirely.
• Jeff asks - they have Quickplace 7, is there an order to apply with Quickr/Sametime/Domino. Answer - there is no order and no Quickplace patch unless you have Sametime integration with Quickplace.  They will update technotes more on how to verify dates.
• Mark asks - on all the products they have applied the fix and the user gets prompted, will they also get prompted when they hit Sametime for a meeting the first time or will one acceptance work across? What about our Sametime 6.5.1 servers?  Answer from Scott - one acceptance will take care of all of it.  There is nothing to do for Sametime 6.5.1 servers since there is no patch for them.  Those users will get the security  warning.
• Rich asks - for Quickplace 6.5.1 there was a patch listed but what about domino? What about the downloadable gold code that is out there now, will these be updated or will I apply fixpacks? Answer from Scott - there is a Domino 6.5.x patch for all versions.  You have to download fixpacks, they will not upload fixed gold code.
• ?? asks - they have a lot of products running on Domino with multiple patches.  Portal is the front end..  they exported the SSO key and will this affect it.  Answer from Scott - any application relying on the Domino applets will be corrected when replacing the applets. These are just applet certificates, no application or SSO certificates.  No issue there.
• Tim asks - Their Domino has legacy web apps (over 100)on a 5.0.11 server.  Any recourse?  Answer from Scott - no.
• Bob asks - They tried pushing the clock forward but cant recreate the popup.  Answer - going into Java settings in the browser to remove the IBM trust will then show the popup again.
• me - are the files the same for Domino 8.0 and Domino 8,5.  Sizes and everything else matches  Answer from Scott - they should be as they built the Domino 8.5 o n the same codset and no other changes were really made.
• Andy asks - Domino 7.0.3 with DWA 6.5.3 template.  Answer - no problem

I had to drop off the call at this point, so I missed a handful.  The call went almost 30 minutes late.

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On Wednesday, May 13th, 2009   by Chris Miller        

Unless you haven't been reading along in emails and living under administration rocks, you have till May 18th 2009 to replace the following:

The certificate for some Java applets in Lotus Domino 6.5.x, Domino 7.0.x, Domino 8.0.x, and Domino 8.5 have an expiration date of May 18, 2009. Starting May 19th, Web users will see a dialog with a message similar to one of the following when loading a Web page that contains a Java applet from the Domino server:

"The digital signature was generated with a trusted certificate but has expired or is not yet valid."
"The security certificate has expired or is not yet valid."

As this was just not enough, do not forget about the Sametime expirations the exact same day also:

The Lotus Sametime Meeting Server applets are signed with a VeriSign certificate that is valid between May 15, 2006 and May 18, 2009. To prevent users who load any of the Sametime applets such as the Meeting Room Client or Directory applet from seeing a warning message as of May 19th

Want technotes?  Oh we have them..  Domino and Sametime

Now don't think I waited till the last minute to tell you.  Lotus held off to get the digital signatures right.

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On Monday, May 11th, 2009   by Chris Miller        

I had interest in this since we had a customer using the audio chat functionality quite nicely.  However, firewalls and network translations were a headache.  Lotus had a fix coming along the way but it got put on hold due to a bug in the code according to this recent public technote (1384423):

Sametime Reflector hotfixes, for both client and server, address problems with media connections using a technology called Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE). ICE uses STUN/TURN protocol to logically deduce the most logical and efficient network paths between remote endpoints using all available network interfaces. This greatly improves the ability of clients to negotiate audio/video sessions across complex network topologies.

There are fixes available for Sametime 8.0.1 and 8.0.2 servers and clients. Due to the depth of architectural modifications required to enable this new functionality, it is not possible to backport these fixes to any Sametime client or server version prior to 8.0.1. If this functionality is required, please upgrade to at least Sametime 8.0.1 and apply the appropriate fixes.

Note: The Sametime Reflector hotfixes for Sametime 8.0.1 and 8.0.2 are currently on hold. We have uncovered an underlying bug in the code that must be updated prior to release of the fixes. This technote will be updated as soon as the new fixes are made available.

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On Thursday, May 7th, 2009   by Chris Miller        

Hot off the presses the March 2009 edition is right here.  In this issue:

IN THIS ISSUE
* From the Editor: Chris's 0.714760 DOP
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Error with DAOS and Writing to a File
* My Domino Service Disappeared When Upgrading
* Quick Tip: Talk to Russ
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Connect Your Sametime Gateway to IBM

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On Wednesday, April 1st, 2009   by Chris Miller        

Hot off the presses the February edition is right here.  In this issue:

* From the Editor: CHRIS' 0.136943 NOK
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Where is the IM Usage Template?
* Sametime Gateway Sizing
* Quick Tip: Startup Folder in the Notes Client
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: What Do I Get With Each Sametime Version?

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On Tuesday, February 17th, 2009   by Chris Miller        

We were in a meeting today with the VP of Global Sales for Lotus and he reiterated an announcement that they are providing 50% off for gap licensing in Sametime Advanced, Lotus Connections and Quickr.

What that basically means is that if you have only 500 Quickr licenses, but 5,000 Lotus Notes licenses, the 4500 difference can be purchased at 50% off.

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On Wednesday, November 19th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

One of the oddities I saw in the new Standard 8.0.2 Notes client and coming in the 8.5 version also, is the integrated Sametime Primary Contacts feature.  I don't see a reason for this feature.  With the type ahead ability I show on the top arrow you can find anyone, anywhere in your buddylists.  Dragging them to arrow 2 is a non-replicable action which will confuse many users and only begs to make bigger buddylists.  If you need a core group, make a private group that can be stored in vpuserinfo.nsf and will go across clients that you utilize.  Not some random sorting plug-in that showed in Sametime 7.5.1 CF1.

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On Monday, November 17th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

Is your organization understanding the values here? It is more than just chats between two people, it is seeing data and conversations flowing throughout your enterprise that can be searched, sorted, tagged and archived.  How much is lost from knowledge archives when you do not log and publicly provide access to all the chats about projects, customers and partners?  Sure, there is some private ones, but have those in private.  The rest is for your business, about your business.  So why does it get treated like personal information.  I blogged about two other products last week and got access to two more this week.

QikCom
Another newcomer into the game, they entice you by offering free administration for your site, hoping you will buy into premium services later.  The premium service includes tabs that can be added to your user interface.  The current list was only 3 tabs for to-do's, competition and frequent numbers.  I am betting they will look to developers to offer tabs for the future growth.

 One cool part was the ability to build an organization chart of sorts for your company.

This adds a level of functionality to the mass amounts of data that could be flowing through the system. Being able to follow not only a flow of conversation, but the flow of reporting chain would be an incredible benefit.  Otherwise, it is what you would expect, a Twitter client.  Now, I did not see alternate clients like a desktop or IM integrated and that is a huge disappointment.

Another key feature is the ability to follow and manage tags for content.  So you can not just find and follow persons, but actually follow tags of conversations.  We are all learning about tags as we social bookmark, so extending this to conversations makes sense.  If this ever face to face communication we are doomed as a society, but that is another issue.

Present.ly
Presently has a few levels of membership offering which changes the landscape.  It appeared that even their free limited function version expired in 60 days, and that was very unclear.  While it said "free" it then said it would expire.  I am presuming it is more of a trial version.

They also offer some administration abilities and groups.  Groups is different than the org chart above since I can grab people from all over the organization.  You can have both public and private groups offering first time users some immediate benefit, no more hunting around trying to find people on the system.

I could not access the option for "Devices" since I was not on at least a Basic plan.  There was a long list of notification options, from email to RSS feeds for all sorts of events.  That was a nice touch on their part.


I would really like both of these companies to offer the limited function options with alternate client ability.  it would make them stronger players in the game for sure.  But enterprise Twitter functions are coming, the question is how long till your company gets on board?

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On Monday, October 13th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

I wanted to test more of the capabilities of those in Lotus Bluehouse and having more connections helps in that.  Also, you can add Bluehouse as a community in your Sametime client once you have an account there.  Humorously they still use Sametime 7.5.1 as shown in this public image.

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On Monday, October 6th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

We all know that IBM has had their internal BlueTwit ability, but there was no enterprise driven Twitter like software until recently.  Then 2 bigger ones came out of the gates. I hit a big thought at the end about Yammer, so stay with me

 Let's break them down real quick and see how that they might further improve communication or displace conversations more:

Yammer - free for your company up front, unless you want more admin controls.  Then there is a nominal monthly fee.  Only users from your domain may join your group, since it uses email verification to do so.  From there you get a choice of:

• web interface
• Blackberry client
• iPhone client
• desktop client
• email, mobile and IM notifications are available

The beauty is the native tagging inside of it.  So not only do we get the short microblog feel of 140 characters, we get hashtags in postings to find and view information quickly.  If you want to add the management abiltiy it runs about $1 per user/mnth for a totally hosted solution.

Laconi.ca - This is an open source solution you deploy at your own site.  Totally free software to create your own little Twitter empire.  The good news is that desktop software such as Twhirl works against it and there is more coming.  Poeple such as Leo Laporte are already deploying Laconi.ca servers to bring in all of their site members for a more private community feeling.  There is API's, a developers community, libraries, apps and more.  There is a growing and long list of servers running the code found on their wiki too

*******
In reality, the integration with your existing systems is not there (possible with Laconi.ca) so Sametime has a stronghold.  But for those small SMB people that just want some alternative communication abilities in the 2.o world, it is an option.  I really do not see this in any way replacing Sametime, so calm down.  I do so it splitting the conversation into yet another fragmented place that will have to be controlled and somehow integrated.

• Curiously, there is no way to stop people in your company from starting up on Yammer unless you block all incoming verification messages in your spam filters.  Anyone could start it and be the manager.
• Laconi.ca does not have the same problem as you need the server installed, so my guess is that would be harder to get in place.

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On Monday, October 6th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

A user had a small partition set for their operating system and never loaded and programs there.  After cleaning up tons of temp files they wondered where some of the space was still being used and they found an interesting site.  As you attend more and more meeting servers it is not reusing the same jar files, but instead downloading them over and over.  Nice

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On Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008   by Chris Miller        

After spending these past two weeks doing a third Collaboration University, one thing became apparent.  The disparity between all the collaboration products system requirements.  Let us look first

	Sametime Gateway 8.0.1	Sametime Advanced 8.0.1	Lotus Connections 2.0
Websphere Application Server	WAS 6.1.0.11	WAS 6.1.0.13	WAS 6.1.0.13
DB2	DB2 9.1	DB2 9.1	DB2 9.1 FP4

So the way this is designed, I cannot share any infrastructure across the products.  I am destined to install numerous systems.  While I could install Advanced and Connections on the same WAS version, the system requirements for Connections eliminates that while idea.  I could then share DB2 across the Gateway and Advanced, but not the same WAS set.  This is until one of them gets an upgrade and totally changes the game once again.  So plan on at least 4 servers to install the above, but with clustering and scaling for thousands (tens of thousands sometimes) you suddenly jump into the more than 20 range immediately.

You can find and cross verify the requirements under the following technotes

• Sametime Gateway - 4017448
• Sametime Advanced - 4018149
• Lotus Connections - 7011798

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On Wednesday, September 17th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

With the largest attendance in 3 years, we kicked off right on time this morning.  There are over 1 million Sametime users represented and over 14 countries between attendees here and London.  Amazing.  So what I have presented so far...

Sametime Advanced Install - wake up call for the resources to some, but everyone had great questions and comments.  Hopefully everyone got enough in the hour to install it via applianceware or as a whole when they get home.  The prerequisite installer really helps demo systems.

Lotus Connections Install with Mitch Cohen driving the train.  Many of the people in the full room had not really seen Lotus Connections and really needed a crash course.  While we did a demo session earlier, many were at other sessions.

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On Monday, September 8th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

"Wellesley Information Services (WIS), the publisher of THE VIEW and The
  Sphere Journal, is seeking authors and advisors for a new online
  knowledgebase dedicated to IBM's UC² -related technologies, including
  Lotus Sametime, Quickr, and Connections. This new publication's mission
  is to help every reader maximize his or her investment in -- and mastery
  of -- IBM UC² technology through the experiences and wisdom of reigning
  experts and practicing professionals. If you have recently completed a
  project or have an interesting application, WIS would love to hear from
  you! Please contact Erin Durkin at erin.durkin@wispubs.com if you would
  like to get involved in this exciting initiative."

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On Thursday, August 7th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

Carl pinged me over the beloved Sametime Gateway before announcing it to the world so I could beat it up the new Sametime Buddylist Control Tool from Epilio (did I mention free).  While it is strictly a command line interface, it only took them a couple days of downtime to create this.  There are images of it in action on the website.

So the basics are this:

• You could never give users a pre-defined buddylist
• Users had to manually go in and add public groups/private groups and people
• You want someone in particular added to buddylists, like a bot name

You get the general idea there.  Basically manipulate the buddylist how you see fit.  I would like to see this with a pretty UI wrapped around by someone, but I will take this awesome toolset as is for now.

The install was simple.  I chose to place it on my Sametime server directly for testing.  You can install on another machine, but then you need to trust the IP of that machine in stconfig.nsf.  I skipped that for testing.  Large amounts of processing will take time, of course.  But i was quite fast and the results are immediate.  Here is the real kicker to the whole thing.

The tool can run while the server is up and the user is logged in.  No downtime

Carl and his team at Epilio went as far as to create an actual manual with screenshots that can be found right here. in pdf format.  Amazing job and a welcome toolset for my team.

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On Tuesday, July 29th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

NOTE: The darn press release is dated 2008 and just got sent to me .  Sheesh


Forterra Systems has updated their OLIVE system to 2.2 which includes IBM Sametime support for their virtual 3D meeting worlds. OLIVE stands for On-Line Interactive Virtual Environment. Here is what the system looks like from one example



The software claims to reduce costs even more with the media sharing services and audio capabilities.  Sametime already has native audio and video meeting services so that can't be right.  Now streaming a movie file is an added benefit, but I imagine this could be done without all the virtual stuff.

IBM has already backed away from any virtual world activity inside of Second Life, which they pushed heavily at one point.  The market doesn't need this type of interactivity in the enterprise. Face to face video makes perfect sense.  Pretending via an avatar does not.

Here is a quote from the press release issued by Forterra Systems:
Continue Reading here" IBM Sametime gets 3D with OLIVE from Forterra" »

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On Wednesday, June 11th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

I know I prompt you a reminder each month, but until they get RSS feeds in play, here is the link.  This month I cover:

IN THIS ISSUE
* From the Editor: Chris' 0.0101527 GBP (ouch)
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Two Questions on Sametime in the Notes 8 Standard Client
* Lotus Notes and the Eclipse Update Site for Provisioning
* Quick Tip: Finding the Hidden Menus in Notes 8
* From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Where Are the Detailed System Requirements for 8.0.1?

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On Friday, May 30th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

One more city down for the Notes Domino 8 Upgrade Seminar, with 2 North American cities left to go (San Francisco and Toronto).  Once again I was not disappointed in what the attendees had to say and provide for feedback.

• 100% were on 6.5.x and higher (ok outside of one desolate R5 server)
• 85% used Sametime already and really needed to understand what the new integration offered.  They liked it but had rightful concerns over missing functionality and the locking of the chat as Notes did other things
• The limited number of users you can get on Citrix with the Standard client sucks and they let me know
• Widgets need tons of business value demos to sell them to the executives
• Productivity Tools were the doorstop of the sessions with people stepping right on by
• Lotus Connections made no sense to 90% of them at first.  Later, about 50% I think really got it (while they all then understood it).  But managing all that additional hardware was brought up
• Lotus Foundations is a cool product if you don't already have a Domino domain, which they all did of course
• Integration of Sametime is awesome if it was available while doing something else in Notes 8.  Otherwise they want the standalone version (mentioned again)
• Integration of Activities is confusing to many as to why choose that or Quickr or why at all.  This got answered
• The Sametime Gateway is of interest to them but MS connectivity is still a demand in Europe
• Coffee breaks are not often enough, mainly after huge lunches
• Attendees love free tools that we give away
• Expanded policy control for desktops and security will be implemented right away
• People are tired of Smart Upgrade and want full provisioning,   Oh yeah, and provisioning that actually works, which is broke right now
• I know the list went on by I will update after I sleep and fly....

I broke their hearts when I taught all about site updates to only let them down with it isn't working.  On the good side, I think many are excited about the upgrade.  I was surprised at the length of time a lot will be taking to get upgraded in full.  We are talking well into next year.

Food this week was excellent, and I caught the play Billy Elliot (review here).  Dinner the first night was Kare Kare, an excellent Indian place.  Next up was a chain before the play for speed reasons and finally Amaya.  Outside of that it was all conference food for me :-)

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On Thursday, May 15th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

I got this little tidbit in email today and had some thoughts:

Good news for your business! Now, IBM can help you make a splash in the software as a service (SaaS) market. For the first time ever, IBM is offering you the opportunity to sell Web conferencing services to your customers. The IBM Lotus Sametime Unyte Meeting solution - a full feature, easy-to-use service - is now available via Passport Advantage. Come join us to learn how to grow your business by selling Lotus Sametime Unyte through Passport Advantage. We'll also outline the IBM SaaS strategy, and how we hope it will create more business opportunities for you to sell your way into bigger profits and happier customers

Previously, Lotus.IBM attempted this very offering on their own.  Unyte gives them a better exposure and ease of use than the previous Sametime offering, but each partner now competes directly with each other and with IBM in sales.  From what I know learned at Lotusphere, you as the partner are not hosting this offering, simply pushing the business to IBM directly with some markup in there.

So will you go after this market?

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On Tuesday, April 29th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

One of our customers made a point today with a wonderful comment on something they noticed in their testing of the 8.0.1 administrator client:

Looks half-baked to me for an 8.0.1 client with supposed Sametime 8 integration

Now that is a horrible statement for an isolated icon like this and I promptly responded.  What little things will make people say that everything is wrong for an icon color

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On Tuesday, April 8th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

If you attempt to run the ApplianceWare installer on Linux for Sametime Advanced, you will notice that the plugins for Websphere fail, which in turn breaks the entire install of course.  Some examination shows that line 167 in the installer file refers to a directory with an Uppercase while the actual install file creates it with a lowercase.  So I edited the installer for the ApplianceWare version and the install went off just fine.

Chalk one more up on the wall.

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On Thursday, April 3rd, 2008   by Chris Miller        

Every time the client goes into a standby (not hibernation but definitely where Windows closes the screen down and stops spinning the disk, the error shows.  I let  a machine sit and then logging in gave this

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On Friday, March 28th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

Some of you hopefully read the posts and technotes regarding the new filtering rates that AOL has deployed against chats coming through the Clearinghouse.  Well I started getting emails and pings asking what it all meant.  So to honor everyone's requests, I did some digging around with AOL people to get some answers:

• The rate limit numbers are not linear
• The rate limit numbers are built dynamically with an algorithm, meaning each company will be different
• If you run a bot that does heavy traffic, like an automated helpdesk or query bot, through your Sametime Gateway into the Clearinghouse, you may contact AOL to have it provisioned

So as you see there is no hard numbers per customer, per connected Sametime Gateway.  It is a dynamically changing rate based upon your normal usage.  Now I know they do not have 40 guys that are there doing simple math charts.  Which means that if you suddenly spike the amount of traffic you are sending through the gateway into the AOL Clearinghouse, you might get limited down until they figure out what is going on.  Meaning you might end up calling them.  So if you are implementing a new bot, I would get in touch with them and get it provisioned first

Make sense?  If not let me know.

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On Friday, March 21st, 2008   by Chris Miller        

Some of the IBM bloggers (Chris Pepin and Adam G) have recently posted on how strong and wonderful the external Sametime server, known as extst.ibm.com,  for IBM is.  Now let's clarify a few things.  First, it is not a Sametime Gateway server.  It is an old Sametime 3.1 server as shown in this image here:


If it was a Sametime Gateway, then everyone would be firing up gateway servers to connect to it, you could not use your Sametime client directly. So moving on.  I am able to log into this site via the web interface (HTTP), I am able to chat via the old Java connect client.  But I cannot log in via the Sametime Connect client, for about the last two years.  This has been pointed out in the partner forums for a long time, and each time the upgrade and fixing of this service gets pushed for numerous reasons.  Adam once again mentions a quarter and change freeze.  What happened to all of 2007 and 2006?  That freeze gets mentioned over and over.  That must be one of the coldest server rooms in existence.  Yet the demo servers in DFW get upgraded on a consistent basis.  Chris pointed out that it worked for Sametime 7.5, yet that was a select few.  Many people got bumped somewhere along the road and the excuse was also made of compatibility issues.  So we have compatibility, freezes, finance and a ton of others for the past few years.

I am one of the lucky ones that do communicate over the Sametime Gateway.  I am on BleedYellow.  But to have a public facing Sametime server that doesn't work right for years is not a good experiment..  Mitch (a hosted blogger here as well as a large customer reference at Lotusphere) even comes out with a blog comment on the state of the server.

So I will go out on a limb here and make a theory. No insider knowledge, just a theory.  Many of the employees do not want you contacting them directly, bypassing support.  Many of them would get understandably overwhelmed with pings form all over.  I really try to be sparing in contact because I know how my chats can be overwhelming during the day sometimes.  So having this take it's little time, and having sites like BleedYellow and demo3.DFW.ibm.com make it an extra step for an IBM'er to log in.  Adam does a good job of being online all over, but he is product management and wants the exposure.  Developers really do not.

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On Wednesday, March 19th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

I have gotten plenty of emails and pings looking for clarification or thoughts so it is faster to put them out there.

Let's conquer the easy one first, AOL.  In the recent technote #1296449, IBM announces that AOL has finally taken the same approach on the Clearinghouse that they do with the normal public chat  servers, which is to limit your chat rates and also strip filter URL's that point to executables to provide some security.  After talking to AOL yesterday, they have no hard number to give on what rate flow they watch for.  But, if your site runs a Sametime bot accessible via the Gateway that is hit a lot, I would imagine you will see that slow down considerably.  What I didn't understand is:

•  without any numbers, how can I scale a large user site that is forcing all users through the Gateway now instead of letting them load AOL.?
• will each user count or the total number of chats through the gateway itself?
• will presence awareness be affected by this?
• will a user get blocked for a certain amount of time, or throttled as they do in the public client? (if you want to test this go run AIM and send a ton of chats at once and AOL will warn you that you are being slowed down)
• will the URL's be replaced with text about the blocked URL or will the sender be notified?

I am sure I will think of some more.

Now for Google.  This is a huge hole on the Google side, no the Sametime Gateway.  let's be clear there.  IBM technote #1295505 and 6.  Basically anyone that you know (company) that has a Sametime Gateway that connects to Google Talk can be temporarily shut off by registering their domain in the small business services.  While Google is working on the way to clean this up, it makes for a weird issue that can't be stopped dead until then.  It is more of a nuisance since you can go in and take back over control if someone attempts this.  But you may troubleshoot in the wrong place.  A quick way to check if a domain is set-up in there is to go to the partnerpages and add the domain name to the end.  If it says not found, you are good to go.  If it attempts to log you in, get to finding out who is trying to mess with you.

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On Thursday, March 13th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

This threw me off as Gabriella and I were talking today.  I wanted to screenshare something for her in Lotus Foundations and was about to fire up a Sametime meeting when I said, I wonder what Skype has?  Well low and behold it has Sametime Unyte in it.  For free I say.

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On Friday, February 29th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

Without breaking any form of NDA, I am looking at the homepage, so everyone breathe.  I mentioned this before, when you have a brand image, you try and never change the image in an amazingly different way.  Look at Pepsi, Coke, Kleenex.  They all look the same over the test of time.  So notice how Bluehouse refers to Sametime in the image below.  That isn't your 8 icon staring you in the face.

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On Wednesday, February 13th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

Adam, Carl and some others have posted on the new videos for installing the Sametime Gateway.  I went through the first 5 videos here at lunch and already see a couple errors and omissions.  Careful...

No, I am not going to clarify them here on the blog.  Maybe I am in a bad mood today but after much hard work on the book and then the hands-on and BP sessions at Lotusphere, having something like this come out with errors gets to me some.

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On Wednesday, February 13th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

A good business move in my eyes and thought.  The announcement first:

WebMessenger, Inc., an enterprise mobile messaging software and services company, today announced they have opened up free downloads of their market proven WebMessenger Mobile IM clients as well as free business-class IM service for mobile professionals who use BlackBerry, MS Windows Mobile, Symbian, and Palm PDAs and smartphones. The free IM service provides single client access to AIM, Google, MSN, Skype, and Yahoo.

So why is this good?  There is only a couple consolidated IM clients for the Blackberry and none were free that worked well.  Sure, each IM provider made their own, but having an all in one makes perfect sense.  Then they get you to move up and pay for the Alerts program and other parts for Sametime and Jabber.  Business move at it's finest.

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On Monday, February 11th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

Might just be my mind playing tricks on me, but all my IBM contacts in my Sametime buddy list show 7.5.1 when many of them used to show 8.0.  Call me crazy but that is bizarre with the beta of 8.0.1 floating around that they showed at Lotusphere with Sametime 8 embedded in it.

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On Tuesday, January 29th, 2008   by Chris Miller        

Issues have come about with the deployment of the Sametime 8 client.  There is some missing pieces to the provisioning mainfest that will prevent the ability to properly upgrade/update the client in the future.  If you already have 8, you have to get the patch out there.  If you are just staring to deploy Sametime 8 clients, then get this in place first.  This technote goes into full detail on the fix and what is being changed.

Without implementing this fix, administrators will not be able to successfully maintain Sametime Connect clients and keep them up-to-date with the latest maintenance releases.

If the Sametime 8.0 Connect client has not yet been deployed, administrators can simply replace the provisioning manifest (also known as the install manifest) with the updated one included in the download package referred to above. This issue impacts both the stand-alone client installation package as well as the Network Client Install (NCI) package.

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On Saturday, December 29th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I just came across an article on Publish.com discussing IBM Metaverse project.

IBM's Metaverse virtual reality software ... Though still a bit rough around the edges-it won't be mistaken for Second Life-some 2,200 IBM staffers are testing ways to collaborate with colleagues in the Metaverse, according to Mike Ackerbauer, innovation manager for collaboration development at IBM.

Ackerbauer said IBM staffers leverage IBM's internal virtual conferencing application through Web services to have online meetings in 3D.  This approach is a boon for IBM employes, who are spread out all over the world.

The meeting room Ackerbauer showed eWeek was sparsely furnished, but serviceable, with a screen on the wall to simulate the typical conference room.

What interested me was the statement in the article that they are looking for VOIP solutions inside of it, including hooking it to Lotus Sametime.  Forget making profiles in Lotus Connections, get ready to make avatars.

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On Friday, December 21st, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I posted a couple days ago on the missing feature that we saw at Lotusphere2007, but didn't seem to surface in the Sametime or Blackberry messaging client.  Well I finally got some updates from same avid readers to the blog across timezones (I love the Internet) :

The demo that was shown at Lotusphere used the Ascendant to bridge all the Sametime users into a conference call.

Then another update showed from someone else putting it all together

Today, you are "linking" a Sametime user to an entry in your address book so that you get the added menu items of "Email, Call, SMS, MMS."  RIM will add the Click to Map feature

Looks like a winner when it arrives!

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On Wednesday, December 19th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I happened to be poking around Lotus Greenhouse and saw a bookmark from January 2007 (Lotusphere2007) for a press release between Lotus and RIM.  It highlighted the new "Convert to Call" and "Click to Map" that would be possible.

RIM Showcases Unified Communications Breakthrough for Blackberry Users At Lotusphere
RIM is showcasing a new feature called "Click to Map" that will allow users to generate maps on a Blackberry handset within the context of a Lotus Sametime session.  The "Click to Map" feature will launch Blackberry Maps from within the Sametime client software and generate a map that illustrates a colleague's location based on presence information retrieved from Lotus Sametime.

This is a cool feature I would love to see in place.  I know the "Convert to Call" is kind of there, but that seems to not be in place either.  Maybe I missed something in implementation or does this need the Sametime 8 Advanced Server that is not due out till next year some time?  Also, does the map render from the location they type into the client?  I am not sure how that would work either looking at the preferences in the Sametime Connect client for the Blackberry as shown in this screen capture:


I can't seem to find a menu item for mapping the user in the Business Card or main screen.  Anyone?

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On Tuesday, December 18th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Sametime normally would create the required Directory Assistance on the fly and keep right on rolling.  A fresh Domino 8 server and Sametime 8 install gave the following today:

error returned from CreateSTDatabases
Error encountered in the local server while setting up LDAP directory support da.nsf

File does not exist
DDNALocalDominoSetup returning with error code = 0103
SetupLocalSvr returning with error code = 3701
SetupSvrMergeWithDomino returning with error code = 3701

function: TermNotesRT

I quickly started the Domino server, created the Directory Assistance and then restart the Sametime setup.  Weirdly it now saw the install as the ability to:

• Install a new instance of Sametime ?!?!?
• Upgrade an instance of Sametime ?!?!?

I took upgrade as fix the install that is there please.  And away it went.  Now let's see how it did.

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On Friday, December 14th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

This article on ZDNet  went by quietly and unnoticed by others that post on Sametime, so I thought I would share..

Jim then connects the dots to envision, as he says, a "possible IBM licensing partnership for incorporation of Skype technology into its various Sametime real time communications offerings where appropriate?"

I can read the tea leaves, and I think Jim is right.  Such a partnership is likely to be attempted.

That is just a small touch of what the entry outlines.  Could such an arrangement be made when WebDialogs was such a strong development partner for Skype and now is under the IBM wings?  The Skype hooks into the public POTS infrastructure for expanded VOIP integration is not a stretch of any imagination if we look at the hints Lotus gives with each introduction of the new product family.  This isn't speaking from someone that is "in the know".  Strictly from what is out there now and what they hint about in slideshows and presentations.

So what do you think of some sort of Skype integration for VOIP instead of relying just on Cisco, Avaya and other partnerships?  The Sametime Gateway already reaches into the public IM providers, the voice and video had to be close behind.

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On Thursday, December 13th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I made this posting yesterday to an interesting number of comments and this one might go a bit further.  Sametime 8 gets closer to an actual provisioned installation.  Much better indeed.  I praise Lotus for listening to my rants on provisioning and deployment management.  However, this became a noticeable problem here and after consideration and some talks with those deep in the bowels of Lotus Sametime development we (as in they and I) confirmed my fears upon first testing.

Here is what happens.  Sametime 8 does not see the previous install path (as shown yesterday) since it is not upgrading your Sametime 7.5.x client.  It is installing Sametime 8 and then uninstalling 7.5.x from your system.  It reads your settings and places them into a lookaside database to move them across during provisioning of the new 8.0 client.  What this means to you is that you then cannot install into the same directory you had 7.5.x at first.  If you install 8.0 into that folder and then it goes to uninstall 7.5.x it really removes all the new files also.  Quite the conundrum isn't it?  I know I want mine in the same path all the time.  With this scenario, I cannot hit the site and have it upgrade what I have in place.  So if you have company standards on how the client is installed, you may be looking at uninstalling the old version from everywhere, then running the install for 8 afterwards into that same directory.

Lotus also changed the folder structure and naming of the Sametime Connect files.  This adds a new level of change for the plug-ins.   We will cover more on plug-ins on the next posting.

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On Wednesday, December 12th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

This image shows on a fresh laptop that only had Sametime 7.5.1 installed a couple weeks ago.  This was the network install attempt and then the locally saved attempt at a Sametime 8 client install on the same laptop.  The first thing to arise was that it did not see my previous installation path.

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On Tuesday, December 11th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Here is what I found.  I installed the Sametime 8 server and also placed the network-install package on the server.  For those of you not familiar with it, I suggest you go read how this is done over here.  I then started the download.  I forgot to specify the base URL inside the download properties though and when the install attempted to complete, it came up with errors.  Lots of errors.

I then went back and placed the correct URL in the download properties file and tried again.  I noticed that the install seemed to download incredibly quick.  Halfway through, it then stopped and just sat there for a long time.  I killed the install and tried again.  Same thing.  It then hit me.  The original download was still in my cache for the browser so it was still reading the bad data.  Here is a screenshot:



So I went in and removed that bottom file from the cache to see what the result would be.  As expected a much longer download started again.  You need to know the original part is 29MB and then more is pulled from the server.  The client code itself is still 135MB when it is on the machine.  So I am off to delete the file and redo the install.

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On Sunday, December 2nd, 2007   by Chris Miller        

The IMLU or Sametime Limited Use it still around, allowing just the basic integrated chat features.  Follow that up with Sametime Entry which offers just the basic chat features plus a list of items:

Presence and instant messaging chat

• Integration with e-mail and productivity applications such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, and IBM Lotus Notes
• Multi-way chat
• Rich text, time stamps, spell check and emoticons
• Contact type-ahead search and contact detail display
• Local chat history
• Contact list management: Sort contact list, Show short names, Show online contacts only

Then you move on to Sametime Standard that jumps up to meetings and everything else, just like you have now.

Sametime 8 Advanced will be a bit longer, but should be worth the wait.

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On Friday, November 30th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Adam posted a blog entry announcing that ibm.com/sametime is now live with a new look and feel.  Cool.  However, I always used http:/www.lotus.com/sametime and it seems to go to an entirely different page still.  Weird, but awesome news that Sametime makes it to the big leagues with version 8

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On Thursday, November 29th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

From the article which I was lucky enough to be in..

IBM  is stepping up its bid to derail Microsoft  unified communications onslaught by unveiling new or enhanced versions Tuesday of its WebSphere, Rational and Tivoli products.

This is going to significantly reduce the startup and management costs for implementing unified communications with the IBM infrastructure.

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On Wednesday, November 21st, 2007   by Chris Miller        

The final session numbers have been assigned and I waited to get those to make life easy for you to say you will be attending them!

HND302 - Setup and Administration for the IBM Lotus Sametime Gateway.   (yes this is hands-on folks)
BP105 - Installing and Administrating the IBM Lotus Sametime Gateway        (myself and Kyungae Lim of IBM)

So there you have it..  fun filled sessions all about the Sametime Gateway.

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On Monday, November 19th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

This week I am hosting the Administrating Sametime 7.5 and Deploying Plug-ins.  Post the questions fast as the holidays are fast approaching.

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On Monday, November 19th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I get asked this question often and there are factors around total usage, number of chats and the rest of the usual suspects.  But I wanted to show you a simple screenshot of memory from the gateway being up somewhere around forever in terms of the Sametime Gateway



There you go, just over 600MB of RAM dedicated to the gateway including some DB2 processes

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On Tuesday, November 6th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

So last week I had a blog posting about the issue surrounding the Premier Audio Adapter for Sametime.  One question came in that needed a definite answer.  Some of you were trying to update the certificate and could not find the location.  Well from Chris O himself who did the majority of making Premier talk through submission holds, here you go:

Location of keystore for Premier - Tell him to look in the notes.ini for the location of the java SSL keystore.  That is the location of the file it is using.  We actually had to remove the file and then create a new one with ikeyman and import the Equifax cert since it is not a default certificate

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On Monday, November 5th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

So all 3 days are completed here in Vegas.  We have already done Philly and Chicago is only 2 weeks out.  I missed almost all of day 1 flying in, but I was here for days 2 and 3 to talk to attendees around presenting.  I gleaned the following facts:

• About 95% of the attendees did not want to have a session on the Productivity Tools.  Many said 10 slides glazing over the topic would be enough as they are so entrenched in MS licensing there was not a recent chance.  plus, they were not the ones that would even make that decision
• About 85% of the attendees here already had Sametime running and were eager to see more info on what was coming in integration and implementation
• About 20% had any interest in Lotus Connections.  70% had no clue what it really did and the remaining knew already they did not want it.
• About 15% of the attendees here had over 20k users installed.  Many with large DWA implementations in place
• About 80% really wanted to get more info on Quickr
• About 95% loved all the ways that the products were starting to integrate tighter.  For example, all the hooks with Lotus Connections and Quickr into Notes 8 and Sametime and Sametime into Notes 8.  It is all making a cohesive direction from Lotus

One last stat came to mind:

• About 99% of the people in Las Vegas will wear absolutely anything on Halloween to win $1500 at the Voodoo club contest.  Even 50 stories above the strip, most clothing is optional.

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On Thursday, November 1st, 2007   by Chris Miller        

We ran into this issue the past week and I wanted to share this.  We have a Sametime server that runs the 7.x code stream with the 7.x Sametime code on top.  It also has the Premier Audio Adapter for holding the audio bridge conference portion.  Well it suddenly stopped working and communicating with Premier to begin the bridge.  IBM seemed to be stumped and pushed us to Premier.  Premier says they don't totally "really" support it either since it was developed by IBM and handed to them.  So we get stuck in the middle.

Alas, never mind that portion we found the culprit of why it stopped working.  Premier updated their SSL certificate on October 4th of this year.  The local keyfile had the expired previous certificate.  So it just never connected.  No warning, no alert, no log.  No connection.

We could get no debug variables to place in for the adapter so after a clean install and replace some files I copy in below, all was well once again after a week of running in circles.  Good job to Chris O at my office for sticking this through and beating out of them that they changed their SSL after we told them that was an issue a ton of times before we got confirmation.

The AA install program installs a stkeys.jks file that I cant 'open' using Ikeyman, (haven't tried certsrv). So after a re-install i delete the stkeys.jks file that the audio adaptor creates, and then create a new one using Ikeyman. But the Equifax cert ( the SSL cert premiere uses )  isn't included by default so I had to download it and add it to the stkeys.jks.

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On Tuesday, October 30th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Looking back to July of this year, Alan put the icon on his page showing the well known blue Sametime icon now all grown up and Web 2.0 - ified and morphed into the bland icons we see all over 8.  I say bland because they are all so similar in shape and color it is hard to tell them apart sometimes in your start or dektop menu.

Well it finally reared it's changing head in some recent code (I got permission to say so relax).  So when the recent stream got installed, it now becomes hard to find mixed in with the other Lotus icons.  See the image insert here.



So what do you think?  Will users miss the long time blue balloon or embrace the new icon?  I say it is a trademark of the product itself and should continue for some time to come.

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On Friday, October 26th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

This event was well run and on-time the entire day so far.  An interesting group after lunch that did on the spot comedy routines.  But as for content, it is what was expected.  Over 100 registered to attend, I would say around 80 arrived. Many were IBM employees however, here to learn more.  The sessions covered all the important parts of Lotus Connections, Notes and Domino 8, Quickr and Sametime.  A surprise session (since the agenda website always said TBD up to yesterday) was Antony providing a competitive landscape session.

Was there things missed?  In my opinion, a few here and there.  Not enough demos and too many slides for the technical session on Lotus Notes/Domino 8 deployment.  Otherwise, well balanced for 45 minute slots with two rooms running at once.

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On Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I saw the link pop in my newsreader and jumped over.  Humorously there is a lot reporting wrong in the article that interviews Michael Karasick, director Lotus Software Development for China Development Laboratory in Beijing, China.  Some of my favorite quotes:

IBM still believes that enterprise customers use e-mail as its main application for collaboration.

I am not quite sure about this

Push e-mail service will become available soon, the executive said.

Asked how it works, Karasick said IBM was working with partners but declined to give details. The new version also revives a web access client.

"We haven't quite figured out how to make Notes available on a mobile device. We have no timeline," he said, when asked to provide more details about the push mail feature in Lotus Notes.

"But we will support mobile devices natively and through collaboration with vendors," he said.

He apparently has not seen Traveler or the anticipated timeline.

One application called Lotus SameTime version 8 is also offered on the Mac, PC and Linux platforms.

I know for sure this one is not available yet.  He is a little ahead of the timeline here.

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On Wednesday, October 17th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

So while I wait on hold for it to begin, I will take a few guesses at questions that might get asked.  This session is being recorded by IBM

• Provisioning
• Performance
• Policies
• Stlinks
• Telephony integration
• Peer to peer audio and video

Ok, here we go...  Bill McAnn was the call moderator. hey took some questions from the forum first to prime the call

• Lock a client to connect to a specific Sametime server geographically? Yes, point to a home Sametime server.
• I have installed Sametime 7.5.1 client and did the Outlok disablement hook after following the workaround.  But when upgrading to FP1 it came back.  This will possibly be fixed in a later version, but not 7.5.1  Technote #1259391 addresses the issue

off to the live calls

• I know the voice and name of this caller!  But I wont call him out.  He wants to build a silent install package to dump out with SMS.  There is some issues with this.  There is a new client with the proper fixes, including CF1.  It comes with the installer and since it is a full client you have to open a PMR to get the updated installer package.
• Provisioning the preferences in the Sametime client. One is the site update.  One is the plug-in customization.ini, but that only gets read once.  Does the site update have to be a feature jar file?  The feature jar file approach is delivering a new or updated piece to the plugin_customization.ini filer.  This file is read each time the client is started.  The ini provides the default settings preferences.  End user overrides in the client preferences will still overtake what is set in the ini file.  You cannot swap it out at install time.  An update site must be a jar file
• Policies regarding chat recording, with the value set to save or not save.  If you uncheck this does it force down to users not saving chats.  Lotus says unchecking this does not set auto-save in the client.  Checking this forces the user to save chats.  There is actually two policies.  One allows them to save at all and the other allows auto-saving.
• When was the silent install that includes the msi, when was it released?  Sep 21st or so was the release date.  Also, they want to fill in the community name and pre-configure TLS?  Craig jumped in to say he belive it is possible now.
• They have multiple servers, a web portal with stlinks, web conference server and chat servers.  People get logged off when the move around servers, why?  Jennifer at Lotus says Portal was giving a new IP address coming in so it was being seen as another user.  She gave the example to ignore when you come in twice that goes in the config section.  The user must also be homed to a Sametime server or cluster.
• The CF1 version of 7.5.1 takes care of a lot of issues but one they had.  When you install and launch the client the Terminal Services application continues to run?  Harry, dev manager at IBM, asked to clarify operating system and client.  It was OSX 10.4.10 with Sametime 7.5.1 CF1.  When you launch the Sametime client it also launches Terminal Services.  They do not quit and continue to stay launched.  The client works fine, but you must manually quit the Terminal Services.  The Sametime 8.0 beta weas brought up to try it there.
• The next caller wishes to turn off the resert button in the client.  Craig said there is no policy or previous request to turn this feature off.  The caller saysd for compliance reasons they muyst lock the user from being able to change communities.  Craig says 7.5.1 said you can change the host without resetting the user, which could be an issue.  He referred to the policy to force the default community.  Unless you have multiple communities, then this policy would apply.  The caller has Facetime in the middle to capture for compliancy.  Lotus suggests hiding the Sametime MUX so no user can directly connect to it.
• The user policy, user preference, and then plugin_customization.ini is the order of load for the Sametime Connect client.
• I missed one call for a person coming in, sorry
• The next caller asked about the StReflector being set up.  If you are doing many audio or video chats then moving it to another box will assist in performance.  Voice chats work fine internally but not over VPN nor outside, including NAT.  The reflector will let each clients see the others IP address.  Point to point will always be first, then the reflector.  With exxternal users with symmetric NAT you put the reflector outside the organiuzation.  A normal or non-NAT firewall, the clients will still try to do point to point.  The reflector must be able to go through the firewall.
• Prudential wants to deploy a basic client and send out the features, yet they cant lock them down.  They want a list of what cnd cannot be locked down.  The only settings available for lockdown are those in the policies on the server
• Can you secure audio and video to a particular group?  Yes, use policies

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On Tuesday, October 16th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

This is something I did not know and never would have encountered due to the way I implement this solution at customer sites.  In the Gateway configuration you specify a local Sametime Community.  Which of course is where your users reside.  Well you only specify one server in this listing (or I should say one DNS name) for connectivity.  The Gateway then goes about it's business and starts serving presence awareness and chat services for the public providers.

Well unknown to me, if you do not run in a central clustered environment and have users spread across servers that may be geographical or just in the same place , but not clustered, the gateway needs and wants a port 1516 connection to each and every server, which it then holds in a local file.  This does not worry me as much as it appears some company security groups.

The Gateway is just what the name applies, a gateway.  Just how you deploy external SMTP servers and then only allow them in through the firewall, via trusted IP's usually, this acts the same.  So have no fear, the Gateway is doing it's job by not storing data and only offering a direct connection to the public providers and then 'proxying' the traffic to Sametime.  Your user directory is not affected as well as you can control which providers come into the Gateway and then how just the Gateway communicates to Sametime.

So do not freak out, it is all in how you present it to the team in most places.  Those that still don't get it, probably never will.

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On Monday, October 8th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

It has been a while since I had wandered over to the plug-in catalog site so it was time to see what new things partners had added.  There now seems to be only 25 entries into the catalog.  A bunch of new VoIP type plug-ins are there but they require additional services to function, like servers that fit into your existing VoIP or POTS systems.  Interestingly enough, there is now quite a few alternative meeting plug-ins or add-ons for the Sametime meeting services.  I find that interesting.  Does it imply that the current Sametime meeting offering is not functional enough?

I would also have imagined that the catalog would have grown in leaps with over 100 million users out there.  I know IBM has a bunch internally that are not loose in the wild, those are the kinds of samples that help sell the product.  We need more plug-ins to show what the product can do.  Widgets are being developed across Yahoo and other IM's at a record pace, I am hoping the same shows for Sametime soon from a bunch of handy developers.

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On Tuesday, September 25th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I ran across this site and pinged Carl to jump in and see what we could make of it.  There is the good and the bad.  No the bad is not this following screenshot.


So we were being silly to play around with the features.  Headsets on backwards and others.  When you use the chat room it takes a snapshot of just how you are when you click send.  So the pictures are resized too small for you to see, but Carl and missing pants is bad all around.

Good
Free video conferencing is good no matter how you slice it if it works well.  This one seemed to do just fine.  Now, we didn't get 8 people in the room, but that is next on the list.  You had the choice between hands free audio and push-to-talk type.  Both seemed to function fine.

Creating a room for the conference did not even require registration at this time.  Simply name a room and click invite and it copied the link to the clipboard.  It then uses the Flash connection for your video and audio.  No problem, worked right away for both of us.  No fuss, no mess, no firewall issues, no downloads.  The chat was, well chat.

Bad
It seemed there was a way to record but I couldn't find the button.  Chat worked fine, but needs a bit more ability.  Attaching or sending a file would be nice so everyone could talk.  It still is not a 1.0 release so I imagine more is coming.  I am curious about the bandwidth as this grows, but let's see how it plays out.

So overall, did I say it was free with no firewall issue in the tests?  No tunneling and numerous ports for AV like I got asked yesterday for Sametime

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On Friday, September 21st, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I received a ping from a Sametime admin/company/user with a question regarding the limit in the number of slides per set you can upload to 7.5.1.  Apparently after 100 it would not allow the slides to be uploaded.  So some hunting around came up with this little bit of info for all of you to try out in case you are having 7 hour meetings with hundreds of slides.  Oh the pain of that type of meeting...

You can work around this issue by either creating a presentation of fewer than 100 slides or by not selecting the Master Slide option in PowerPoint.

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On Thursday, September 20th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I went ahead and posted my notes on this since I had answers (posted in each one with italics) to some of the questions they were asking.  Maybe some of the callers will find this posting.  These were quick notes to myself, and I only slightly cleaned them up.  So bear with me.  (I am headed to vacation)

• Asia Pacific area looking for a proof of concept install for their business and need NAT and public CA documentation.  Caller said they got the wrong certificate purchased, that it didn't support TLS.  Lotus is working hard in 8 to simplify install and config.  As for NAT, they list the restrictions for NAT due to SIP.  Certain NAT providers are becoming SIP aware due to VOIP and other real-time collaboration.  As I posted about the morning call, I will shoot out some diagrams for everyone since this seems to be a main focus.
• Caller is implementing Sametime 7.5.1 and having client issues, even with CF1, of getting layout and pre-population to clients.  Preference controls like auto-status changes, for example.  Lotus suggested utilizing the   plugin_customization.ini file to change and set some of the settings.  They have no policy control with the 6.5.1 server and Sametime Connect 7.5.1 CF1.  The issue is that they must then match the new policies when going live with the server on 7.5.1 or 8 to make sure they do not change everything back.  This is a big part of rolling out the advanced client and wanting particular features enabled or set a certain way before the server policies are deployed.
• Another caller emphasizes the issues with SSL config from Premium Server as first caller.  Thawte server worked fine.  Yes, I am seeing in installs that you need to import root certificates in many instances to get it to work.
• Australia - IBMUS and Australia connectivity problems.  Customer is using dual network cards trying to route public and private address.  asking if the OS will do the routing.  Part 2 - Wants to talk his SIP to their SIP.  Asked about port 443, which is not right.  He needs port 5061 for encrypted, not 5060 which is unencrypted.  No 443 need.  1516 and 1533 open for internal connectivity on 7.5.1.  Then 1516 for 7.5.1 CF1.   Also asked about LDAP server connectivity over 636.  DB2 server, is it encrypted by default and does Express C handle it?  Not by default, and maybe not in Express version, have to verify that.  IBM SIP gateway connectivity actually needs port 5060 for the first connection then 5061 to finish.  LDAP SSL relies only on the LDAP server having a public certificate.  What data is stored in the DB2 database, a security concern question.  Lotus answers that in the DB2 database you can find the gateway configuration data, user id and group id in UNID form.  Last question, checkpoint firewall in front to cover NAT issue?  Lotus has customers with it.  Multiple NIC cards not an issue as long as its config'd correctly.  I say why not use NAT and routing with a single NAT instead of trying the dual-NIC approach.
• What kind of arrangement does IBM have with the chat vendors in terms of IP address changes?  same question as this am, same answer.  Then MSN connectivity question.  no official statement yet from Lotus.  I see the IP address changes a hard part for firewall teams that are trying to set the port to only allow certain addresses to talk to the gateway.  That is a tough move when you are relying on a 3rd party (IBM) to tell you when they are changing their IP addresses.  How about just moving to a DNS range for the provider and then everyone is happy.
• SIP phone as PBX install.  Asking for connectivity options as general PBX integration.  Good question but no comment was provided to direct them to the vendors writing plug-ins and softphones.
• Customer wants an  easy way to find out what other corps are using the gateway?  Lotus does not keep or publish that.  Creating a Sametime Gateway group in Facebook or a posting in the Sametime forum was a recommendation.  There is a Facebook group for the Sametime Gateway already with a good couple handfuls of members

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On Friday, August 31st, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I attended the Open Mic call on the Sametime Gateway this morning to see what everyone had concerns about. (Do not worry, this call goes live again one more time tomorrow I think, see the website or Partner Forum for details).  Well I came away with concerns myself as I see how this is getting implemented at the larger enterprises.

There were at least 15 calls taken, and I managed to capture and write down the main point of each one.  The majority revolved around a couple key areas, and that is where the concern is.  Participants were asking for network diagrams, port settings and allowable IP addresses and better clustering support.  While some of the questions did receive direct answers, in my opinion some did not.  Now someone there will say it was not official support inquiries, no official statements, yada, yada.  But when you have large enterprises trying to deploy a clustered solution in large deployments with too many network security teams in the mix, well you get confusion.

First thing to the companies.  Too many companies are trying to reverse proxy, put servers in front of server even in the DMZ, build SIP clusters with load balancers/IP sprayers.  I agree with one thing for sure, everyone needs the cluster support to deploy this is an enterprise solution.  As for all this worry over this server in the DMZ, why the stress?  No data sits on the gateway server, it connects over SSL to your internal LDAP (further restricted by port and hosts is needed), it uses the encrypted VP protocol to the Sametime clusters in the back.  DB/2 can sit behind the firewall restricted by host/port access also.  So you basically have a shell running a program that acts as the gatekeeper.  Or gateway as it is named.  Get the security team to understand this.  There is no data to be protected, if the gateway gets bombed or hijacked, then they get an empty shell that you cut off.

Second thing is to Lotus.  Come prepared.  Half answering chat logging questions, diagram requests, proxy support and numerous clustering questions won't fly for long if this is truly an enterprise solution.  Yes you did answer some areas of what is coming, things that are verified in support and even how to map multiple O's through LDAP queries to Domino.  But the lack of testing of clustering and the network outline support is frustrating to most of the callers if my current pings I am getting are right.

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On Thursday, August 30th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

This article just talks more about the deal with IBM to closely tie OpenScape into Sametime.

Chris Miller, director of messaging and collaboration at Connectria Corp., a managed IT services company in St. Louis, said the added support for VoIP technology could cut costs significantly for corporate users. Connectria sells and supports Sametime and is also a Sametime user.

The rest of the article is basically another user comment and some base info that everyone read last week.

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On Tuesday, August 28th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Jump over and watch the video and see for yourself..

he has a higher quality version here too

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On Friday, August 24th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Today, IBM announced it has acquired WebDialogs, a privately held, leading provider of Web conferencing services and a partner of choice for the Conferencing Service Provider market with over 70 relationships and 200 brands in the market today

Unyte already has plug-ins for Skype and Yahoo, the Lite version is free.
So besides some new plug-ins for the Lotus suite, here is the interesting piece, Lotus basically says that Sametime is not made for extranet meeting in this section of the press release... not the second sentence in the overlap question....

You get the added value that IBM plans to bring by developing plug-ins for WebDialogs to seamlessly integrate with products in the IBM portfolio such as:

• IBM Lotus Sametime
• IBM Lotus Notes
• IBM Lotus Quickr
• IBM Websphere Portal

Q: Are there overlaps between the IBM and WebDialogs product portfolios?
The IBM and WebDialogs portfolios are complimentary.  While both companies offer products in the real-time collaboration space, the Lotus Sametime offerings are primarily used on premise and by all company sizes.  WebDialogs' Web conferencing service has seen wide adoption with small and meduim-sized businesses as well as 3rd party service providers.

So I hit their webpage to see what the company full offers and see an image on the homepage..


So I go and read and it looks like IBM/Lotus will offer a choice and support online meeting services to go after that WebEx marketspace with the Sametime name.

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On Thursday, August 23rd, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Until Mike Rhodin actually announced the name about the upcoming Sametime changes, it was all hush hush as always.  I said this earlier to IBM'ers...  do not name them Advanced and whatever (looking back it is Entry).

Advanced means that what you have now is not one of the best corporate instant messaging and web conferencing solutions.  It suggests that you have some basic model and there is something better.  I think a much better choice would have been Expansion Pack for example.  They made this same naming mistake with Basic and Standard in Notes 8.  You don't go to market with updated products naming making the older versions inferior to not new functionality, but the core itself.

Sametime Entry takes the IM capabilities already embedded in some IBM products and turns them into a stand-alone offering. The aim is to seed the market and encourage corporate users new to IM to use Entry and later move up to the Standard and Advanced flavors, Morse said

Sametime Advanced builds on the Standard version and adds in features like the ability to share one's desktop with others and ways to store and reuse geographic information. The software also includes persistent chat so that a person can log onto their company's group chat and be able to browse what was discussed earlier, particularly useful in the financial services business where staff in different time zones are continually tracking the markets.

Persistent chat?  Carl, didn't you have that a while ago?

Ok, I am done, back to Lotus Connections

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On Tuesday, August 21st, 2007   by Chris Miller        

So here is the big issue.  The documentation indicated you can set a policy for multiple groups of users and then update the users with different settings, plug-ins and pushed updates.  Some of this is quite true.  UNtil we get to site update parts.

I would have sent you here on Notes Net, but apparently the published info for CF1 is not complete.  See line 21 for some humor.

So what happens is that you can set an update site in the default policy, but it then overrides all the new group or explicit policies.  You can not set alternate update sites for different users.  They are grayed out with the provided default site.

Move on to leaving the update site blank and then the sub ones are forced to be blank.  Same scenario as above in reverse.  So in essence you have to provide only 1 update site at this time for your user population.  That doesn't help if you want users to get alternate updates or plug-ins at this time.

I bet it is on the list for the future though..

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On Wednesday, August 8th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

You can find it right here on his new Connectria hosted blog.

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On Monday, August 6th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Well here we sit at the next step.  First of all, the update itself requires 2 restarts of the Sametime client.  While a full installation would only require 1.  Yes, they are updating components that need other updated first.  Just a warning for users.



So the updates do fire down the changes, and they do leave the other files locally, just one of those things to deal with.

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On Monday, August 6th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

After some gracious time on the phone with Lotus following Friday's posting, we found a few things to make this next screenshot work.  I had the site update listed in stconfig.nsf as the

URL for UIM provisioning:

This never seemed to work.  Updates were not coming down as I talked about on Friday.  We then placed the site update in the default policy.  Unfortunately we also had to do a reboot.  So I am not sure if the reboot or using the policy instead of stconfig did the trick.  We are testing that again one step at a time to let you know.

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On Monday, August 6th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I already had the site specified for all the users in stconfig.nsf.  It was the same one I used before for the patches for the Sametime Gateway in 7.5 CF1 world.  Unfortunately it is not updating the clients now with the changes.  I am doing this in stages, meaning I have not rebooted the Sametime server since changing the site.xml file.  It shouldn't need to be done, so I didn't.  I simply updated the xml and waited for today.  Nada, nothing.

So looking at the local files in the plug-in directory you already have for Sametime Connect 7.5.1 compared to the new site update, none of them seem to match from the first 10 iI checked.  Either they had

com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.feature.version

listed instead of the new ones that did

com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.751.CF1.feature

or they were entire new features that did not exit before.  So the new ones should come right down.  But how about the ones that do the same thing but compete?  Shouldn't they simple update the date at the end of the feature line.  Instead of

com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.sprite_7.5.1.20070416

They go and toss some oddity name of

com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.sprite.feature._7.5.1.20070723-1402

How does that update the existing one or how does it know which to use unless called from somewhere else?  How can we clean up these older ones with the updates?

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On Friday, August 3rd, 2007   by Chris Miller        

First let's cover the files.  There is a CF1 for the Sametime Gateway out there, just not Windows yet.  Amazingly the Sametime 7.5.1 server only gets a mere 69MB of update download while the Sametime Connect client gets a whopping 204MB file download

The Readme for the CF1 update can be found right here.

Server
So I compressed the installer and let it fire off for the server.  It says the total update size is 79.9MB and goes on quite willingly.

Client
So you have choices to either run the installer in it's entirety on the local machine or push out updates via the update site.

CAUTION(S): Not all updates are applied when using the update site method.  Read the release notes carefully to know if your issue is covered band by which method.  Also, you may not want the automatic update if you have not aplied at least CF1 to 7.5.  There is an admin update that must be done as shown below in the image.

There is quite a few packages as shown in this image:


Also, the Single Sign-on with the operating system is now available, as well as additional dictionaries.  Those are added plug-ins that need to be deployed. Each comes with it's own site.xml that you can merge centrally or push into siteupdate.nsf from a Domino 8 server.  Then you get the user policies in place.

Let me run the update and full installer and let you know those results next

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On Thursday, August 2nd, 2007   by Chris Miller        

From reading the web advisory and then the IBM technote, it seems to be all versions of Sametime, including 7.5.1 with an availble hotfix for all versions.  Future updates and fixes will contain the fix also.

Problem In very specific scenarios, there is a possibility that a Sametime® server could be exploited by a Cross Site Scripting vulnerability.   Solution In a specific instance, it was found that a precisely crafted Sametime meeting could potentially contain text that would expose a Cross Site Script vulnerability.

This can be addressed in Sametime 7.5.1 by applying an available hotfix. All future releases will contain this fix within the shipping version. Additionally, the same issue was not seen using the EMS server.

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On Wednesday, August 1st, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Then head over to the new blog from the Lotus Technical Information and Education Team Blog.  They are asking for input on documentation on a few products including Sametime !

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On Friday, July 27th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I see I have been a giant slacker as I wake up this bight and sunny Saturday morning.  .  Everyone has started to recap the events but me.  Rob Novak, Carl Tyler, Mike Smith over at Turtle Partnership blog, and even Paul Mooney and Warren and Kitty Elsmore live blogged some of it!  I am sure there is others I missed reading yet in the blogsphere.

Let us go back a couple weeks to the beginning (cue dream sequence music)

Kansas City was a blur with the speakers getting together on Sunday morning to work all day.  We forced ourselves to finish the cd's and any editing.  It was a long day of anticipation of the second year.  We knew the alumni returning were looking for fresh and new material.

The first day went semi-smooth as our live video feed made it through Mike Rhodin fine and maxed out when Satwik went on for Quickr.  A good trial experience.  I will talk about the technology used in that later on.  We appreciate Mike for coming to the event.  The attendees gave good marks on his presentation where he personally did live demos.  From there on we raced through a long day of sessions to have the first cocktail reception.  The location this year was excellent and our same jazz musician returned from last year to play during the reception.  I even bought a cd from him...

Day was the longest day.  Due to comments from last year, we went from 3 tracks at a time to 2. This gave you a chance to see every Sametime or every Quickr session.  It also made day 2 go from 8:00am to 6:45pm.  Whew!  They were glazed and hurting by the end of that day.  I personally have both LDAP and Firewall/network sessions to give that day so I did my best to fill everyone's heads.

Day 3 only came after staying up all night to make sure the workshops were configured correctly.  read on....
Continue Reading here" Collaboration University recap - KC and London (and links)" »

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On Saturday, July 21st, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Well interestingly enough there is more fixes in the CF1 for Sametime 7.5.1 (there is 84) than there was in CF1 for 7.5 (there was 69).  What you need to look out for is that if your fix happens to be in this maintenance release, some of the SPR's require a full installation instead of the site update version.

Keep that in mind when deploying the update.  Some of the features will not be updated properly without downloading and installing the full package just as you would for a fresh install.

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On Thursday, July 19th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Carl is busy encoding the copy we will hopefully merge with the slides, but the raw broadcast I will link in a bit.  We might sneak in one more session live, like the Top 10 or the overview session from Collaboration University

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On Monday, July 9th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Need I even say more than 8:30am-10AM CST on Monday July 9th 2007.  We will turn on the live feed a few minutes early and run it till the opening is over.  Look for some new things from Mike to be covered.

http://live.collaborationuniversity.com

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On Friday, July 6th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I am on the new beta for Trillian and will talk plenty about it shortly.  But this one preference was more than interesting.  I talked to Adam G about it briefly and he named it TiVo for Trillian.  They call it Time Travel as shown in the image:



Notice you get to replay quick bursts of audio and video chat.  Quite the cool tool when you miss something.

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On Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007   by Chris Miller        

Technical Sessions

1. Notes & Domino 8.0: Technical Architecture Deep Dive

2. Lotus Sametime 8.0: Technical Architecture Deep Dive

3. Lotus Quickr: Technical Architecture Deep Dive

4. Lotus Connections: Technical Architecture Deep Dive

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On Friday, June 29th, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I presume this is a way early demo shot of what is to come, but it looks like a long leap if it revolves around Sametime. My gut reaction is this is some sort of new item, since there is nothing to be had online anywhere in searching. I am betting on the side that says this is some other type of meeting service and not Sametime.

However, this would be quite a cool tool to have for meetings and change the way you look at the meeting windows for Sametime. Mainly with the P2P video and audio abilities. A nice corporate directory with everyone's pictures would be a good start for most of you so you do not have a circle of gray-man group members looking at you in a circle

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On Friday, June 22nd, 2007   by Chris Miller        

I am calling this an issue whether it gets counted as such or not.   While working with a new Sametime 7.5.1  cluster (version doesn't really matter here) against a Domino LDAP cluster (version 7), we set a limit of 100 for the maximum number of entries returned against LDAP browsing and searching.

This broke the ability to add names to policies or browse from the 7.5.1 Connect client.  If I allow the maximum returned entries to unlimited, it allows you to add names to policies and browse from the Connect client.

In my humble opinion, I should be able to set a limit, still add names to policies and only have a certain amount returned when someone tries to browse the entire LDAP directory.  This would force the user to use a finer search string and release load on the LDAP server when there are over 20,000 users involved.

Make sense?  Bug or no bug?

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On Sunday, June 17th, 2007   by Chris Miller