IdoNotes (and sleep)

IBM is suddenly pushing hard back into the certification space, even hinting at relaunching associate certifications.  If you are a business partner or part of Software Value Package, then IBM added a bunch of certifications to the You Pass We Pay. For Collaboration Solutions some of the new ones are:

• IBM Certified System Administrator - WebSphere Portal 8.0
• IBM Certified WebSphere Portal 8.0 Migration and Support
• IBM Certified Solution Developer - WebSphere Portal 8.0
• IBM SmartCloud for Social Business Technical Sales Mastery Test v3

There were a few more listed.  What are your thoughts on certification value?

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On Monday, September 10th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

I highlight the Sys Admin Tips each month but overlook mentioning the awesome Developer Tips with Kathy Brown and Tom Duff.  For the July 2012 Developer Tips newsletter they cover:

• The dogs days of summer
• Friendly Forms
• Need some validation
• Domino was NoSQL before NoSQL was cool
• WAS it time to start learning WAS?

I suggest you sign up for both Sys Admin Tips and the Developer Tips to keep up with some great content.

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On Thursday, August 9th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

You can read the entire newsletter for the July 2012 Sys Admin Tips to read my editorial on your company training direction  From there we go into articles on:

• Properly selecting the number of mail.box files
• More on IBM SmartCloud Archive Essentials
• Websphere Plug-in key.kdb password Expiring
• Which message size restriction is best

Watch the new webcast replay with Gabriella Davis, Paul Mooney and myself from Consultant In Your Pocket covering what's New In Lotus Traveler 8.5.3 Upgrade Pack 1 and High Availability.

Subscribe to the IdoNotes newsletter on the right to get notified as new registrations open and for some free whitepapers.

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On Thursday, July 26th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

IBM had a launch event in Paris and Yves Darnige, IBM Marketing Manager, had the following confusing comment

Portal V8 brings in social network services on top of the Portal framework to enable a multi-channel approach of the market for a deepen customer relationship.

Anyone care to comment on what they think this means? I am slightly confused what a multi-channel approach is

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On Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012   by Chris Miller        

IBM has launched a large initiative called PureSystems which offers built-in expertise, integration by design and simplified experience.

Expert integrated systems combine the flexibility of general purpose systems, the elasticity of cloud and the simplicity of an appliance tuned to the workload.

I was able to get access to a demo account, which by all means did not showcase all of the physical capabilities and on demand sclaing.  It was more of a layer inside of the IBM SmartCloud which was disappointing.

I think some of the message about PureSystems is clear, however much of it is very confusing when you get into PureFlex and PureApplications.

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On Wednesday, May 16th, 2012   by Chris Miller        

I had the pleasure to present Domino Admin to Websphere Admin at AUSLUG 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. You can also expand these into full screen and vote on individual slides.

Feel free to browse all my presentations

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On Wednesday, April 4th, 2012   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        

While reading the filtered streams yesterday I came across a hint (and screenshot) that we will see Whirlwind presented in more light at Lotusphere 2012.  Here is some information on Whirlwind before my thoughts.

From some articles I found dating back to early 2011, Whirlwind has about 4000 downloads a month internally from IBM employees.  Employees can view the most downloaded and best rated apps in the catalog.  Whirlwind started in 2009 and fully launched in September 2010.  it runs on WAS, DB2 and some Dojo coding to help build what includes roles as to what can be downloaded.


iPad screenshot courtesy of ArsTechnica.

A case study PDF is available for anyone to download from IBM that covers how many users have accessed, the number of downloads they saw and how the BlackBerry was their first officially supported device.

The community has debated for some time about the viability of an application store for Lotus Notes.  I see this as not just a Notes catalog idea from IBM, but a mobile and plug-in based catalog that you deploy for your users.  They are able to browse and install just about anything, even for those that bring their own device (BYOD) to work.

It only makes sense that IBM would then productize this offering, as they often do.  Take IBM Connections which started as the IBM Bluepages internally.  With all of the devices and the current push into believing everything should be mobile by IBM, a catalog to support deployment falls into place.  It runs on the same back end type systems as IBM Connections and Sametime 8.5.x so there is easier understanding of requirements and needs.

IBM's CTO of Mobility was interviewed in this Computer News Middle East article and had a few good summaries:

“By the end of the year, 100,000 IBM employees will be able to connect handheld devices of their choosing to IBM’s internal networks, which have recently been fortified to provide enhanced mobile security,” Bodin said. “Another 100,000 employees will be brought on board in 2012, for a total of 200,000 people, or about half of IBM’s global workforce,” he added.

“We’ve noticed BYOD and the consumerisation of IT , with devices now becoming more and more proficient,” said Bodin, a 24-year IBM veteran who started as a staff programmer. “At IBM, it’s not exactly the BYOD metaphor. Rather, we are taking steps to fortify the infrastructure and device management — all the way to agents on the phone itself — to guarantee that the phone has not been hacked or jail-broken, and that the phone, with integrity, can attach to our network.”

So I am eager to see if this gets branded with some new name and made available as a product at Lotusphere 2012 for enterprises to install to better support BYOD initiatives.  As well as bringing the idea of an application store to internal users.

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On Thursday, December 8th, 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        

In this April 2011 edition I talk about Exceptional Web Experience and the following:

*From the Editor: Chris' 0.50000 XWE
*From the IdoNotes Mailbox : Is Macintosh Taking Over the Conference Speakers
*Renames and Domino
* Quick Tip: Enabling Network Compression and Encryption on Servers
*From the IdoNotes Mailbox: Port Compression and Encryption

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, April 21st, 2011   by Chris Miller        

I received an email newsletter and in it was the mention of the session I gave at 8:30 in the morning covering Domino Admin to Was Admin.  I recorded the session and have to edit in the slides to have it match up so I can post it.

A common assessment of the technical sessions indicated there was more content and greater interest in the content than in recent years. One session in particular for administrators well received centered on moving from Domino Administration to WebSphere Administration, which was presented in a one hour session from Chris Miller.

Much thanks to the newsletter writer and also to Gabriella Davis for all the hard work we did to put this together as a joint session at a previous Lotusphere.

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On Thursday, February 10th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

• IBM and RIM announce a stronger partnership to improve performance and extend more application access thorough Web Services in Domino 7
• IBM announces an upcoming free 20 hour installation and configuration support for Websphere Everyplace.  It includes designing, architecting and installing.  Nice touch to get more usage from the product.  They will be using partners for this free 20 hours as well.
• If you happen to use Whale Communications for your reverse-proxy or as an air-gap device in front of Domino for SSL support, they were snapped up by Microsoft a couple weeks ago.  I picture their Domino support dwindling like previous anti-virus providers that got bought too.
• MySpace annouced their own IM client.  Just what we need, more reason for people in the free world to live on that site.  It is reported to be the fatest growing place on the Internet.

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On Monday, June 5th, 2006   by Chris Miller        

The launch is official of  IdoWorkplace.com and the postings have begun.  It will be a shared event of a couple instructors (including me) that are certified to teach the WCS 2.5 classes and are certified in both areas of the product already. (Messaging and Team Collaboration for WCS)

I also decided to move my postings and info for the Workplace Managed Client to that site for those focusing in that areas as well.  I have been playing with it and have some impressions.

It makes my mind easier knowing people get exactly what they expect at each blog site.  There might be some cross posting or linking as needed

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On Thursday, February 23rd, 2006   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        

IBM had a launch event in Paris and Yves Darnige, IBM Marketing Manager, had the following confusing comment

Portal V8 brings in social network services on top of the Portal framework to enable a multi-channel approach of the market for a deepen customer relationship.

Anyone care to comment on what they think this means? I am slightly confused what a multi-channel approach is

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On Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012   by Chris Miller        

I had the chance to sit with Mike Ostrowski, Vice President - Portals and Social Computing (Lotus), of Ascendant Technology to talk about the two (yes 2) Lotus Awards they received for Lotusphere 2011 as well as a finalist position for another to be announced live Business Development Day.



Mike covered the technology used for the winning solutions, how it influences future business and where to find them at Lotusphere 2011 at Pedestal 710

Today's podcast brought to you by GoDaddy:

• $7.49 for a domain name
• Host your Wordpress blog at GoDaddy special

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On Tuesday, January 18th, 2011   by Chris Miller        

The launch is official of  IdoWorkplace.com and the postings have begun.  It will be a shared event of a couple instructors (including me) that are certified to teach the WCS 2.5 classes and are certified in both areas of the product already. (Messaging and Team Collaboration for WCS)

I also decided to move my postings and info for the Workplace Managed Client to that site for those focusing in that areas as well.  I have been playing with it and have some impressions.

It makes my mind easier knowing people get exactly what they expect at each blog site.  There might be some cross posting or linking as needed

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On Thursday, February 23rd, 2006   by Chris Miller        

I came across this PDF in a newsletter alert this morning.  As the Portal space grows and Domino not only becomes the mail portlet, but in numerous places the LDAP source for the portal, the stability and scalability of this central point becomes a business necessity.  Imagine how your Domino mail system went from 1 to 3 servers in a cluster and now companies are busy building Sametime Community clusters.  Parts of technology are no longer for fun, they become parts of the business process.  Here is a sample diagram from the article:


The document is just over 40 pages long, so quite the good read in time and material.  I will say one thing.  A Domino cluster is more like a few paragraphs compared to the complexity of performing this operation.  While I have installed Portal, I have never done this step so I plan on testing this a couple times for practice.

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On Thursday, December 15th, 2005   by Chris Miller