147% ROI upgrading to Lotus Domino 8.5.1

Ed Brill posted this earlier today

http://www.edbrill.com/ebrill/edbrill.nsf/dx/147-roi-for-upgrading-to-notesdomino-8.5-forrester-webcast

Forrester Research's Ted Schadler and Jon Erickson spoke with numerous Lotus customers who had completed the upgrade, and calculated the economic benefits in aggregate. The result: An astounding 147% ROI for upgrading to Notes/Domino 8.5, with a payback period of only one year.

This is a fantastic point here. The new features of Domino in the latest release are quite significant. DAOS alone can save you 47% of your storage space while still providing brick level back up and recovery. Try doing that on Microsoft Exchange!

WebSphere Portal 7 - Open Beta

IBM is working on the next release of WebSphere Portal and is gathering information from the community on how to improve the overall experience. If you have Portal or are considering using Portal, you might be interested in seeing what is coming in the new year with Portal :

• Enhanced theme support enables addition of blogs, library and wiki templates to portal pages using page builder
• Expanded virtualization support for VMWare and multiple profiles
• Page builder enhancements; catalog search, tab navigation widget, style and layout features, inline assembly
• Administration enhancements: xml based configuration of sub policies, People finder and person card enhancements
• Lotus Web Content Management enhancements including: Collaborative content management with Projects. Create, edit, preview and syndicate multiple changes together using a Project; publish in a single operation
• Lotus Web Content Management content authoring usability enhancements including favorites, localized authoring templates, folders, a new rich text editor, additional enhancements...
• Lotus Web Content Management enhanced ECM integration support
• Lotus Web Content Management support for WebSphere Application Server Resource Environment Provider, additional administration improvements

Please visit IBM WebSphere Portal and Lotus Web Content Management Beta Forum for additional enhancements and specific release details.

This is a significant version with far more features and changes in performance due to its native WebSphere Application Server 7 foundation. There is a significant focus on virtualization with this release and as such the Beta is available in VMWare vdisk format, which I am downloading as I write this.

I'll post in the coming weeks my feedback.

Spring Framework 3.0 Released

Spring Framework is a Java API framework that has captured the hearts of many developers. The latest release from SpringSource, the company who sponsors the project announced the latest release. Key features include: Spring expression language (SpEL), Extended support for annotation-based components, standardized dependency injection annotations, declaration model validation based on constraint annotations, comprehensive REST support, rich native Portland 2.0 support and more. The latest release is compatible with Java EE 6, in terms of runtime environment, supports JPA 2.0 final, JSR 303 validation mode, and eve the newly introduced @ManagedBean (JSR-250 v1.1) annotation for component scanning. Read Juergen Hoeller's Blog for all the details about the Spring 3 release. There is also a great presentation on InfoQ on the new features.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you should also know that the term "J2EE" should be eliminated from your vocabulary. That is because the "2" was a reference to Java 1.2. Java is now at version 6 and earlier this month Sun has announced that Java Enterprise Edition 6 is now gold. So.. make that "Java EE 6."

Lots of reading material for the holidays!

Rational Team Concert 2.0.0.2 released

The most recent milestone for RTC snuck out the door last night. Most notable is support for the Eclipse 3.5 client.

Another new feature is work item templates. These can be created from an existing set of work items, and then be used to create new work items. template creation wizard also lets you to define attribute variables which can be assigned values each time you instantiate the template.



You can also check in, edit, and delete documents now using the Web UI. File locks can now also be managed using the Web UI. There is now a command line interface to check in/out and edit files (for us command line junkies).

Another favorite is an updated Scrum template for Agile planning. The prior one was overly complex for new teams just getting started with Agile.

More details on the updated and new features can be found on the 'New and Noteworthy' page.

Download the latest release here.

RSC = Innovate

I guess it was just a matter of time before it happened, but I like the change. IBM has rebranded their Rational Software Conference to the 'Innovate Conference". After having merged the WebSphere Technical Exchange and SOA conference into "Impact", it only makes sense to rebrand the Rational Conference. Tivoli is the "Pulse" conference. This might open the attendance up to newcomers who otherwise have not heard of Rational Software. So, I've got one paper submitted. On to create at least two more. Hopefully one will get approved and I'll get my golden ticket!

Microsoft Snake Oil

Ed Brill once mentioned this guy on his blog and I go back and check it every once in a while. He's been blogging about his company's move from Notes to Exchange and the effects its had. There are some real eye-opening comments for both IBM and Microsoft fans. His last post was back in August, but it brought to light the flexibility that Notes/Domino has in its programming and architecture. Domino has hands down the best rooms/reservations system, which is increasingly critical to large enterprises. Small businesses don't worry about it so much as they may only have a single conference room, if at all.

We’re down to 75 apps. All mail is finally off the system. Apps still send outgoing emails, but we have no more incoming emails. Room reservations are finally gone. I expect some people will be surprised that they stayed on Notes so long… the truth is, Exchange couldn’t compete with the flexibility of the Notes reservations system. We had a customized system that would allow people to order different table/chair configurations for conference rooms. The only way we got off of Notes for meeting reservations was to force it via management…. just telling people that they were losing functionality and had to deal with it.

Now, imagine telling your SVP of Sales to 'just deal with it', after moving to Exchange. Yeah, that will go over well.

So, the moral of the story is to do your due diligence before you migrate off your email system to a competitor. No matter what Microsoft says, there is NO migration tool for custom Lotus Notes apps! I've used their tool. The only thing it is good for is moving standardized, Lotus provided templates such as the discussion room, and document library template. If you have a custom CRM application, or help desk app, or any other custom coded Lotus Notes application, Microsoft (or one of their partners), will gleefully run this tool which will give you a general relative score of how complex the application is. They will then say "Oh we can migrate that - its just Notes. Here is our services proposal. No problem."

Be sure and ask for a chaser if you drink that snake oil.

IBM Moving to a Closed Software Distribution Model

For all IBM customers:

I'd like to be sure you are aware that there are some pending changes to IBM's partnering strategy that will affect you moving forward. In February 2009, IBM Software Group announced to its Business Partners the next step in its channel strategy. This announcement was in response to requests from IBM's valued clients. This strategy will provide you with more
targeted IBM solutions, faster deployments, and reduced implementation risk.

In January 2010, this new strategy will go live after nearly a year of careful planning and preparations with Business Partners. IBM will implement this strategy through a new value model that covers the entire IBM Software Group portfolio. IBM Software Group will organize its software portfolio of offerings into two categories:

• Open products can be acquired through all IBM Business Partners. Due to their rapid time-to-value and high degree of consumability, you will be able to purchase these solutions from any IBM Business Partner.

• Authorized products can only be acquired through those IBM Business Partners who have been authorized by IBM. Authorized IBM Business Partners will have demonstrated advanced skills through certifications and approved solutions. Authorization will help ensure that you get the right solution, reduce the risk inherent in any deployment, and increase your return on investment.
  

These changes will apply to both new license sales, as well as to your annual subscription and support renewals. The new Business Partner requirements will take affect January 25, 2010 (start date may vary slightly by region). There is no impact to any business partner transactions in 2009. However, after January 25, 2010 you will only be able to purchase Authorized products from authorized IBM Business Partners.

Authorized software will fall into one of 11 different categories as shown in the image below.


Strongback Consulting will be authorized to sell in the Rational, Lotus Portal, and WebSphere Core product groups. This meets our strategy of delivering solutions for Enterprise Modernization, Enterprise Architecture, Collaboration, and Middleware. As 2010 progresses, we may add additional product categories as deemed appropriate. But for now, our focus will be on delivering our deep expertise on the IBM products in the categories mentioned above. Such products include:

• WebSphere Extended Deployment
• WebSphere Virtual Enterprise
• WebSphere Network Deployment
  
• Lotus Notes and Domino
• Lotus Connections
• Lotus Quickr
• WebSphere Portal
• WebSphere Portlet Factory
• Rational Host Access Transformation Services (HATS)
• Rational Business Developer and EGL
• Rational Software Architect and Application Developer
• Rational Team Concert
• Rational Quality Manager
• Rational Functional Tester
• Rational Performance Tester
• Rational Requirements Composer
• Rational Requisite Pro
• Rational AppScan

IBM has produced an FAQ for you the client. Of course, feel free to contact us here at Strongback if you have any concerns. We'll be happy to help!

A comment about craftsmanship

In today's world we often measure the worth of an item by its retail price or discounted status at a store while rarely contemplating the quality of the work, how long it may last, or even how much pleasure will obtain from the object. Certainly we have our budgets to maintain, but there are times were it is best to do without altogether rather than to accept less than acceptable substance. Being someone who focuses on delivering quality services, and quality products to my customers, I too understand that budgets must be met. I have turned down business when I knew there was not enough time or resources to complete the tasks at hand. Your product is also a statement of your reputation, which when parted from you continues to speak in your behalf long after you have completed the project.

Today I was looking through some old Internet bookmarks and cleaning up my virtual workspace, and came across a site I had not visited in some time, but was was referred to me by a IBM guy who plays guitar. I now play guitar (when time permits), and in case you have not gathered from the design of this website am also an avid wood worker. Ervin Somogyi is a luthier in California who embodies the concept of craftsmanship. This video is in its own right a quality production, but his guitars are beyond compare. I hope you enjoy this video and will think about your own concept of value and craftsmanship in the process. I myself am in awe.

I think I might be saving up for one of his masterpieces after seeing this.

HATS Fixpack 7.5.0.2 Released

Another fixpack released. To update, use the IBM Installation Manger to upgrade. You no longer are required to use the old Eclipse style of update. Installation Manager is much faster and cleaner.

http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=203&context=SSXKAY&dc=D400&uid=swg24024964&loc=en_US&cs=UTF-8〈=en
Check out the release notes here.

Domino 8.5.1 service not starting on Windows

I had a recent event where after a fix pack, the Domino server would not start using Windows service. I could start it using the Domino console, but that would not work as the server would shut down as soon as logged out. I kept getting a cryptic error 2351 (0x92). The simple solution was to remove the Windows service and add it back.

To do this run the following commands from the Lotus Domino program directory:


> ntsvinst -d
> ntsvinst -c


That should correct the problem and allow you start and stop it as a service. Make sure you do this during a maintenance window!

Team Concert Build Engine init script

Currently the Rational Team Concert build engine does not include an init.d script for those running build engines on Linux. This is analogous to Windows services and allow the jbe to run automagically at startup. Instead, you must rely on system administrators having the knowledge of how to write these from scratch. Currently there is a work item proposed for future iterations of Team Concert, but until then, you can suffice to use the one provided here. Look at the end of the script for other instructions.


#!/bin/sh
### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides: Rational Team Concert Build System
# Required-Start: $network
# Required-Stop: $network
# Default-Start: 2 3 5
# Short-Description: Rational Team Concert Build System
# Description: Rational Team Concert Build System - jazz build engine
### END INIT INFO

JAVA_HOME="/usr/java/latest/bin/java"
BUILDID="buildagent"
REPOSITORY="https://192.138.1.100:9443/jazz"
USERID="buildagent"
ENGINEID="wwwBuilder1"
JBE_LOGFILE=/opt/IBM/jazz/jbe.out
PASSFILE=/opt/IBM/jazz/buildsystem/buildengine/eclipse/pass.txt

case "$1" in
'start')
echo "Starting the Jazz Build Engine"
if [ -e $JBE_LOGFILE ]
then
mv $JBE_LOGFILE $JBE_LOGFILE.old
fi
echo "Starting jbe process. stdout/stderr redirected to $JBE_LOGFILE"
nohup ./jbe -repository $REPOSITORY -vm $JAVA_HOME -engineId $ENGINEID -userId $BUILDID -passwordFile $PASSFILE  -sleeptime 1 >$JBE_LOGFILE 2>&1 &
;;

'stop')
echo "Killing jbe processes:" $(ps -C jbe -o pid=)
ps -C jbe -o pid= | xargs kill
;;

'restart')
$0 stop
sleep 5
$0 start
;;
*)
echo "Usage: $0 { start | stop | restart }"
;;
esac
exit 0



Once you drop the above code into the file /etc/init.d/jbe, run the following command as root:


chkconfig --add jbe