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Microsoft spreading more FUD

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I know that the title of this is not unusual. We’re all used to MS spreading FUD about Lotus, but they recently sent out something to customers basically insinuating that Lotus will diminish investments in Domino and existing apps will not run on IBM Next Generation platforms. It basically states that there are no migration paths and that you have to make a costly swtich to Websphere and J2EE yadda yadda. Well, IBM gave their rebuttal, and the document is very good. It was given to some business partners to peruse. Unfortunately I cannot share it with you as I asked if I could post it (because I know you would all love to read it) but I was very nicely told to hold off 🙁 I was also told that we might see it publically released soon. If nothing else, the info would almost have to show up in the My Boss Loves Microsoft presentation that Ed gives so brilliantly. If I find out more, I’ll let you know…

Upgrading to Domino 6.5 – Went off (almost) without a hitch…

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I have a Domino environment that consists of three Domino servers and a Domino/Sametime server.  This past weekend we upgraded all the servers from Domino 5.0.12 to 6.5.  Left Sametime at 5.0.12 because I wasn’t convinced that upgrading it would work.  So I held off.  Everything went very well, except I totally forgot about one gotcha that took me awhile to fix later.

Basically one server was set up to use IIS as its HTTP stack.  Well, 6.X uses a WAS Plugin to take care of it instead.  So, just doing the upgrade broke access to .NSF’s via a browser.  Ugh, totally forgot about checking on that and it’s NOT listed as something to look for in the upgrade red and yellow books.  Anyway, I looked through the redbook and followed directions, and GASP, it didn’t work.  Granted, it was a redbook that I got last Lotusphere, so it was a little out of date.

Anyway, I headed to notes.net (it will ALWAYS be Notes.net to me) and started searching.  Looks like I wasn’t the only one perplexed.  The documentation in the redbook WAS actually wrong.  After searching a while, I found the proper syntax and finally got everything up and running.  Now this isn’t a trivial task.  You need to copy the websphere plugin files to directories you first have to create on the server.  You also need to edit the registry and add some info.  You then need to set up an XML config file correctly, and THEN you need to add the proper virtual directories and ISAPI filters to IIS.  Whew… what a lot of work to use a sucky web server.

Anyway, I wanted to share this info for anyone getting ready to upgrade.  Make sure you have the right info before you go in to the IIS configs.  It will save you a ton of time.

Chicago Notes User Group – Granite

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Just got back from my user group meeting in downtown Chicago.  Granite is a group of tech professionals that work with Lotus and IBM technologies.  It’s a user group that meets once every other month and gets speakers from all over the country.  We’ve had in countless vendors as well as such luminaries as Ed Brill.  If you are a Notes professional in the Chicagoland area, you really owe it to yourself to come on down and become a member.  It’s great networking, you get a ton of information, and you can help your peers solve their Domino quandaries.  Web developers, Notes Developers, Websphere geeks, Workplace junkies and Admins all welcome!

Also as of today, yours truly has joined the Granite Board of Directors.  I’m the Technical Director which means I’m the one that will be keeping the Quickplace up to date.  It’s fairly ugly aesthetically at this point, so I’ll see what I can do there.  I’ll also see if I can update the logo to be a little more, shall we say, modern.  I’m really looking forward to giving a little back to the Granite community.

Partnerships and Software

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First, thanks for all the well wishes folks.  Life has been good.  My daughter is doing great and we’re getting a LITTLE more sleep now.  Anyway, it’s been a week really devoid of tech for me.  It’s kinda been like tech rehab for me!  But, recently I’ve been working on something that makes me wonder about some things about PartnerWorld for Software at Lotus.

You see, in addition to working as the Manager of Groupware Services for a global telecom company, I have my own side business.  I’m sure many of you do as well.  Basically I’m a consultant that helps with internet technologies for small businesses.  I don’t do a lot of work, but it’s nice for the extra money and experience each year.

Well a couple of weeks ago a got an email to see if I wanted to become a Microsoft partner.  I know what you’re thinking.  Why would I consider becoming a Microsoft partner?  Well, the answer simply is that I think Microsoft makes some good software, and when I’m consulting I deal with MS software all the time.  Granted, I hate some MS Software such as Exchange, or their messy HTML conversion, but for the most part, MS is a good company if you ignore their FUD.

That being said, there was another reason to become a partner.  The software package.  What I’m speaking of is a package of software including licenses for most all of the latest Windows products.  XP, Office, W2K3 Server, the whole lot.  Most of these included 10 CAL’s as well.  The software is for internal use only to run your business and demo products.  The cost, $299.  Yes, three hundred dollars.

After seeing this, I started to wonder about PartnerWorld for Software.  That subscription is $2000, and doesn’t seem to cover as much other than quick access to the software.  I would think that IBM would be able to match those prices if not do it cheaper.  Hell, I’d love to be able to partner as a very small business without the 2K outlay.  All I know is that what Microsoft is doing is going to work.  I’m going to see a lot of the MS products installed at my business soon…

Upgrading from R5.0.12 to R6.0.3 or R6.5?

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Well folks, it’s about time for me to upgrade my Notes infrastructure at work. We are currently on Domino 5.0.12 and I want to move to either 6.0.3 or 6.5. The question I have for all of you is, who has been through this upgrade and has there been a lot of pain involved?

The good thing for me (as far as the upgrade is concerned) is that I am only really running web apps on the servers.  No mail, and very little RPC. So, even though the upgrade may wreak havoc with mail, that’s not a lot of concern for me.  Also, I will upgrade my hub, and two app servers, but I want to keep my Sametime server running on R5 to avoid problems.  I am using Notes intranet password authentication for Sametime, so will the address book changes hurt me there?I do have the Redbook for Upgrading to Notes and Domino 6. It seems straightforward enough, but I wonder if there are any gotcha’s with 6.5???  Can any of you other gurus shed any light on the topic, or should I just take the plunge?

Who is all going to Lotusphere?

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Just thought I would try to get a gauge of how many of us in the Domino blogging community will be showing up to the ‘Sphere? What I would like to see us do is get everyone together for a meet-and-greet party. We could possibly crash the Gonzo Lotusphere party that Turtle throws every year and make ESPN really feel the Lotus presence.

So, are you going to show up for the ‘Sphere and when are you arriving. I’ll be getting there on Saturday afternoon and staying until Friday morning…

Recovered from Lotusphere

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Sorry it’s been a few weeks. First I was at Lotusphere for a week, and then I had a week to recover and catch up on everything I missed while I was away. Well one of the first things that happened was that my boss, Denis, was fired while I was away.

It was quite a shock, but not entirely unexpected. It really made me fear for my job as well because I didn’t know how my standing was as I was pretty close with Denis. Well it turns out that I’m fine and all of my worrying was unfounded. I guess you can’t help but be worried when something like that happens, but I guess I was going a little overboard, at least according to Jen 🙂

Well, on happier news, Lotusphere was pretty good despite the dark cloud hanging over it. I learned a lot, and I hope to put a lot of it to use soon here. Much of it had to do with new versions of Notes/Domino and Sametime, and I look forward to upgrading and putting my new knowledge to work. Lotusphere is a pretty cool thing. You learn about great technology, get to network with lots of cool people, and even get to talk directly with the engineers that CODE Notes. You cannot get any closer. In fact, the first night there I spent drinking with some big name Loti, and it was way cool to be so close. Lotusphere is like a giant family gathering where everyone actually gets along. Too cool.

On the Mom front, she’s doing well and her and Dad should be visiting next weekend. They are not going to recognize Kali. She is moving around so well now and talking up a storm. I can’t wait until they see her. It’s going to be awesome.

Breathing easier in Orlando

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Great news! Everything with Mom’s surgery went off without a hitch. She should be going home today and I’ll find out later tonight for sure. Basically everything got cleaned out well, and her blood pressure continued to stabilize all day. It’s such a relief. Kali would have really missed her grandma if something had happened. And of course Kali wouldn’t have been the only one!

Well now I can breathe easily and look forward to the trip tomorrow. We fly into Orlando and should get to the hotel around mid-day. The Lotusphere conference is always held at Walt Disney World in the Swan and Dolphin hotels. It’s a great conference where anywhere from 5 to 10 thousand people show up to learn more about Lotus technologies and to bond on our common love of the software. It’s part training, part networking, part marketing, and all fun. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lot of work too, but when you like it so much, it doesn’t feel so much like work 🙂

I’ve really been fortunate in my life to end up in the technology role that I’m in. The reason I got into this field in the first place was Lotus Notes. I learned the software at Bank of America, and used it to move out of banking and into technology. I owe a LOT to Lotus, because without that software, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I love where I am today, and I’m very fortunate and thankful. Thank you Lotus. Tomorrow I come to pay homage to you!