NOVEMBER 25, 1998 - With today's release of IBM OS/2 Warp Developer Kit, Java Edition, Version 1.1.7 (based on Sun Microsystems Java 1.1.7A maintenance release), IBM sets a new standard of performance for Java Virtual Machines (JVM). In lab testing, the OS/2 1.1.7 version showed impressive improvements over the 1.1.6 release for both client and server environments.
JMark, the Ziff Davis benchmark for clients, measures CPU, graphics and text on screen performance. IBM comparisons indicated that JDK 1.1.7 performed over 40% better than JDK 1.1.6 for the cumulative JMark tests. The results from the industry standard benchmark for server performance, Volano, were equally impressive. All tests were performed on a Pentium 266 MHz system. On the 1-way processor, the OS/2 Warp Developer Kit, Java Edition, Version 1.1.7 transferred an average of 385 messages per second more than the 1.1.6 JDK. On the 4-way processor, the difference between the two versions was nearly 600 messages transfers per second.
Independently, while 1.1.7 was still in beta test, InfoWorld conducted a number of server side benchmark tests. The September 14, 1998 article declared that the OS/2 JVM "caused at least a few minor tremors." The OS/2 Java Development Kit (JDK) results surpassed the Windows NT JVM by two to three times for all but one data point and did at least that for only the best Linux numbers.
In addition to the substantial performance improvements, this release offers support of Eurocurrency and a multilingual installation process. Independent software vendors (ISVs) can package the 1.1.7 Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for the exclusive use with their applications.
This capability keeps applications immune to any changes that a user makes to his system JVM. For example, if a developer writes and tests her software on the Java 1.1.6 release and a user installs a later release, the program becomes vulnerable to glitches caused by the subtle differences between versions. By shipping a JRE with the application, the ISV is assured that his program will run with the tested JVM.
Press Points
InfoWorld: No More Mr. Slow for Java, September 14, 1998,
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayTC.pl?/980914analysis.htm
In an attempt to determine if Java performed acceptably on the server, InfoWorld conducted a number of benchmarks on Java Virtual Machines from leading vendors. The best quote in the article is, "... if Java is supposed to be slow, someone forgot to tell IBM." From there the article relays in detail their testing approach and the results.
Java 1.1.7 is a free download via the Software Choice web site: http://service.boulder.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/catalog.htm
There are three large self-extracting archive files:
javainrt.zip 8,949,279 b. Runtime pkg (wo/unicode font)
javainuf.zip 17,947,020 b. Runtime pkg (w/unicode font)
javaintk.zip 13,658,110 b. Development package
User feedback, based on a pre-release version, has been quite enthusiastic about significant increases in speed.
Before downloading these files, please read the Software Choice Download Instructions page very carefully, especially the section pertaining to archive extraction options -di and -ov.
Installation of Feature Installer v.1.2.3 is advised prior to installation of the new Java 1.1.7. FI v.1.2.3 is also a free download from the Software Choice web site.
"All things come round to him who will but wait." - Longfellow, Tales of a Wayside Inn, The Student's Tale
After much anticipation, IBM brings some of the best Internet technology to the OS/2 world with the September 30th delivery of Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp. As the name implies, Netscape Communicator 4.04 is more than just a browser. This complete Internet client for OS/2 Warp 4, Warp Servers and WorkSpace On-Demand offers e-mail, collaboration, news group access and web page creation.
This product facilitates the transition to the network computing model with the support of the latest Java 1.1 versions including the OS/2 Warp Developer's Toolkit for Java 1.1.6 and all previously supported functions such as native OS/2 multimedia plug-ins and support for the 16-bit Windows plug-ins. Users can immediately take advantage of enhanced Web browsing capabilities with Netscape Communicator's support for page features such as HTML 3.2, dynamic HTML, Javascript 1.2 and trusted applets.
IBM is also pleased to announce that this product is available in 18 languages including Polish, Russian, Hungarian, Finnish, Norwegian, Czech, Chinese Traditional and Chinese Simplified.
This product is provided at no charge through Software Choice found at: http://www.software.ibm.com/swchoice/. Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp -- strong encryption (128 bit) version is also available on Software Choice for the US and Canada. Navigator 2.02 will be supported through Jan 31, 2001. Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp does not replace Netscape Navigator 2.02 for OS/2 on OS/2 Warp 3 or OS/2 Warp Connect.
For more detailed information on Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp see http://www.software.ibm.com/os/warp and http://www.software.ibm.com/os/warp/library.
Aurora Status Update
On October 13, 1998, IBM will announce the official name of the next release of OS/2 Warp Server on the Aurora Web site. Shortly thereafter, on October 16, 1998, no more registrations for the beta will be accepted.
However, the Aurora Web site will still remain active with a customer poll. The most recent question posed was: What processor family is predominantly supporting LAN Server and OS/2 Warp Server? The results indicated that more than 90% of the respondents are running Pentium class machines. A new question will be posted approximately every two weeks.
Are you interested in the best Java(TM) performance?
InfoWorld has just completed testing of a variety of server operating systems and Java virtual machines (JVMs), including a beta version of JDK 1.1.7 with Warp Server SMP. The results?
Well, here's a quote from that report:
"To fill this need, the InfoWorld Test Center built a server-side benchmark capable of accurately exercising these systems. In looking at the results, the good news is that if Java is supposed to be slow, someone forgot to tell IBM, because they are taking performance very much into their own hands and are producing Java virtual machines (JVMs), operating systems, and hardware that seem almost uniquely optimized for server-side Java."
And another:
"What did cause at least a few minor tremors was OS/2, and here a direct comparison is quite valid. Except for the first data point, the OS/2 numbers are two to three times more than the NT numbers, and at least that for only the best Linux numbers. It seems that IBM has done some good work, although the JIT compiler in IBM JDK for OS/2 is still in beta testing and may not be the same when it is released. Changing the garbage collection settings improved performance a little, but not enough to make it worth having to restart your computer to clean it out. No where else did garbage collection make a significant difference either."
Performance matters, and IBM is totally committed to developing high performance Java and web technologies for all its platforms.
Need more information? You can read the entire InfoWorld report on the Internet at http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayTC.pl?/980914analysis.htm.
For more information on IBM's "Aurora" e-business server please visit http://www.software.ibm.com/os/warp/aurora.
