The first set of fixes for Java 1.1.7A were posted at the IBM
Hursley site on January 11th at:
ftp://ncc.hursley.ibm.com/pub/java/fixes/os2/11/117/
They were also posted January 12th at IBM's Boulder FTP site: ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/software/java/fixes/os2/11/117/
The fixes are in the usual format of runtime.exe, samples.exe and toolkit.exe. Approximately 10.5 MB altogether.
The base Java 1.1.7A must be first installed before you attempt to install these fixes. If you haven't already installed base Java 1.1.7A via FI v.1.2.3, do it now. Java 1.1.7A and FI 1.2.3 are both free downloads from IBM's Software Choice catalog site (see POSEIDON.088 message of November 26th for details).
Installation raises Java 1.1.7A to build level of January 8, 1999. Type "java -fullversion" and you should see:
"JDK 1.1.7A IBM build o117-19990108 (JIT enabled: javax)"
SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 Release 1.1 will ship on 12/16/98 in English. Local language versions will follow shortly thereafter.
SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 contains the 5 primary suite applications:
Word Pro for OS/2 Warp 4
1-2-3 for OS/2 Warp 4
Freelance Graphics for OS/2 Warp 4
Approach for OS/2 Warp 4
Organizer for OS/2 Warp 4
These applications contain all of the features outlined in the SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 Overview Spec Sheet.
SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 R1.1 Maintenance Release Highlights
Microsoft Word 97 and Excel 97 Import filters
Microsoft Office 97 filters are available in 1-2-3 and Word Pro. The File - Open and File - Save functions in 1-2-3 and Word Pro maintain as much data and functionality as possible.
Additional Y2K Support
SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 Release 1.1 is designed to be year 2000-ready. It has been fully tested and meets the Lotus guidelines for Year 2000 readiness, which means that when used in accordance with its associated documentation, SmartSuite Release 1.1 is capable of correctly processing, providing and/or receiving date data within and between the 20th and 21st centuries, provided that all products (for example, hardware, software and firmware) used with the product properly exchange accurate date data with it.
Euro Support
You can insert the Euro symbol into any SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 application, Release 1.1, if you are using:
To insert the symbol, press ALT+213 and then press Enter. The Euro symbol will appear in the document.
In SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 Release 1.1, the Euro symbol is defined as a currency format in 1-2-3, Word Pro, and Approach.
IBM WorkSpace on Demand installation documentation
Installing in WorkSpace On-Demand 2.0 is different than installing on a file server. Complete instructions for installing Release 1.1 in the WorkSpace On-Demand 2.0 environment are available in the READWSOD.TXT file located in the root directory of the SmartSuite CD-ROM.
For more information on Lotus Smartsuite for OS/2 Warp 4 please visit http://www.lotus.com/smartsuiteos2.
SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 R1.1 Operating System and Memory Requirements:
Notes:
1. The disk space shown above is for a "Default" install of each of the SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 applications. A Custom install option allows for the selection of optional product features that require additional disk space or de-selection of default install features to reduce the disk space required.
2. The OS and Memory requirements above reflect two changes; (A) FixPak 6 or higher is now required and (B) The SmartSuite Shared Component disk space requirment has increased from 38 to 41Mb.
3. FixPak 6 is NOT included in this release. Customers must obtain and install FixPak 6 (or higher) before installing SmartSuite.
Looking for the fastest possible Java performance on both your clients and servers?
IBM continues to lead the industry in delivering state-of-the-art, high performance Java(TM) solutions. And the benchmarks are here to prove it...
The comprehensive performance reports for IBM OS/2 Warp Developer Kit, Java(TM) Edition, Version 1.1.7 have been completed. These reports provide additional information about the performance enhancements the OS/2 Java team achieved in the 1.1.7 release. This report in its entirety can be viewed and printed from http://www.software.ibm.com/os/warp/performance/jdk117_os2perf.htm.
On the client, Warp 4 or WorkSpace On-Demand. The best transition to thin clients and Java applications.
Take a look at how IBM's Java versions have pulled way ahead of the Microsoft JVM (Version 2.0). When IBM released JDK 1.1.4 some time ago the performance was comparable, but now JDK 1.1.7 is nearly TWICE AS FAST!
On the server, Warp Server Advanced SMP
Considering Java, thin clients, and/or network computing? It's time to pay attention to the new Warp Server for e-business. With the addition of WebSphere and web-based server management tools, Warp Server for e-business can easily keep up with your performance needs. (See http://www.software.ibm.com/os/warp/warp-server.)
Warp Server, Simply the Best SPECjvm98 Performer
The SPECjvm98 score for the OS/2 JDK 1.1.7 on an IBM Netfinity 350 MHz with 256MB RAM was an astounding 21.4. This score represents the best score as reported to SPEC during the fourth quater of 1998, and it stands at the top of the best five JDK performers available at the SPEC web site. (See "Chart 8 - SPECjvm98 Benchmark - Top 5 performers.")
So why suffer with slow Internet solutions? Take another look at what IBM has accomplished with its certified Java(TM) technologies.
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.
