IBM RELATED NEWS & PRESS RELEASES

IBM is beta testing the new Version 4 of Host On-Demand. Host On-Demand provides easy access to your mainframe, AS/400, UNIX, or other terminal-based system using your Java-enabled web browser. New graphical terminal capabilities, more flexible printing support, and other advanced features make Host On-Demand Version 4 a better choice than ever.

Host On-Demand runs almost anywhere: just about any Java-enabled server or client will do, including OS/2 Warp.

To sign up for the beta program and download your own copy of Host On-Demand V4 (beta), visit IBM's Internet web site at http://www.software.ibm.com/network/hostondemand/downloads/beta/v4.

NOTE: The download may be up to 110 MB in size, spread across only two files. A high speed connection to the Internet is strongly recommended. Also, please be sure to read (and save!) the two help files (Readme and Installation) prior to downloading Host On-Demand V4 Beta.

FixPak-10 (XR-M101) for OS/2 Warp 4 was posted February 26th for download on IBM's Boulder ftp site at:

ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/ps/products/os2/fixes/v4warp/english-us/xr_m010/

There are 17 disk image files, amounting to almost 23 MBytes: xr_m010.1dk to xr_m010.hdk. The first disk includes 5 readme files, which are also posted for separate download.

Corrective Service Facility F.140, (now known as a FixTool) is required for installation of FixPak-10. Filename is cs_140.exe, 714,819 bytes. You can download this from:

ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/ps/products/os2/fixtool/english-us/

I strongly recommend the use of FastKick for installation. This allows direct installation from your hard drive or via RSU, and eliminates the need for tedious, time-consuming jobs of making diskettes from disk images and installing from the floppies.

If the latest version of FastKick (updated for CSF F.140) is used, it's not necessary to also use cs_140.exe.

The updated FastKick file and instructions for installation of FixPak-10 via hard drive or RSU may be found on Dan Casey's Abraxis website: http://members.iquest.net/~dcasey/

Click on "OS/2 EZ Reference" at the top of the frame on the left side of the Abraxis home page; then click again on the "Applying FixPaks ..." item. Now select either the Image Files or RSU installation method, which will bring up detailed installation instructions. It's a good idea to print this.

In either case, the updated FastKick is needed. Click on the highlighted area of line "1. You'll need FastKick 140." to download fastkick140.zip, 514900 bytes.

I used the image files from the hard drive method. Installation was easy and fast. In my system, a few miscelaneous updates had been previously made which installed files of newer vintage than some of the files in FixPak-10. There were 10 such instances. I chose not to overwrite the more recent files in 9 of them. The only exception was for "unpack2.exe" where it was indicated that failure to replace would result in the entire system not being at the same CSD level.

In the few days since FixPak-10 installation, Warp 4 operation has continued to be stable, with no noticeable problems.

NEW NORTON ANTIVIRUS PROGRAM FOR OS/2

Complaints have been made by many users of the discontinued IBM AntiVirus product for OS/2 who have been rebuffed when attempting to order the new Norton AV program for OS/2 from Symantec.

The problem seems to be that they have contacted Symantec's Tech Support Department which is unaware that the multi-platform CD-ROM is available free for registered IBM AV (personal) users.

The correct place to contact at Symantec is the "IBM Customers" Department: 800/742-2493, option key 2. The OS/2 article in the February PACS DataBus erroneously indicated option key 1. This has been corrected in the February OS/2 article posted on the OS/2 SIG website at http://www.phillyos2.org. Alternatively, you can also reach the IBM Customers Department by calling at 800/441-7234, option key 8. I spoke to these folks as recently as March 4th, and was advised that the Norton AntiVirus Solution CD-ROM, Release 3.03 of January 1999 (multi-platform, including OS/2) is still available free to registered IBM AV users.

Several non-users of the IBM AV program have also inquired about purchasing this Norton CD-ROM, with negative results. I have no information about personal user purchases of this product.

One OS/2 user posted a message reporting that he had been advised by Symantec that the Norton AV for OS/2 would be available, maybe next week, for free download from Symantec's website at:

http://shop.symantec.com/ibm/oem.html

The Symantec rep I spoke to in the IBM Customers Department said he had no knowledge of this. We'll just have to wait and see.

IBM released a new service update for Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp on February 12, 1999. The service update is now available for download from IBM Software Choice at http://www.software.ibm.com/swchoice.

The following Netscape products have been updated:

- Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp
- Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp with Strong Encryption
- OS/2 Plug-In Pack Version 2.1

The Plug-In Programmer's Toolkit is not being updated as part of this service release.

Enhancements in this service update include:

- Official support for the Java 1.1.7 release
- Support for 16-color display adapters (e.g. VGA)
- Fixes for known defects.

This "4.04b" release can be distinguished from other releases by selecting "Help" and then "About Communicator" from the Netscape menu bar. The title bar will then display the service release date. This new service release is dated 990212, and the original release of Netscape Communicator 4.04 was dated 980928.

ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q1. Netscape changes the version number with each new release (4.04, 4.05, ...) Why doesn't IBM?

A1. There are contract restrictions on changing the version number. So this service release is being dubbed "4.04b," and the date code has been added to the "About Communicator" information to help distinguish service releases. (See above.)

Q2. Is IBM keeping pace with Netscape fixes?

A2. Generally yes. For example, the original 4.04 release for OS/2 Warp included the long name file attachment security fix incorporated into 4.06 on other platforms. However, due to platform differences an exact comparison is sometimes difficult. As another example, Netscape Communicator for OS/2 Warp takes advantage of the newer IBM-delivered Java VM.

If you have a support contract with IBM, you can open a problem incident for Netscape Communicator for OS/2 Warp just as you would with any other IBM software product. Defects need not be present in other platform versions before being addressed by IBM.

Q3. I thought Java 1.1 (and higher) requires 256 colors. Why is IBM adding 16-color support to Netscape Communicator?

A3. Java will run on 16-color systems, but the results may be unpredictable. However, since Netscape Communicator can be used to install new software components on OS/2 Warp (with the IBM Feature Installer), and since some of those systems may be running in 16-color mode, IBM has added this capability to Netscape Communicator. A 256-color (or better) display is still recommended for most applications.

Q4. The original service release seems to work fine with Java 1.1.7. Why do I need the update?

A4. IBM may ask you to install the Netscape Communicator service update before troubleshooting problems with Java applets when using Java 1.1.7. Additional testing has been performed with this combination of releases.

Q5. Is there any charge for this service release?

A5. No. If you hold a valid license for any Version 4 release of OS/2 Warp (including OS/2 Warp Server), or a license for WorkSpace On-Demand, then you are also granted a license for Netscape Communicator for OS/2 Warp. See the README and LICENSE.NET files accompanying the Netscape Communicator download package for details.