IBM RELATED NEWS & PRESS RELEASES



FIXPAK 7 FOR WARP 4 RELEASED

FixPak-7 for OS/2 Warp 4 was released on June 26th. It may be downloaded via ftp from ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/ps/products/os2/fixes/v4warp/english-us/xr_m007

There are 16 disk images, 7 text files, and a new "FixTool" file, fixt138b.exe, which replaces previous "kicker" disks, and must be used for installation of FixPak-7. Altogether, almost 23 MB.

A free web page at http://www.warpcity.com/report12.html was set up by Warp City which describes how to install FixPak-7 in 3 easy steps, without the need for diskettes. To do this, you will also need the file, fastkick.zip, available at Hobbes.

IBM also posted FP7 for automatic update (RSU) but a corrupted file was discovered, and it was taken down. Today, June 29th, Tim Martin, The OS/2 Guy, reported that it has been reposted on IBM's automatic software update page, and that the instructional web page will be removed from Warp City. If you can no longer find it on Warp City, please e-mail me, and I'll e-mail a copy back to you in plain ASCII text format.

Users (including me) report that FixPak-7 seems very stable.

- Larry Lavins
OS/2 SIG Leader, Philadelphia Area Computer Society
June 29, 1998

IBM ANNOUNCES NEW SOFTWARE CHOICE FEATURES

IBM has released new feature enhancements to the IBM Software Choice home page at http://www.software.ibm.com/swchoice:

- Java(TM) 1.1.6 for OS/2 Warp

Provides the latest, state-of-the-art Java capabilities for Warp Server, WorkSpace On-Demand, and OS/2 Warp. Now can take advantage of SMP (Symmetric Multiprocessing) capabilities in Warp Server; also offers significant performance enhancements on all supported platforms.

[Please note that Java 1.02 is not Year 2000 Ready, according to Javasoft. Therefore Java 1.1.6 (only) has been tested and is recommended on unsupported Version 3 releases of OS/2 Warp.]

- Netscape Navigator 2.02 for OS/2 Warp (June, 1998 refresh)

The latest bug fixes are now incorporated into Netscape Navigator 2.02 (June refresh). Also supports Java 1.1.6 for state-of-the-art Java capabilities while surfing the Internet or your own intranet. This refresh is issued in anticipation of Netscape Communicator 4 for OS/2 Warp, due later this year.

In addition, IBM has released the LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) Toolkit for Java and OS/2 Warp. This toolkit will be made available to Software Choice subscribers on CD-ROM only. Subscribers include customers who have purchased the Software Choice Subscription Plan, IBM Software Advantage Upgrade Protection Option (UPO), or IBM/Lotus Passport Advantage subscription for Warp Server, WorkSpace On-Demand, and/or OS/2 Warp 4.

The LDAP Toolkit provides programmers the ability to write applications which work with industry standard LDAP servers, including Lotus Domino for Warp Server. LDAP provides common directory services for groupware, e-mail, security, and other applications.

- Timothy F. Sipples
IBM Network Computing Software (Chicago)
http://www.secant.com/sipples
June 19, 1998

TIMOTHY SIPPLES ON IBM'S ANTIVIRUS

Several people have asked for a little more detail on the IBM Antivirus press release, announcing a new partnership with Symantec's Norton Antivirus product line. In particular, many people have asked what support for additional "IBM platforms" means in the press release.

Indeed that does mean OS/2 Warp. As many of you know, Symantec does not yet have a version of Norton Antivirus for OS/2 Warp. While I cannot speak for Symantec, the information I have is that Symantec intends to develop and release Norton Antivirus for OS/2 Warp. In the meantime, Symantec has been given rights to offer IBM Antivirus for OS/2 Warp to its customers until they can close this gap in their product line.

In addition to that good news, this is also good news for Macintosh users. IBM did not have a Macintosh version of IBM Antivirus, and it was a gap in the IBM product line. Symantec does offer Norton Antivirus for Macintosh, a well respected product. It's also great news for Lotus Notes users, because Norton's got that covered, too.

Finally, many people are wondering what happens to their Upgrade Protection Option and Subscription Plan contracts with IBM Antivirus. If you do have such a contract, keep an eye on your mailbox. IBM and Symantec will be sending you official notice of this partnership and will provide details on how you can take advantage of Norton Antivirus should you wish to do so.

If you missed the press release you can find it on the Internet at http://www.av.ibm.com/.

- Timothy F. Sipples
IBM Network Computing Software
Chicago, IL, USA
May 20, 1998