IBM Connections 4: Java out-of-memory error during plugin generation

Another issue we now saw several times during the installation of IBM Connections 4 (both times a medium deployment option has been choosen):

If you want to generate the plugin for the IBM HTTP server you might see the Websphere Deployment Manager crashing with a Java “out of memory” error. To avoid that you should increase the maximum Java Heapsize for the Deployment manager process to 1024 before generating the plugin. You can do that in the Integrated System Console -> System Administration -> Deployment Manager -> Java and Process Management -> Process definition ->Java Virtual Machine -> Maximum heap size)

In the installation wiki only the Java heap size for the application servers are mentioned, but no information is give that you should increase the size for the DMgr as well. 

IBM Connections 4: Install into a Websphere node with no application server installed

At a customer site we did have a problem installing IBM Connections 4. The customer had installed the Websphere node without an default application server. This should normally not be a problem as the application servers for Connections will be installed by the Installation Manager later..

In the IBM Connections Installation Manager there is a panel for the Cognos installation. If you do not want to install Cognos at that time, you should be able to just enter a dummy user/password and press the “Validate” button. Even if the validation is not successful you should get the “Next” button to go forward to the next panel.

However: If your node,,into which you want to install Connections, does not yet contain an application server, the Installation Manager is unable to read the value for the port number from the application server profile. And without a port number you are unable to proceed to the next panel.

As a workaround you need to close the Installation Manager, create a dummy application server via the Integrated System Console into the node where you want to install Connections, and then start the installation again. Now the Installation Manager does find the server profile and can read the port number from there and you are able to proceed.

After your installation has been completed you can then delete the dummy application server again.

This is for sure a bug and IBM Support will write a technote for it (and hopefully this will be fixed in the next release as well ;-))

Windows 7: System Error 67 trying to connect to network share

On my Windows 7 PC I suddenly had problems to connect to Windows shares (neither shares from other Windows computers nor my ReadyNAS). I always got the message “”System error 67 has occurred. The network name cannot be found” . This did happen even if I tried to connect to the IP address instead of the Netbios name.

The root cause for that issue was a missing entry “LanmanWorkstation” in the network provider registry key:

HKLM->System->CurrentControlSet->Control->NetworkProvider-> HwOrder

This key did contained only the values “cbfs4,npnotes” but no longer “LanmanWorkstation”. After changing this key to “LanmanWorkstation,cbfs4,npnotes” everything worked fine again.

However, I still have no idea why this entry disappeared…

 

Tivoli Directory Integrator: Connect to MySQL Database

As I did not found it somewhere documented, here are the instructions to connect Tivoli Directory Integrator (TDI) to a MYSQL database:

  • Get the MySQL JDBC driver
  • Copy the file “mysql-connector-java-5.1.22-bin.jar” (the version number may differ!)  from the archive to “<TDI install directory\ jars\3rdparty\others”
  • Restart TDI if it is already running
  • In a TDI assembly line add a new component of type “Database Connectors (JDBC)”
  • As “Database Type” select “JDBC”
  • As “JDBC URL” use: “jdbc:mysql://<dbhostname>:<port>/<databasename>” (e.g. “jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/test”)
  • As “JDBC Driver” use “com.mysql.jdbc.Driver”

Now you should be able to successfully connect to your MySQL database.

Fix Pack 34 for Quickr 8.5.1 adds support for Domino 8.5.3

Now you can use the latest version of Domino (8.5.3) together with your IBM Quickr 8.5.1 server. The newest fixpack 34 adds support for this and the Internet Explorer 9 Compatibility mode as well. From now on there are two different versions of the Quickr fix pack: One for Domino 8.5.3 FP1 and one for customers running still Domino 8.5.1 FP5.

Although there are two codestreams maintained I strongly recommend upgrading your servers to Domino 8.5.3FP1. Not only that you will benefit from many improvements in stability it also can be that the Domino 8.5.1FP5 version of the hotfix will no longer be available in future.

Customers using DAOS together with Quickr should, in any case, upgrade to Domino 8.5.3FP1.

You can download the newest fixpack  from here.

You will need to install a hotfix on top of Domino 8.5.3 FP1 as well which can be download from here.

Error (0xc0000225) installing Windows 7 on VirtualBox

If you get this error while trying to install Windows 7 or Windows 2008 Server within a Virtualbox guest

you need to do the following to resolve the issue:

  • Power Down the Virtual Machine
  • Go to the Settings of the Virtual Machine
  • Under “System” tick on “Enable IO APIC”

[Reference]

Restore Notes Folders: restore deleted folders with just a single mouse click

Lialis has published a new version of a tool called “Restore Folders” which allows either users or administrators to easily recreate folders in a user mailfile which have been deleted.

Key features:

  • Restore deleted folders in Lotus Notes mail files by just clicking one button, by you or by the user independently
  • Simple identification of deleted folders
  • Documents are attached again automatically to the restored folders
  • Upload folders from a (local) mail file and restore folders to a (server based) mail file
  • Full Lotus Notes solution, suitable for R7 and R8
  • Support for Domino server running on Linux OS

You can download a free  evaluation version (up to 10 users) from here.  The manual folder restore by an administrator is 100% free.

Some more information:

YouTube movie explaining how your users benefits from this solution.
YouTube move explaining how to install this solution.
Try this tool by downloading it.
Installation guide.

Secure IBM Sametime Meetings URL

A customer just asked how he can prevent that Sametime uses the e-mail address of a user to create the ID of a meeting room. Because of that the user’s e-mail address is beeing revealed to everyone which might not be something we would like to do especially on external meeting servers.

There is already a solution for that available which is described in this technote.

Before you can use that feature you will need to install hotfix JJON-8WGPF9 or later on your meeting server(s). If you are not only using web based meetings but also the meeting rooms in the Sametime client you will also need to use the ST client version 20120207-1900 or later.

After activating that feature newly created rooms will use a unique ID independent from the mail address. Older rooms however will still have the same ID as before.

Be aware: UUID based rooms are not backward compatible i.e you will not be able to use them via older Sametime clients. But rooms created via older clients will still be usable in the updated clients.

[Tnx to Vincent]

iOS 6: My first experiences

I upgraded both iPhone 4 and iPad 2 to iOS 6 this morning. Here is a short list of my first experiences:

  • The feature I was really waiting for is the “Do not disturb” mode. It now allows me to be available via phone at night for family members but not being disturbed by incoming mails, messages or other phone calls. So far the feature works as it should, with one exception: If you do have contacts which are linked to another contact and put them into your “Favourites” group, then calls by that contacts will not come through the filter. As soon as you unlink this contact it does work again. For me it sounds like a bug (or I maybe did not yet understand the linked contact feature).
  • In general the phone feels a bit more responsive. But that might be just a feeling 😉
  • The VPN configuration does now really save my password .. something which was not working for me in 5.1.1. Unfortunately the VPN connection is still disconnected as soon as you put the phone in standby mode. So I still cannot use my FritzPhone app to be connected to my home phone if I am not at home.
  •  If you search for an App the result does now display in which folder the App is located. Something I missed often.
  •  If you update your Apps you no longer need to enter the password for your Apple ID. Also something I like.
  •  The German keyboard has now an additional new layout where the German Umlaute are displayed. It does help on the iPad but I will disable that on the iPhone due to the smaller keyboard.
  •  Shared photo streams: Something I think will not use. I would have liked it if you were able to send a link to anybody even if they do not have an Apple ID and iCloud. So I would be able to do fast sharing of photos with anybody else. However as it is limited to Apple iCloud access it is quite useless for me.
  •  The new Maps application is quite a mess and I would call it the biggest disadvantage and disappointment of iOS 6. You will find e.g. restaurants which no longer exist or which are located somewhere else in the meantime, the satellite view is worse compared with Google Maps and so on. You will find many, many complaints in the Internet already. Either Apple needs to do rework here very fast or Google needs to publish a native app. In the meantime I have created an icon for Google Maps on the Home screen and use that as a workaround.

So if I look at the list above: Only small things. So not sure if it is worth upgrading … However: At least it is free 😉