December 1998 Data Bus Article

On November 4th, IBM posted FixPak-9 for OS/2 Warp 4, but abruptly removed it on Nov 6th after receiving reports that some applications were hanging the system after FixPak-9 was installed: e.g., BackAgain/2, UniMaint and some Stardock products.

It was subsequently reported that the major culprit was a new PMWP.DLL file included in FixPak-9.

IBM restored FixPak-9 on November 11th for download at:
ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/ps/products/os2/fixes/v4warp/english-us/xr_m009/

There are 16 disk image files, amounting to a total of 22 MBytes.

Most users report good stable operation resulting from installation of the updated release of FixPak-9.

Surprise! Despite the imminent anticipated release of Java 1.1.7, a new Java 1.1.6 update was posted on November 11th by IBM Hursley at: ftp://ncc.hursley.ibm.com/pub/java/fixes/os2/11/116/

There were 3 update files: runtime.exe, samples.exe and toolkit.exe, plus a read.me file.

And then a second surprise! Only a week later, another new Java 1.1.6 update was posted on November 18 by IBM Hursley (same place). Another 3 new update files of same names and a read.me.

In both instances, all 3 files were installed here over the previous update in a matter of a couple of minutes. No problems seen, and no changes in performance were observed.

On November 25th, IBM posted the eagerly awaited public release of "IBM OS/2 Warp Developer Kit, Java (TM) Edition, Version 1.1.7." A very nice holiday gift from IBM.

Java 1.1.7 is a free download via the Software Choice Catalog web page:
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.

After installation, I immediately dialed up my ISP to see if all the pre-release test reports and other advertised performance increases would be confirmed on my system with Caffeinemark 3.0 benchmark tests. Wow! Did they ever. CM3 scores were about 65% higher with Java 1.1.7 than Java 1.1.6.

Everything you may have heard or read about Java 1.1.7 is absolutely true. No vaporware, no phony hype, no baloney! If you haven't yet downloaded and installed it, you don't know what you're missing. Don't delay. Do it now!

Execution of the 'java -fullversion' command brings up:
"JDK 1.1.7A IBM build o117-19981120 (JIT enabled javax)"

Nov. 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 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 client benchmark, 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 Volano benchmark for server performance 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/sec more than 1.1.6 JDK. On the 4-way processor, the difference between the two versions was nearly 600 message transfers/sec.

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 2 to 3 times for all but one data point and did atleast that for only the best Linux numbers. In this InfoWorld article, "No More Mr. Slow for Java," the best quote is "... if Java is supposed to be slow, someone forgot to tell IBM."

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 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 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 the program will run with the tested JVM.

Previously, OS/2 TCP/IP 4.1 has been available only to the paid subscribers of IBM's Software Choice. Sometime around November 20-21, it suddenly became a *free* download via the IBM Developer Site, after first signing up for a free Guest Registration.

Filename is tcp41os2_i1.zip ... 26,183,814 bytes.

TCP/IP 4.1 overview, features, system requirements, etc. may be found on the Software Choice site (see below), but it wasn't possible to get the free Guest Registration via Software Choice.

Unfortunately for all those who didn't jump at the opportunity, the freebie didn't last too long. IBM withdrew the free download after only a few days. No explanation was seen. Nevertheless, many OS2 users did take advantage of this offer without delay, and much like the proverbial early birds, they got the worm.

The only message from IBM Developer Connection Support was: "TCP/IP 4.1 is presently unavailable for download via DevCon. If it becomes available again for download, it is likely that it will not be available to Guest-level members. Please check our website after a few days to determine the latest status of TCP/IP v4.1 for OS/2 Warp."

Star Division is now offering a *free* license for the recently released StarOffice 5.0 Personal Edition for OS/2 (as well as several other platforms), for individual non-commercial use.

StarOffice has been optimized and expanded to include a large number of fully integrated components under a "Do Everything In One Place" concept: StarDesktop, StarWriter, StarCalc, StarDraw, StarImpress, StarBase, StarSchedule, StarMail, StarDiscussion, Web Publishing, and much more. Overviews and descriptions of all components may be seen at StarDivision's web site: http://www.stardivision.com/

You must first read & accept the license agreement and enter your name and email address online. You will then be given a personal key which will be required for installation setup and a temporary 30-day license.

Subsequently, after installation, you can register online for the full permanent free license.

Full details and download instructions may be found at: http://www.stardivision.com/so40/index.html

Please refer to POSEIDON.084 of November 15th for additional download and installation advice. This is a huge download, approximately 73.6 MB. You can also purchase Star Office 5.0 on CD-ROM and a printed manual for about $30.

Indelible Blue, a well-known catalog reseller of OS/2 products, in order to assist the OS/2 Product Team with product planning, is asking OS/2 users to answer a few questions regarding their willingness to purchase a client version of the Aurora server (now officially named "OS/2 Warp Server for eBusiness"), how much they would be willing to pay, etc.

This is rather important to the future of the OS/2 client p[roduct. All OS/2 users are urged to take a few moments to log on to the IB web site at http://www.indelible-blue.com, click on "OS/2 Aurora survey," answer the few survey questions, and then click on the "Submit Survey" at the bottom of the page. Please do it ASAP!

OS/2 SIG member David Moskowitz recently sent out a message to the worldwide OS/2 user community in regard to the possible publication of a new updated/revised version of "OS/2 Warp UNLEASHED." Most of us have already seen his complete message, which won't be repeated here in its entirety.

It's now up to the OS/2 user community to participate in this project. If you have constructive comments to make in regard to content, please send your suggestions on to David. And if you feel that you have a particular expertise, or can acquire expertise, in any relevant areas, please give serious consideration to volunteering to be a member of the team. Extracts from David's message follow:

There are two separate and related needs...

• Content, what you'd like to see the book cover.

• Volunteers... the other task is to put together a team to make this happen. OS/2 has not gotten smaller, it will take a team to make it happen. So, if you're interested in writing a chapter or two for the book, let me know (I also need to know your field of expertise, too ;-)).

Thank you!!!

David Moskowitz
Featured author "OS/2 Warp UNLEASHED"

On November 18th, Dan Porter, President of InnoVal Systems Solutions, Inc. posted a message endorsing the San Jose U.S. District Court decision in the Sun vs Microsoft case regarding Java. He also revealed InnoVal's current plans for the J Street Mailer.

Porter said "Within the next two weeks we will release a new version of J Street Mailer. This is primarily a maintenance release. We felt we had to do this before pursuing further innovations. Following this release, we will work with users to try and find a consensus on the features most needed."

"We are working in a very tightened-down market and we find that we must start doing things differently. One thing we are doing is eliminating telephone technical support and email technical support beyond thirty days. It is too costly. I have a choice to make about our resources and I would rather put money and effort into product development and improvement as well as our profitable consulting business. These changes in technical support will cover all of products including Web Willy Watch, Post Road Mailer, J Street Mailer, and Hacksaw."

"InnoVal will monitor the newsgroups and participate in end-user support as time permits."

Porter continued, "On the brighter side we have decided to offer the J Street Mailer source code, free of charge, to any licensee of J Street Mailer who wishes to improve the product and distribute those improvements. My goal here is to advance the use of Java applications and specifically the J Street Mailer. Source. Anyone interested in obtaining the source code should contact Marianne Roderus at innoval@ibm.net."

For more information, see InnoVal's home page at http://www.innoval.com or write to InnoVal at innoval@ibm.net.

Last month, it was reported that the official IBM name for Aurora will be "OS/2 Warp Server for eBusiness." Beta testers and other reviewers have universally given it high marks and lots of praise. For brevity here, it will still be referred to as Aurora.

A recent POSSI listserver message from Esther Schindler announced that Steven King of IBM's NCSD will present a preview and status update of Aurora at POSSI's monthly meeting on December 8th.

In her message, Esther also included a brief desciption of the principal features and performance characteristics of Aurora. Portions of Esther's message follow:

I have continuously promoted the use of the GNU WGET program to avoid the aggravation caused by a broken ftp connection. Ordinary ftp software does not permit resumption of a broken ftp tranmission from the point of interruption.

In particular, the use of GNU WGET was recommended for ftp download of the 74MByte StarOffice 5.0 installation file. EMX Runtime is also required in support of WGET, as is the case with all GNU utilities.

WGET allows an ftp download to resume from any point where the transmission has been interrupted, similar to ZMODEM, if the server supports it (most do). WGET also includes a great many other useful features, not otherwise available with most other ftp programs. Take my word for it, it does work.

It will be beneficial to install WGET, learn about its many features and use it regularly for all ftp downloads. The latest WGET and EMX Runtime are both available from hobbes.nmsu.edu:

GNU WGET v.1.5.3
wget153.zip 219334 9-23-98

EMX Runtime v.0.9c (fix level 4)
emxrt.zip 538,42 9-30-97

In addition to our regular meeting agenda, we're going to have an OS/2 11th birthday and holiday party.

note that the December meeting will be held on December 16th, the third Wednesday of the month, 7:00pm at The Episcopal Academy, in Merion, PA. We'll return to the regular fourth Wednesday meeting schedule in January.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend. And bring an interested friend or associate along to hear all the good news about OS/2 and Java. A system will be on hand for live demos of OS/2 Warp 4, a variety of OS/2 apps, Java, Internet, etc. if time permits.

Members without cars can take SEPTA's R-5 (Paoli Local) to Overbrook, or the R-6 to Bala. Call Larry to make arrangements to be picked up at the RR Station. Since Episcopal Academy is so close to public transportation, why don't you Philadelphia Center City folks who don't have cars call ahead of time to be picked up at the train station.

Everybody should keep up to date by logging in to our OS/2 SIG web site at frequent intervals: www.pasug.org/

Please try to be on time. The meeting will start promptly at 7:00pm, as per the following agenda and schedule.

Planned December Agenda:

1. General SIG business session: (7:00 - 7:15pm)
   Announcements, news of interest, new OS/2 products, future plans, etc.

2. Q&A Session (7:15 - 8:00pm):
   If you have questions, this is the place to bring them up. Someone is sure to have the answers.

3. Feature Presentation (8:00 - 9:00pm)
   Another treat has been scheduled for the December meeting. Our guest will be Sean Reilly, the author of Moneydance, a new personal finance manager written completely in Java. Sean will present and demonstrate his latest version of Moneydance.

   Moneydance is a personal finance manager, capable of recording all of your checking, savings and credit card account activity as well as breaking down your expenses and incomes into summed categories that you can read in a single glance.

   Moneydance supports double-entry bookkeeping with multiple accounts, multiple currencies and split transactions. Other features include transaction auto-completion, an account reconciliation tool, currency translater, QIF import, graphing, and report generation.

   Moneydance is written in Sun's Java programming language so it will run on virtually any platform. The primary audience is users running alternative operating systems such as OS/2 and Linux, or users who want to access their financial data from multiple platforms. Moneydance is a relatively young product (currently in beta stage), yet is already quite usable for tracking most personal finances.

   Features in development include:
   scheduled transactions (available in 2-4 weeks)
   on-line banking (6 months)
   more thorough and intuitive investment tracking (4-6 months)

4. OS/2 11th Birthday and Holiday Party (9:00 - 10:00pm)
   We plan to have lots of software and other stuff for raffle prizes, the customary 50/50 raffle, plus cake, ice cream and other refreshments. At last December's OS/2 10th birthday celebration, we had a record attendance. Let's try to do it again.

All our more experienced users are urged to attend the December meeting to share their knowledge and expertise with others.

For the benefit of anyone who may not yet have the recent releases of FixPak-9, Java 1.1.7, Feature Install v.1.2.3, or Star Office 5.0, copies can be made to your ZIP disk on a first come first serve basis, as time may permit.

Hope to see you all on December 16th.