I received an E-Book and a PDF copy of the IBM Sametime 8.5.2 Administration Guide and was asked by Packt to do a review of it. Now, I am a Developer not an Administrator and I don't have access to a Sametime Server to play around with but after reading through this book, I feel confident I could probably get one up and running in about a week. That is if I had an Administrator on hand to answer all my questions regarding the network, security and everything else an Administrator does that Developers do not know about or pay attention to in their daily lives.
This book seems to have covered everything in amazing detail so if you do need to build a Sametime Server, or you just want to learn how to do it for fun (I know there are a few of you out there), this is the book for you.
The first chapter discusses what is new in Sametime 8.5.2 and each different type of server in detail. The chapter also explains what OS is required for what server and client. Lots of charts, enough to make my head hurt, but exactly what an Administrator needs to know.
In the second chapter you learn what each piece of the Sametime family of servers does and how to install them. I thought that there was only a Sametime server but now I know there are eight different servers that make up a complete Sametime operation.
Sametime Community Server - Instant messaging and awareness services
Sametime Systems Console Server - Administration and Management
Sametime Classic Meeting Server - The original Sametime Server for backwards compatibility during migrations
Sametime Meeting Server - The new Sametime server
Sametime Proxy Server - A new Sametime component that provides messaging using a standard web browser
Sametime Media Manager Server - Web conferencing, video and audio
Sametime TURN Server - A JAVA-based program that works in conjunction with the Sametime Media Manager Server
Sametime Bandwidth Manager Server - New server designed to help Administrators control network traffic
I guess Administrators really do have more to do than just look at log files and set quotas on mail files.
Chapter three talks about Telephony Integration. Now when I read that title, I thought cool, I could use my telephone and use it to talk to people through Sametime. Not exactly. Like I said, I am a Developer, put it in smaller words for me please. Telephony in this case refers to using your computer, not your telephone, to make audio and video conference calls to other people in your Sametime community.
Chapter four was way outside my comfort level. Discussions of WebSphere and Server Architecture make my head hurt but after reading the chapter, I felt a little more comfortable in my understanding of WAS. Not enough to be able to discuss it, but I must be a little more comfortable, I used an acronym to describe it.
Chapter five and six deal with the actual installation of the various pieces. Chapter five deals with planning for your environment and Chapter six deals with the actual installation process. Real Administrator stuff here.
Chapter seven is definitely required reading for an Administrator. Security and Authentication. These are two things Developer are very happy not to have to deal with.
I liked Chapter eight: Using the Sametime Business Card. This is where I learned how to put my picture and job information out there for everyone to see. I might have to do this at my next client if they use Sametime.
Chapter nine talks about how to extend Sametime outside of the company to AOL and GoogleTalk. I didn't even know AOL was still around but I use GoogleTalk all the time so this sounds like a really good idea. Of course the Administrators might not like me talking to other people through their system but this chapter not only explains how to do it but how to do it securely.
Chapter ten finally gets to something I understand as a Developer, the Sametime client and how to get your users to set up their desktop audio and video properly.
Chapter eleven is all about using Sametime on mobile devices. This chapter made me want to go out and buy a new Andrioid and an iPhone, I already have a Blackberry, just to see how well it works.
And that brings us to chapter twelve: Managing and Monitoring the Sametime Server Environment. Now this really is where the Administrators seem to have the most fun. Monitoring and reviewing servers and log files. This chapter tells you where to look to learn what is happening and how to understand it. Now I am glad I am a Developer.
There are also three appendixes. The first one has a set of installation worksheets, which I assume are very helpful in keeping you from forgetting anything. The second and third ones are full of Sametime-related resources and Network-related resources.
The authors really know their stuff and it shows in the level of detail and organization of this book. Four hundred and fifty pages, very well written, step by step detailed instructions to help you get a set of Sametime servers up and running. If you are about to begin a Sametime installation, are in the middle of one or already have one up and running, I would run out and get this book immediately. You know that there is going to be something in here that will help you, show you, teach you, remind you or just make you look smarter by having it on your desk.
Full Disclosure: Packt Publishing sent me the book for free and the authors are friends of mine.
Lesson for the week: Always ask for a second opinion.
Fri, May 3rd 2013 8:17a Roy Rumaner Lesson for the week: Always ask for a second opinion.
This statement really hit home this week and it saved me a huge amount of money.
On Monday morning, the engine in my wife's car died while she was on her way to work. No
warning, no lights, no bells and whistles, just sitting at a light and
bang, stutter and then nothing. Dead.
Flash forward, I arrive to
help her move it out of traffic and wait with her until AAA arrives to tow it to a repair shop a few miles away while I drive [read] Keywords:
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Book Review: IBM Lotus Notes 8.5.3 How-to
Thu, Apr 25th 2013 3:17p Roy Rumaner IBM Lotus Notes 8.5.3 How-to
While this is a very short (less than 60 pages) book, it tries to pack a lot of information into it.
The chapters are set up as Simple, Intermediate and Advanced. This is nice in that anyone picking up the book can quickly find the topic and the level of experience needed to understand it.
The Table of Contents list out the chapters as
Customizing your IBM Lotus Notes 8.5.3 experience (Simple)
Mastering your Lotus Notes mail (Int [read] Keywords: domino
ibm
lotus
notes
notes client
sametime
applications
integration
microsoft
outlook
widgets
workspace
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All of a sudden I am living on lakefront property
Thu, Apr 18th 2013 10:16a Roy Rumaner The first two picture are from yesterday about 4 hours after the rain started. Not to bad out back and the usual small ponds around the storm drains in front.
Today, after almost 12 hours of very intense thunderstorms, we now have a lake instead of small ponds and the backyard is completely under water.
After about two hours with light rain this morning, the storm sewer in the backyard did it's job and the backyard is quickly draining out. (Ignore my finger, I am still try [read] Keywords: blogger
gadget
105
Looking for a little help with Dojo dGrid
Tue, Mar 19th 2013 9:17p Roy Rumaner I am trying to use the new Dojo dTuned dGrid in an XPages application and cannot seem to get it to work. The documentation is spotty at best and I am not up on Dojo and GIT as much as I need to be right now. I am sure someone has already done this and I am hoping I can impose on you to give me a little help getting it working. Send me an email or leave a comment on here if you are able to help me. Thank you [read] Keywords: xpages application
dojo
email
109
Using XPages to develop complex reports - Part 3
Tue, Mar 12th 2013 4:11p Roy Rumaner I recently wrote a three part blog about a project I did for my current client - TeamSpace Canada. Instead of repeating the entire series here, I am just going to post the links to the three parts as they are published.
Using XPages to develop complex reports - Part 3
(posted 3/12/2013) [read] Keywords: xpages
151
Using XPages to develop complex reports - Part 2
Tue, Mar 5th 2013 2:18p Roy Rumaner I recently wrote a three part blog about a project I did for my current client - TeamSpace Canada. Instead of repeating the entire series here, I am just going to post the links to the three parts as they are published.
Using XPages to develop complex reports - Part 2
(posted 3/5/2013) [read] Keywords: xpages
124
Using XPages to develop complex reports
Thu, Feb 28th 2013 10:10a Roy Rumaner I recently wrote a three part blog about a project I did for my current client - TeamSpace Canada. Instead of repeating the entire series here, I am just going to post the links to the three parts as they are published.
Using XPages to develop complex reports - Part 1 (posted 2/28/2013)
Using XPages to develop complex reports - Part 2
Using XPages to develop complex reports - Part 3 [read] Keywords: xpages
127
Chros Toohey and friends weekly Google+ Hangout listing
Wed, Feb 6th 2013 11:10a Roy Rumaner Chris Toohey is putting together a series of Google+ Hangouts and has asked me be on the panel each week. We will be discussing different topics every week so you can pick and choose which one(s) you want to watch.
This post will contain all the links to all the Hangouts I am involved in.
Wednesday 2/6/2013 - Gamification and Color Profiling (Chris Toohey, Chris Warden, Monica Ferrante, Roy Rumaner) [read] Keywords: google
145
Create stunning websites that work on any device with Responsive Web Design
Thu, Jan 31st 2013 12:11p Roy Rumaner Create stunning websites that work on any device with Responsive Web Design
Build once, browse anywhere with the help of Packt’s responsive web design books, along with 20%-50% off.
With an increasing amount of devices entering the market, your audience is consuming media like never before across multiple formats and resolutions.
Our books will help you embrace Responsive Web Design so you can showcase your content without having to worry about a mobile browser or the resolut [read] Keywords: citrix
development
email
javascript
mobile
twitter
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Google+ Hangout for those who were not at IBMConnect
Mon, Jan 28th 2013 12:12p Roy Rumaner Thank you to Chris Toohey for setting up a week of Google+ Hangouts for those that didn't get to go to IBMConnect (also known as Lotusphere 2013). I was happy to participate in the Hangout and because Google+ records everything, Chris posted it on YouTube for everyone else to see.
I am posting links to all of them so that everyone who reads this blog can find them easily.
Monday - Getting started with IBM XPages
http://youtu.be/9r-KMk7WDcc
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday [read] Keywords: ibm
lotusphere
xpages google
