Brave new IBM software world

by Volker Weber

I have heard this so many times now that I feel the urge to rant about it. Rob Novak has been successful after only 4 attempts to install WebSphere Portal. Another professional was able to do it on his second try. But then he needed another 72 attempts until he was sure he discovered all the flaws in the installation.

Why is this so difficult?

First of all, WebSphere Portal is an application running on top of WebSphere Application Server, which in turn needs a database and a credential source (think LDAP server). You may not have those other things, which actually makes life easier, or you do have them and then have to make all the new things work with them.

Now we look at the Lotus Workplace strategy. One of the early incarnations is the Workplace Messaging platform which actually runs (or is going to run) on top of WebSphere Portal. Are you still with me?

Now let's make an Express version of that. Sigh.

Comments

Ich hatte in den letzten beiden Wochen mit IBM und einer Testinstallation zum Thema Portal Server 5.X, Extended Search 4.X (inkl. DB2-Installation) und Single Sign On (mit Domino 5.x als LDAP)zu tun (wir machten die Installation/Konfiguration, IBM-Mitarbeiter Coaching). Obwohl ich aufgrund diverser Infos massive Bendenken hatte:
Alles lief mit der ersten Installation (zugegeben alles auf Windows 2000) und war auch von den Fallstricken durchaus nicht zu komplex (komme aus der "reinen" Domino-Welt). Ich muss sagen: IBM lernt doch.

Wolfgang Haderlein, 2003-09-28 14:00

We had to learn the hard way, that the intallation of Portal4 (the installer, not the software!) wouldn't run below 512M RAM, that nobody knows how to configure Domino6 LDAP for Portal4 (and we didn't figure it out either) and.... and ... and...
I think J2EE is great technology (if you provide consultancy services), that beats anything in complexity you ever run before. Given the number of Wizzards IBM packed e.g. into Websphere Studio Application Developer I ask myself, if it would make sense to sign up at Hogwards.
They learn, nevertheless the complexity is scary!
:-) stw

Post a comment











Shall I remember this for you?




Use your full name and a working email address. Unless you want your comment to be removed. No kidding.



Recent comments

Ben Poole on Finally getting started on last.fm at 12:41
Volker Weber on Finally getting started on last.fm at 12:31
Ben Rose on Finally getting started on last.fm at 12:22
Yves Luther on Coming up next Thursday: sticky and sweet at 12:19
Hartmut Wiehr on Wo gibt es gescheite CD-Läden? at 11:13
Michael Becker on Wo gibt es gescheite CD-Läden? at 10:26
heiko hebig on Amazing photos - all taken with a mobile phone at 01:50
Chris Reckling on Finally getting started on last.fm at 00:53
Alexander Kluge on Finally getting started on last.fm at 22:31
Volker Weber on Finally getting started on last.fm at 22:22
Jamey Shiels on Synchronizing iPhone with ... Lotus Notes at 22:10
Dominik Schwind on Finally getting started on last.fm at 21:25
Kevin Pettitt on Showstopper for Lotus Connections at 20:45
Martin Hiegl on Showstopper for Lotus Connections at 19:27
goran angelov on iPhone: Can't hear through the receiver or speakers? at 18:53
Sean Cull on I have seen faster at 18:27
Matthias Leisi on Coming up next Thursday: sticky and sweet at 18:21
Ted Stanton on Showstopper for Lotus Connections at 18:17
Handly Cameron on Showstopper for Lotus Connections at 18:15
Volker Weber on Showstopper for Lotus Connections at 18:11
Alan Lepofsky on Showstopper for Lotus Connections at 18:09
Volker Weber on Showstopper for Lotus Connections at 18:04
Ben Rose on Showstopper for Lotus Connections at 18:04
Ted Stanton on Showstopper for Lotus Connections at 17:52
Ben Poole on Showstopper for Lotus Connections at 17:48

Ceci n'est pas un blog

vowe.net is a personal website published by Volker Weber a.k.a. vowe. I am an author, consultant and systems architect based in Darmstadt, Germany.

rss Click here to subscribe

Hello

About me
Contact
Publications
Certificates
Frequently asked questions

Twitter Updates

More >

Poll

Can you bring a camera phone to work?

Getting poll results. Please wait...

Local time is 15:17

visitors.gif
145 visitors online

News

Other sources of news, imported into my own format to make them more accessible:

Heise Online
Schlagzeilen
Weather

Archives

As most of my articles roll off the front page rather quickly, I am making an archive of previous posts available here. You can also use the handy search box at the top of the page if you are looking for something particular.

Last 30 days
More archives

Got the T-shirt?

Got the T-shirt?
Are you buying from the US?

Systems Architecture

This site runs on an Apache web server on top of the Linux operating system. The content is managed with MovableType which is implemented in Perl. Last but not least the HTML code your browser sees is put together with PHP.

© 1992-2008 Volker Weber.
All Rights Reserved.

Impressum