IBM Lotus Notes/Domino 8.5.3 now available, including entitlement to IBM Connections Files and Profiles

October 4 2011

It's here!

Today, IBM is releasing Lotus Notes and Domino 8.5.3. New features in this release include substantial updates to the Notes Traveler client for Android, improvements in Notes email and calendaring, parity features in Lotus iNotes, substantial new power in XPages, and incremental updates to Domino. This is anticipated to be the last 8.5.x release with new features, as we turn our development focus to a new feature release ("Notes Next") coming in 2012.

In addition to improvements to the product itself, the Notes/Domino 8.5.3 release includes a significant new entitlement as part of Domino Client Access Licenses or Domino Express licenses -- the right to use two key capabilities of IBM Connections 3.0.1: Files and Profiles at no additional charge. These entitlements join IBM Sametime Entry, Lotus Symphony, Tivoli Directory Integrator, Lotus Mobile Connect, and others as part of key additional value you receive as part of your license and subscription investment in Notes/Domino.

Why Connections Files and Profiles, and why now? Simply put, becoming a social business starts with a transition from sending to sharing. If we want IBM customers and prospects to accelerate or come along on the journey to social business, then it makes sense to introduce some of the required capabilities beyond those self-contained in Notes/Domino. These two components help you tap into the knowledge in your organization in a single click. Files is a no-brainer for added value for Notes customers, especially with the plug-in, drag-and-drop, and searching capabilities from within the Notes client. Profiles is the sweetener, adding expertise location and social networks to the equation. Both of these are significant value, for both Notes client users and browser-based iNotes users.

Clearly, our goal in introducing this entitlement is to give Notes shops an unencumbered opportunity to try out and adopt IBM Connections, as a path to considering and eventually adopting all of IBM Connections. In other words, we think the rest of Connections -- blogs, wikis, discussions, activities, communities and more -- has a ton of additional value for Notes customers. As such, later this month, IBM will announce an extension part number to move from the Connections entitlement in Notes/Domino to the full IBM Connections product--at an attractive incremental price.

This new entitlement shows another step in our progress to make email and collaboration more social. For some of you reading this, the idea of using the two together is old hat, along with social business as a concept -- you are the early adopters. There are still tens of thousands of companies that have yet to begin that journey, so we are giving them a valuable push in the right direction towards improved productivity, collective intelligence, and facilitating innovation.

Later today/this week, I'll post other blog entries talking about licensing changes for Notes/Domino in the 8.5.3 release, new features, a resource guide, and a wrap-up of the announcements. Thanks for all of your support!

Ed Brill | Highland Park, IL USA Category:  8.5.3 Connections  Add/View Comments [71]

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  1. 1  Christian Petters http://www.cubetoon.com | 10/4/2011 3:11:05 AM

    Great news Ed! This is just the right decision to get business into the social software business.

  1. 2  ursus  | 10/4/2011 3:23:02 AM

    Great news. Have been using CD5 for a couple of weeks and really like the new features of Designer.

  1. 3  Stuart McIntyre http://blog.collaborationmatters.com | 10/4/2011 3:38:10 AM

    This is a fantastic step forward Ed, a really great addition for all Notes and Domino customers. It really rounds out the offering, and will help many more customers to begin their move away from dependance on email for collaboration.

    Great work!

  1. 4  Frédéric Fanchamps  | 10/4/2011 4:36:32 AM

    Thanks Ed, but your link opens a 8.5.1 page :-(

  1. 5  Bruce Elgort http://elguji.com | 10/4/2011 5:14:59 AM

    Federic the link says that it will be updated on October 4th sometime :-)

  1. 6  Alan H  | 10/4/2011 5:43:33 AM

    Possibly the most significant announcement since Notes became Domino. Connections has always been a hard sell and easily dismissed because the value of a network is only demonstrated when enough people are using it. I guess the only barrier now is the relative complexity of implementing Connections but I see that partners are already stepping up to address that issue.

  1. 7  Martti Garden http://kbee.de | 10/4/2011 5:50:06 AM

    These are amazing news! Especially great as I have customers, that only want to start with Profiles for now and test the other features at a later point in time..

  1. 8  Samir Pipalia http://www.pipalia.co.uk | 10/4/2011 6:08:47 AM

    Great news, thanks - really looking for to 8.5.3!

  1. 9  Teoman ONAY  | 10/4/2011 6:41:43 AM

    "the right to use two key capabilities of IBM Connections 3.0.1: Files and Profiles at no additional charge"

    Does this mean we may install a Connections server and use Files & Profiles at no charge ?

    Regards

  1. 10  Frédéric Fanchamps  | 10/4/2011 6:44:09 AM

    The link has been updated ;-)

  1. 11  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/4/2011 6:47:12 AM

    @9 Yes, that is what it means.

  1. 12  Chris Knoblock  | 10/4/2011 8:21:38 AM

    Huge Connections entitlement here. Plus a trade up part number for existing Notes shops? Awesome. Transition to Vulcan phase 1 begins...

  1. 13  Roberto Boccadoro  | 10/4/2011 8:25:54 AM

    @6 : is not so complex to set up. One day and you are all set, even less if you are familiar with the procedure.

  1. 14  Chris Knoblock  | 10/4/2011 8:29:07 AM

    @13: We run Connections now, and it IS a bit complex to install/update and something always seems to break. Next step Ed, make Connections as easy to install/update as Notes/Domino. Or run it in an Xpages container?

  1. 15  Thomas Leriche  | 10/4/2011 8:38:20 AM

    Can't seem to download the new version from Passport Advantage. Has the site been updated with the new version yet?

  1. 16  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/4/2011 8:44:05 AM

    @15 yes, many reports of successful downloads on the blogs and twitter.

  1. 17  Thomas Leriche  | 10/4/2011 8:46:25 AM

    Found it. It's under a weird name.

    IBM Domino Enterprise Client Access License V8.5.3 Multi O/S English eAssembly(CRG0QEN)

    Thanks

  1. 18  Steve Smillie  | 10/4/2011 8:49:18 AM

    @16 But many can't download it yet as well.

  1. 19  Finn L Knudsen http://www.idocode.net | 10/4/2011 9:02:15 AM

    Great news.

    Can a user with a Domino Messaging Express license use Connections Files to send files to external recipients ?

  1. 20  Harald Gaerttner http://fifthstreetbiz.tumblr.com | 10/4/2011 9:05:26 AM

    Tried to find with @17's Name / Part No. posted but now the download site seems to be down :-(

    Clicking "Software Download & Media Access" doesn't lead you anywere ... excpet for a "500 Server configuration error" once in a while.

  1. 21  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/4/2011 9:37:29 AM

    @18 all reported issues have been fixed in Dublin, no reports of issues in Boulder.

  1. 22  Jason Fischer  | 10/4/2011 9:41:55 AM

    Trying to get it for the past two hours with no luck in USA. The 'Domino' product wasn't available for me at all, then about an hour ago I started getting the 500 errors. Now I get 'Our apologies...The page you requested cannot be displayed.'

  1. 23  Steve Smillie  | 10/4/2011 9:45:59 AM

    @22 About the same experience I am having.

  1. 24  Chris Blatnick http://interfacematters.com | 10/4/2011 9:53:33 AM

    Congratulations, Ed, to you and your team!

  1. 25  Joseph Hanke  | 10/4/2011 10:00:05 AM

    Been trying for 2 hrs now with the:

    Error 400

    Proxy Error: remote host didn't send any data - URL "https://ltsgwascl012.sby.ibm.com/software/howtobuy/passportadvantage/paocustomer/sdma/SDMA"

    and error 500 on occasion.

    Will just keep trying.....

  1. 26  Roland Reddekop  | 10/4/2011 10:09:45 AM

    I downloaded and installed 8.5.3 all clients version successfully (found it in the Domino Servers category). I was using the beta so no surprise how quickly it opens and operated vs the previous version. However, we use Installshield tuner to automate the installation for rolling to our users, but there is no LotusNotes.ITW file in the package as in all previous versions. Not sure how we can install large scale without tools. Maybe something has changed with 8.5.3 and the Installshield support is deprecated? Going to find the release notes and see if this is mentioned.

  1. 27  Andrew Landry  | 10/4/2011 10:17:33 AM

    IBM ლ(ಠ益ಠლ) Y U NO UPDATE YET?

  1. 28  Brian O’Neill  | 10/4/2011 10:34:06 AM

    Thank you for the Connections entitlements! Great work.

  1. 29  Chris Gleeson  | 10/4/2011 11:05:03 AM

    @26 Hi Roland,

    Did the same thing you did around 5am this morning to find no ITW file (although it does exist in the Basic client). Opened a PMR and was told to contact Passport Advantage for any missing files in the built packages. Haven't had a chance to do that yet but will once Chris Miller finishes up his presentation ;-)

  1. 30  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/4/2011 11:14:34 AM

    @27 huh?

  1. 31  Roland Reddekop  | 10/4/2011 11:46:11 AM

    @29 Chris and anyone using Installshield Tuner to create an install package:

    The 8.5.3 full install download does not appear to have the required LotusNotes.itw to create an install package for enterprise deployment. I opened a PMR and was told on the phone to go ahead and use the ITW from the previous install. I still have the 8.5.2 ITW. I was given a technote but the contents didn't really match what I was told. I will give it a try now.

  1. 32  Roland Reddekop  | 10/4/2011 11:56:35 AM

    DELETE Advice @31

    Tried this workaround and it failed. The ITW file and MSI file conflicted and I could not get past the first screen. Waiting Lotus Support to provide another solution.

  1. 33  Chris Gleeson  | 10/4/2011 12:02:06 PM

    @31 Unfortunately if I try that I get 'Tuner is unable to open the <path to install folder>\Lotus Notes 8.5.3.msi' MSI File. The ITW file prohibits the opening of the MSI file.

    I'm trying to get assistance from the Passport Advantage people but they are 100% not technical and keep telling me to re-download the package from the website. It's very frustrating and they eventually gave up telling me to call back later.

    Hope you have better luck!

  1. 34  Bernd Webster  | 10/4/2011 12:07:02 PM

    @Roland

    regarding the "creation from a installation package" there is a great howto in the internet. You can find it here:

    { Link }

    It still works with the "old" install shield tuner.

  1. 35  Jeff Mitchell http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/installblog.nsf | 10/4/2011 1:02:41 PM

    I have posted the missing ITW file from the Notes 8.5.3 install kits on my blog as that is probably the fastest way to get it out while we work on a technote.

    { Link }

  1. 36  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/4/2011 1:37:57 PM

    @19 I think I just answered this on another thread.

    The answer is no, because the Connections license is per authorized user, and there is a restriction in the Connections license as follows:

    "If Licensee licenses the Program or any portion of the Program on a Authorized User basis, the Program or portion of the Program may be used only by employees or independent contractors of Licensee."

  1. 37  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/4/2011 1:44:52 PM

    @35 thank you for jumping in so quickly.

  1. 38  Lars Berntrop-Bos  | 10/4/2011 3:13:23 PM

    hrmph. Logging in PAO gives:

    >Please accept our apologies

    >Our system is currently unavailable due to system upgrades.

    >We expect the system to be available on Today, Oct 4 4:00 p.m. EDT

    >Please come back and visit us at that time.

    4pm EDT: that's 10 minutes ago

    Is the upgrade caused by the interest of the community? If not, what a time to pick for this upgrade...

  1. 39  Lars Berntrop-Bos  | 10/4/2011 3:14:25 PM

    or is it? if the comments show EDT, I'm an hour fast!

    OK, I'll be patient then...

  1. 40  Peter Meuser http://itlab.de | 10/4/2011 3:30:17 PM

    BTW: Is the Quickr Entry entitlement gone with Domino 8.5.3?

  1. 41  Rob Novak http://www.lotusrockstar.com | 10/4/2011 7:47:10 PM

    @40 Quickr Entry was deprecated with 8.5 a year ago...but I don't know about 8.2 and lower.

  1. 42  Paul Inglis  | 10/4/2011 10:52:57 PM

    Ed, we've just been told by Lotus Support that 8.5.3 server is not available and they cannot advise the release date.

    Running on Solaris and AIX boxes with over 20,000 users...

    Frustrating, as we're held together by Fix Packs and Hot Fixes at the moment.

  1. 43  Ed Brill http://Www.edbrill.com | 10/4/2011 11:01:08 PM

    Well clearly as you can see by comments here/other blogs/ twitter, it is available. Can you say more about who told you it isn't and why you cant just go download it like everyone else?

  1. 44  Paul Inglis  | 10/5/2011 12:05:51 AM

    Thanks Ed. We only have one person in the place who has access to download it and he is not available due to illness.

    We'll tell our Lotus contact that he is ill-advised.

  1. 45  Dave Schryvers  | 10/5/2011 4:56:09 AM

    Hi Ed,

    Do you have any idea when the language packs will be available?

    greets,

    Dave

  1. 46  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/5/2011 9:04:27 AM

    @45 starting in 30 days as usual...most languages in Nov/Dec and a few early into January.

  1. 47  Stefan Beining  | 10/5/2011 9:15:27 AM

    Hey Ed,

    after the Update we couln't display our Webmaildatabase.

    It will not open!!!

    Somebody with the same problem?

    greets,

    Stefan

  1. 48  Andy Brown  | 10/5/2011 9:25:06 AM

    Hi Ed,

    After upgrading JUST my Notes client to 8.5.3 I can no longer log into Sametime??? I get the message 'Unable to log in to the Sametime server because this client is not authorized'.

    Everyone else can log in using their 8.5.2 clients and I was able to login just fine before.....

    I've already been through all the steps as advised in this tech note - https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21101616

    Any help or advise would be much appreciated.

  1. 49  Stefan Beining  | 10/5/2011 9:45:19 AM

    @Andy Brown

    Did you set your sametime password again?

    It will be delete if you upgrade your client to another version.

  1. 50  Steve Medure  | 10/5/2011 10:00:46 AM

    @48, I have the exact same issue. I've opened a PMR about it, so far no luck.

    Check out the thread on notes.net:

    { Link }

    I'm going to try it when I'm able to restart my Sametime server.

  1. 51  Jarrod Creer  | 10/5/2011 3:46:03 PM

    @48 @50, I also have the same issue with sametime and have opened a PMR.

  1. 52  Gusff  | 10/5/2011 4:13:32 PM

    @48 @49 @50 @51, I also have the same issue with sametime. My sametime server version is 8.0.2. Maybe this working as designed.

  1. 53  Ian Scott  | 10/5/2011 5:27:07 PM

    Hi Ed,

    I am a bit confused about the Connections 3.0.1 entitlement or more specifically the WAS and DB2 requirement/entitlement as it relates to Connections.

    Passport Advantage lists WAS ND v7 (and DB2 v9.7) within the "IBM Connections Files and Profiles for Lotus Notes and Domino V8.5.3 Multiplatform Multilingual eAssembly (CRFU3ML)" which suggests it is okay to install those free of charge in support of the Files and Profiles capabilities of Connections, yet this apparently up to date link ({ Link } ) specifies WAS ND v6.1 and DB2 v9.1 as the entitlements.

    Sorry if this is a dumb question but can you clarify which versions I can use free of charge?

  1. 54  Steve Medure  | 10/6/2011 10:16:41 AM

    @48, 49, 51, 52

    Adding the new client type ID number to the sametime.ini setting VPS_ALLOWED_LOGIN_TYPES= fixes the issue.

    The tech that I was working with updated the tech note that lists the sametime client types.

    https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21114318

    The tech also told me that he tested with the beta version in his lab and it was working fine, but somehow between the beta and the version that got release the number got switched, which caused the issue.

  1. 55  Len Barker http://www.davalen.com | 10/7/2011 12:10:35 PM

    As a followup question to @9...I have customers that have full Domino Enterprise CAL licenses but only use iNotes (no Client installed). Will they be able to access the Lotus Connections Profile and Files features from a browser or is it limited to access from the Notes client?

  1. 56  Irv Schor  | 10/7/2011 2:44:47 PM

    I'm sorry, but based on the following link it seems that only a Notes Client can connect to a connections server, but its not clear that the entitlement permits me to download/install/run Connections for the Files and Profiles entitlement? Do I still need to purchase Connections for this, with Connections CALs being a no charge item for a Notes Client?

    { Link }

  1. 57  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/7/2011 4:44:15 PM

    @55 accessible from a browser. Go for it!

  1. 58  Alexandre Carteau  | 10/12/2011 12:39:11 PM

    "the right to use two key capabilities of IBM Connections 3.0.1: Files and Profiles at no additional charge"

    The "homepage", "Search" and "News" features being "core features, they will be installed too.

    I assume that the mobile feature can also be installed to be able to access Profiles and Files from mobile devices right ?

    Is a client who also has licenses for Quickr (that includes Wiki & Blogs "team places" if i am correct ) authorized to use the Wiki and Blogs features of LC ?

    Regards

  1. 59  luis Benitez http://www.lbenitez.com | 10/13/2011 8:28:34 AM

    @Alex (58), you can NOT use mobile and you can NOT use the homepage feature of Connections (where News would be shown) as part of the 8.5.3 entitlements.

    re: Quickr, customers who own Quickr are also entitled to use IBM Connections Wikis. So if a customer owns 8.5.3 and Quickr, they can use IBM Connections Profiles, Files, and Wikis and nothing else!

  1. 60  Djalma Brito  | 10/24/2011 6:08:38 AM

    Ed / Luiz

    if a customer has Notes and Portal, can we use the Portlets to put these connecitons entitlements accessible via the Portal ?

  1. 61  Dimitris Beletsiotis  | 10/27/2011 8:17:56 AM

    As per Domino 8.5.3 release notes

    { Link }

    "Continuing the trend of storage savings, Domino 8.5.3 enhancements deliver greater savings and improved performance.

    Support for applications and mail files exceeding 64 GB logical size

    Ability to store full text information on separate disks or in a separate location than the application data"

    Since DAOS does this from ver. 8.5.1 someone would expect this to remove the 64GB size limit in NSF files.

    Anyone?

  1. 62  Daniel   | 11/28/2011 4:03:33 AM

    @35-Jeff Mitchell

    Hello everybody,

    I'm working with the LotusNotes853.itw to create some new packages with the InstallShield Tuner of LN 8.5.3.

    It is disappointing, that I can't choose a multi-user installation on the InstallShield Tuner in LN 8.5.3.

    I wonder, in 8.5.1 and 2 it was never a problem at all,

    any ideas?

  1. 63  Daniel   | 11/28/2011 6:53:41 AM

    Sorry guys, I figured out by self.

    It was a problem of Windows, not Lotus Notes:

    Change UAC Setting through User Accounts

    1. Open the Control Panel (All Items View).

    2. Click on the User Accounts icon.

    3. Click on the Change User Account Control settings link.

    4. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to approve.

    5. Adjust the slider to the level of protection of how much you want to be notified from UAC.

    6. Click on OK when done. (In my case the lowest one)

    7. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to approve.

    8. If you have just turned UAC off, then you will need to click on restart the computer, or manually restart the computer, to apply the changes.

    I'm pretty happy with my Notes 8.5.3 at the moment.

  1. 64  Tim  | 12/14/2011 9:31:03 AM

    Hi,

    I can't find which version of the SameTime client comes with the Lotus Notes 8.5.3 Basic version.

    In this list, the basic client for 8.5.3 isn't listed as well.

    https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21114318

    Does anyone know?

    Regards

  1. 65  Pierre  | 12/31/2011 2:15:13 AM

    Hello,

    Does that limited use of IBM Connections comes with a limited use of Websphere Application Server ?

  1. 66  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 1/3/2012 1:22:38 PM

    yes, it does.

  1. 67  Lieberung http://www-03.ibm.com/software/sla/sladb.nsf/lilookup/6E2A4D663F51089F85257789005D1025?opendocument&amp;li_select=B7A592D4EEAFBC9185257789005D100E | 1/6/2012 1:33:11 AM

    Hello Ed,

    So the Quickr Entry entitlements have been removed from Notes 8.5.3 and been replaced by "Connections limited functionality, files profiles (and dogear?).

    Does that mean that have installed and are using Quickr Entry acquired with the IBM Lotus Domino Messaging Client Access 8.5.2 entitlement now have to uninstall Quickr Entry ( or buy new Quickr licences to continue using the solution)?

  1. 68  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 1/7/2012 2:01:24 PM

    no, an entitlement is perpetual to the then-current version as of when it was granted and the customer is on an S&S agreement or buying new licenses. You can keep using what you are using.

  1. 69  Pauli  | 1/12/2012 11:20:47 AM

    Upgraded 8.5.2 fp1 to 8.5.3, installation finished without problems. After reboot server 2003 got stuck to 'applying computer settings' screen and I had to switch back to 8.5.2 version to get it running. Anyone else facing this problem?

  1. 70  Quin  | 8/11/2012 10:00:27 AM

    I just had the same exact issue performing an upgrade from Domino 8.5.1 FP1 to 8.5.3 - Windows Server 2003 as well. Stuck on the 'Applying Computer Settings...' screen. calling IBM for a fix.

  1. 71  Daniel http://www.cogitosum.com | 10/1/2012 2:18:05 PM

    What about Lotus Connections 4 ? Does the entitlement work also for LC 4 ? Do you know if the Mail add-in app inside LC can be used part of this entitlement ( That would be awesome BTW .... )