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Upgrading the Domino Web Access demo
by
Tara
Hall
Level: All
Works with: Domino Web Access
Updated: 08/18/2003
Inside this article:
Installing Domino 6.5
Configuring Domino Web Access
Testing the demo
New features in Domino Web Access 6.5
Related links:
Domino Web Access 6.5 demo
Notes.net Exposed: Creating expiring registration
LDD Domino Web Access page
Lotus Domino Web Access page
Domino Web Access documentation
Domino Administrator help
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The Domino Web Access (formerly iNotes Web Access) demo is one of the longest running showcases that Lotus Labs (formerly the Lotus Developer Domain) has hosted. We first introduced the Domino Web Access demo in November 2000 when the first Beta version of the product became available. The intent behind this and all of our live showcases is to provide you with a first hand opportunity to try the latest in Lotus software and technology. We created expiring registration so that each account lasts seven days—sufficient time for you to thoroughly test every feature of this Web mail client. Since the inception of the demo, we've had 113,354 Domino Web Access accounts. Currently, there are more than 430 active accounts.
Recently, we upgraded our Domino Web Access demo to the latest Beta release of Notes/Domino 6.5, which offers you even more features and enhancements. For those of you with current accounts, your mail file and its contents remain intact. We wanted to keep the demo available during the upgrade, so the server on which we host the demo was only shut down for a brief time. In this article, we describe how we upgraded our Domino Web Access demo, including the tasks that we performed to upgrade the demo from backup to testing, and what new features you can expect to find in the demo.
Backing up the mail files
Our first task before upgrading the software was to back up all existing mail files to prevent any data loss. Our backup task included making a copy of the server hard drive. While Domino provides a back up utility, we prefer to perform a back up at the operating system level. By maintaining a copy of the hard drive, we can restore all files rapidly and more efficiently in case of emergency.
Hardware
We host our Domino Web Access demo on a partitioned server that also hosts one of the Web servers in our cluster. The specifications for this machine are:
| Platform | Windows 2000 Server with Service Pack 4 |
| Memory | 4 GB |
| CPU | IBM x360 Quad with 1.6 GHz processors |
Installing Domino 6.5
After backing up the hard drive, we installed a Beta version of Domino 6.5. For information about installing Domino 6.5, refer to the Domino Administrator help. In Domino 6 and later, you can install different versions of Domino on one UNIX machine; however, all versions of Domino on a partitioned Windows machine must be the same. So in addition to upgrading the Domino Web Access demo to Domino 6.5, we also upgraded the Web server that shares the machine to the same version.
Here are the steps we followed to upgrade our Domino Web Access demo:
- Shut down the server to upgrade the software from iNotes Web Access 5.0.12 to Domino Web Access 6.5, and then installed the Domino 6.5 Administrator client on a separate machine to administer the server.
- Started the Domino 6.5 server, which converted the Domino Directory database format to ODS43 and updated the design of the directory.
- Ran the compact task to convert the database format for nearly of all databases on the server.
- Ran the design task to update the design of system databases.
- Ran the convert task to upgrade all Domino Web Access mail files from iNotes5.ntf to iNotes6.ntf.
- Updated the registration application to use iNotes6.ntf and to remove the Internet Explorer only restriction.
In the following sections, the article describes many of these steps in more detail.
Converting the database format
Before upgrading the templates, we converted the mail files to the Domino 6.5 ODS (ODS43). To do this, we used the compact task that can run from either the Domino server console or the Domino Administrator. To compact all databases from the server console, you enter the command:
load compact
Another option for compacting databases is the indirect file. The indirect file is a text file that lists specific databases or database directories. The indirect file can compact databases, rebuild views, and fix corrupt databases. For more information about the indirect file, see the Domino Administrator help.
Upgrading templates
We upgraded system templates using the design task, but for the Domino Web Access mail files, we use the mail conversion utility or convert task. Another option for upgrading Domino Web Access mail files is Upgrade-by-mail, a feature that sends an email notification to users to upgrade their Notes client, Notes mail file, or both. For information about Upgrade-by-mail, see the Domino Administrator help.
The convert task can upgrade a single mail file or all mail files in a directory and has a number of arguments:
| Argument | Description |
| -r | Upgrades all mail files in a specified directory and all of its subdirectories |
| -l | Creates a text file that lists all mail files on a server |
| -f | Upgrades all mail files listed in a text file |
| -m | Enables IMAP-specific features for a Notes 5 mail file |
| -e | Enables IMAP-specific features for a Notes 6 mail file |
| -u | Upgrades custom folder designs |
| -s | Upgrades folders without the "Do not allow refresh/replace to modify" option selected in the Design properties |
To upgrade our mail files, we used the following command:
load convert mail\*.nsf * iNotes6.ntf
This command upgrades all mail files in the mail directory to the iNotes6.ntf template. The following screen shows the iNotes6.ntf template as applied to a Domino Web Access mail file:
Configuring Domino Web Access
With the upgrade of Domino Web Access mail files complete, it was time to tweak our configuration. There were changes that we needed to make to the Domino mail server and changes that we made to the Domino Web Access configuration.
Configuring the SMTP relay controls
One of the first configuration changes we made was to disable open relay so that Domino Web Access accounts cannot be used to send unsolicited email or spam. By restricting the SMTP inbound relay controls, we reduce the bandwidth on our network and server resources and potentially prevent our server from being blacklisted by another domain.
Disabling POP3 and IMAP
Domino Web Access for Microsoft Outlook lets you access your mail file from the Microsoft Outlook client; however because we disabled the POP3 and IMAP protocols on our server, your mail account is available via a Web browser only.
Setting up Domino Off-Line Services
Domino Off-Line Services (DOLS) lets you take Domino applications off-line, including your Domino Web Access mail file. You can work in your Domino Web Access mail file off-line, then synch the off-line copy with the on-line one. For more information about taking your account off-line, see the Domino Web Access help available from your mail account.
Removing the Internet Explorer only restriction
In previous releases of Domino Web Access, the only supported Web browser was Microsoft Internet Explorer. While Internet Explorer remains a supported browser, if you try to access your Domino Web Access mail account with another browser, Domino Web Access can fail over to a Webmail template if one is available.
Testing the demo
Our final step was to test the Domino Web Access 6.5 demo. We tested the following functional areas to ensure that they were working as expected:
- Registration
- Basic functionality, such as sending, replying, and forwarding mail messages, creating calendar entries, and taking a mail file off-line, with different browsers
- Search
- Authentication
New features in Domino Web Access 6.5
Domino Web Access 6.5 offers a number of new features and enhancements, many of which are available in our demo.
Browser support
Now, in addition to Microsoft Internet Explorer for support Windows platforms, Domino Web Access also supports Mozilla 1.3.1 on Red Hat Linux 7.2.
Note that a new failover feature in Domino Web Access lets you access your mail from other Web browsers via the Webmail template. If Domino Web Access detects a browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer, it fails over to the Webmail template.
Calendar and scheduling
Many improvements in calendar and scheduling went into this release of Domino Web Access.
- Specify multiple time zones
You can specify more than one time zone in your calendar entries, and they appear in the Calendar view. With multi-time zone support, you can specify a start time in one time zone and an end time in another time zone.
- Send instant messages
Domino Web Access and Sametime integration let you send instant messages. See who's on-line (active) in the Sender field of your mail messages, then right-click the name to send an instant message. Note that this feature is not available in the Domino Web Access demo.
- Pencil in a meeting
You can pencil in a meeting, to do item, appointment and so on in your calendar. Anyone with access to your calendar can see the details of your penciled in items, but to any one viewing your free time, that time appears free.
- Create Group to do items
Create and assign group to do items to another person or group.
- Integrate additional calendar formats in the Welcome page
You can customize the Welcome page to display your calendar in 1-day, 2-day, 5-day, or 1-week formats. In previous releases, only the 1-day Calendar format was available.
- Delegate your calendar
Domino Web Access supports a full calendar and scheduling model to let you delegate scheduling responsibilities and response to meeting invitations to another user.
Domino Off-Line Services (DOLS)
Along with enhancements to Domino Web Access are enhancements to Domino Off-Line Services that allow you to take your Domino Web Access mail file off-line.
- Plug-in for Mozilla
Use DOLS with th0e Mozilla Web browser with the Domino Web Access plug-in. This plug-in works on both supported Windows platforms and on Linux.
- Replicate truncated documents
Administrators can define the size of file attachments that are replicated to a client when a user wants to work off-line in the Server document. The following fields let you determine the size of file attachments:
- Maximum size of request content field on the Internet Protocols - HTTP tab (10000 kilobytes is the default)
- Maximum POST data field on the Internet Protocols - Domino Web Engine tab (10000 kilobytes is the default)
Mail
With Domino Web Access 6.5, the client becomes more Notes-like with features like copy into and encrypted mail.
- Phone message form
A new phone message form lets you send an email to another user notifying him or her of a phone call. This form is similar to the phone message form in Notes.
- Archive your mail file locally
Now you have the option to create a local archive of your Domino Web Access mail file. If you want to save a copy of your Domino Web Access mail file before it expires, you can create a local archive of it.
- Copy mail messages into calendar entries or to do items
You can create calendar entries and to do items when in a mail message by clicking Copy Into and selecting New Calendar Entry or New To Do.
- Send-and-file mail messages
In one click, send your mail messages and file a copy to a specified folder.
- Define terms for your dictionary
Add words to your dictionary so that names, acronyms, and other frequently used terms are no longer detected by the spell checker.
- Send encrypted mail
Send signed and encrypted new mail messages, replied messages, and forwarded messages. Also, you can verify signatures.
- Add a name to Contacts
Copy a name from the Domino Directory to your Contacts address book by clicking the Check Name button and using the Select Addresses dialog box in Domino Web Access.
- Block senders
Reduce your spam mail by setting a new mail rule that blocks mail from a specified sender.
- View unread mail
Use the Unread view to quickly see which messages you haven't read.
- Create an Internet-style reply
You can reply to a mail message using Internet-style history that includes an angled bracket (>) before each line of the original mail message to distinguish it from your reply message.
- Follow Up feature
Flag messages for future action with the new Follow Up feature available in all mail views, except Trash and Drafts. After you flag your messages, sort the column containing the flag to easily see which items require following up. After you've followed up on the message, the item is un-flagged.
- Create page breaks
Create page breaks in mail messages.
Performance
You should notice better performance in this release of Domino Web Access.
- See total database size
If your Domino Web Access mail file has a database quota, you can check the total size of your database and the percentage of database quota used to find out how close you are to exceeding the quota.
- Open in new window
Open areas of Domino Web Access, such as mail and calendar, in a new window using a new menu option, so you can have a quick view into whichever area you choose while still keeping an instance of Domino Web Access open.
- Improve performance and reduce bandwidth with GZIP compression
Domino Web Access uses GZIP compression to reduce network bandwidth consumption and to provide better performance, particularly for those with slow network connections.
- Cache generated or compressed content
You can now cache generated or compressed content on the Domino Web Access server.
- Request name changes
The Domino Administration Process (AdminP) now handles the client interaction necessary for name change requests.
Print
Domino Web Access 6.5 print enhancements include:
- Selecting and printing multiple documents in a view or printing all documents a selected view
- Printing contact records
- Printing documents in Edit mode
In addition, calendar printouts now display both a date and time stamp.
Templates
Now you can customize the Domino Web Access template with action buttons in views and dialog boxes, additional Welcome page choices, and corporate logos. In addition, you can customize the subforms and the following forms in the Forms6.nsf database:
- Custom_JS_Extensions
Use this form to create custom action buttons for any view or dialog box.
- Custom_WelcomePage
Use this form to add more choices for the user's Welcome Page.
- Custom_Banner
Use this form to replace the Domino Web Access logo with any logo of your choice.
Domino Web Access Redirect
Domino Web Access Redirect is a utility that lets you access your mail file without knowing the mail file name or the mail server name. This utility uses Domino authentication to redirect your browser to your mail file using your user name and password. You only need to know the name of the Domino Web Access Redirect server to access your mail file.
Conclusion
If you haven't tried Domino Web Access before, register now for a seven-day account and test the features in version 6.5. If you're considering whether or not to upgrade your Domino Web Access deployment to the latest version, we hope that this article made your decision a little easier. The new features and enhancements in Domino Web Access 6.5 provide an even richer Web client experience with more Notes-like functionality that you can access from almost anywhere through even more browsers. |
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