MAilbag - Letter to the Editor

ENT, July 19, 1999

No Java 2 Support on IE

In the May 19th edition of ENT, the article "Internet Explorer 5.0: Trading Glitz for a Better UI" reported that IE5 supports Java 2. We've found no indication that IE supports Java 2.

Drew Decker

Drew.Decker@GSC.GTE.com

Author Mark McFadden responds: I shouldn't have put a complicated issue so bluntly. Java 2 is a nickname for JDK 1.2, and one of the key parts of JDK 1.2 is version 1.1 of the Java Foundation Classes. Among these is a new version of the Abstract Windowing Toolkit and new APIs including SWING, Accessibility and Drag and Drop. In Microsoft's native JVM, these new APIs are not supported. When I used Sun's Java Plug-in version 1.2.1, I was able to use applets in IE 5.0 that took full advantage of the latest capabilities and features of JDK 1.2.

Clustering Problem Debate

Regarding the [June 9] review of [FullTime Software's] clustering software, your tester failed to read the documentation relating to the section about changing base IP addresses. This is a really straightforward process that was not done correctly. You then proceeded to uninstall, which is fine, but not necessary. The mistake made was to not reboot.

Also, you must have been using an unpatched FTC 4.3, as their console was not updating properly. You should have had 4.3 patched to 4.3.3 (4.3.2 console). The Legato media kit unfortunately does not distribute this patch, but the assigned Legato SE would have supplied a patch for the console application for dynamic updates.

Lance E. White

lwhite@legato.com

Senior systems engineer Legato Systems

Author Garrett Michael Hayes responds: The explanation of a version level issue with the control software makes sense. Regarding the IP address change, we did read the relevant documentation and followed it. It appeared to be a straightforward operation, which was why the apparent failure was surprising. We definitely rebooted following deinstallation, as prompted by both the product and general NT experience. The remaining directories were observed subsequent to that reboot.

High Availability Here

David Miller's June 9 article titled "High Availability Programs in Action" challenges readers to "Use the phrases 'Windows NT' and '99.9 percent uptime' in the same sentence." My NT network runs like a champ, year in and year out. Granted, it's a small operation. I serve file and print to 250 users, have a couple of Citrix servers, an e-mail server and a low-usage Oracle database. But it does run 24x365.

Maybe all the fingernails are being bitten over large-scale, high- volume operations, but it certainly doesn't get written up that way. You'd think NT crashed and burned all the time for no reason. In my experience NT is very stable and actually rather forgiving. Combine that with a usability that simply can't be compared with anything else, and I've got an OS for life. Am I missing something?

Alan Hodge

alan.hodge@contiteves-usa.com

Author David B. Miller responds: I can relate to your comments, being in a similar position myself a few years ago. There's nothing quite like having oversight of just about everything on your network. While it may be hectic, I found that in some ways it also made things more stable. Fewer hands in the pot, I suppose.

The targets of these programs are large shops with dozens to hundreds of servers, not to mention all the other devices on the network. I've had the privilege of working in some rather large companies the past few years. I can tell you that the reliability "perception" of NT is not as good as in your shop. Many times the problems stem from lack of resources, good procedures and practices.