0.0.7: InfoCenter revision history ("What's New")

Updated 10/16/2001

The full InfoCenter is periodically updated on the Library page of the product Web site. You can browse the InfoCenter from the Web site or download the updates to a local machine that already contains a version of the InfoCenter.

This article helps you determine the "freshness" of the information you are viewing or downloading, including:

This article highlights the main changes in each revision of the InfoCenter, starting with the most recent revision. Information applies to both the Standard and Advanced Editions, unless otherwise stated. It also describes how to tell when your locally installed InfoCenter needs to be updated.

Differences between the online InfoCenter versions and downloadable JAR files

National language differences

Differences between the English and other National Language Versions of InfoCenters are also noted by the revision history below.

English documentation is updated fairly frequently, usually coinciding with code releases that may or may not be offered in multiple languages, such as Fix Packs. English documentation changes are delivered quickly to the Web site.

In a timely manner, the InfoCenter documentation is offered to global contacts for retranslation. Therefore, the English documentation will usually be somewhat more updated than the translated versions.

Note translated version update (updated from #1 to #6)

When to update your locally installed InfoCenter

Here is a recommended procedure:

  1. Determine the version of your locally installed InfoCenter by viewing its revision history article (0.0.7).
  2. Check the revision history of the "live" InfoCenter that is currently posted on the Web site for online browsing:
    http://www-4.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/doc/v35/ae/infocenter/was/000007.html
  3. Compare ... If your locally installed 0.0.7 article does not match the 0.0.7 article currently posted on the Web site in terms of the InfoCenter levels mentioned, then your local InfoCenter is back-level.

    For example, your local 0.0.7 article describes the change history through version 4 of the InfoCenter, but the 0.0.7 article on the Web site describes a version 5, then your local InfoCenter needs to be updated to version 5.

  4. Determine whether an updated JAR file is available for you to download.

    Usually, the JAR files available from the Web site for downloading an updated InfoCenter are at the same level as the "live" version of the InfoCenter that you can browse from the Web site.

    View the Web page from which you can browse or download the InfoCenter to confirm whether the "live" (browsable) and downloadable InfoCenters match.

    http://www-4.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/infocenter.html

    If you do not see any notes on that page about a mismatch, then assume that the "live" version and the JAR files are at the same level.

  5. If an updated JAR is available, and your local InfoCenter is back-level compared to the "live" version, then download and install a JAR file, referring to the download instructions.

InfoCenter versions, starting with most recent

The remainder of this article provides a detailed revision (change) history of the InfoCenter, starting with the latest version.

Version 9 for IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5.5
(Coinciding with Fall 2001 IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5.5 availability)

Summary: This update of the InfoCenter for Version 3.5.5 contains dozens of content changes, summarized below. It also addresses the quality problems of the Version 3.5.4 InfoCenter update.

Where appropriate, Version 4.0.x InfoCenter improvements were applied retroactively to the Version 3.5.x InfoCenter, including improved search and PDF navigation; restructuring and consolidation of topics for better retrieval; and addition of some new articles developed for Version 4.0.x, but which apply to Version 3.5.x as well (about a dozen of these).

Key content changes:

Numerous other content updates and corrections are reflected in the Version 3.5.5 Release Notes.

Additional improvements:

Version 8 for IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5.4
(Coinciding with early May IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5.4 availability)

Please see the online version of the InfoCenter (available from the InfoCenter page referenced above) for the updated revision history. It was not packaged with the locally installable InfoCenter JAR files this time.

Version 7 for IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5.x
(Coinciding with the mid-February 2001 IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5.3 availability)

The InfoCenter now contains information about:

The 2/15 refresh of the English Standard and Advanced Edition InfoCenters builds on # 1 through 6 below.

Planning and installation
  • Added instructions for Sybase database on Windows NT
  • Added instructions for using Merant driver support (see the Release Notes or OS navigational views on product welcome page for links)
  • Updated HP-UX, Solaris, and Windows NT instructions regarding iPlanet support
  • Added article 1.2.3.2.3 about DB2/390 support
  • Updated 1.2.7.2.* about Object Level Trace and Distributed Debugger (89745, 89734, 85252.RN)
  • Removed obsolete 1.2.7.2.1.* articles
  • Improved cross-linking between classpath (6.3.1) and administrative server configuration (1.2.2.7) information (90307)
  • Added clarification to article 1.2.12 about JDK support (90540)
  • Updated article 1.2.2.6 with clarification about running as non-root (90568, 90605)
Programming
  • Added article 4.2.1.2.1a about Java Servlet 2.2 features
  • Added article 3.3.2a about new servlet engine setting for Servlet 2.2 applications
  • Added article 4.2.5 about Bean Scripting Framework support
  • Added article 4.3.3 about JMS support
  • Updated articles 4.3.1 and 1.4.1 with Developer Client Files information -- these files might not be present or necessary, depending on fix pack levels (90502)
  • Other updates to article 4.3.1 (88907, 88934)
  • Improved articles 4.2.1.2.3, 4.2.1.3.4.2, and 6.6.9.1.1 about internal servlets (90553)
  • Updated article 4.2.8 with FAQ about effect of JNDI caching on performance (90572)
  • Updated article 4.3.1 with EJB deployment note
  • Updated article 4.2.10 with clarification about using the WAR file conversion script with security enabled. Articles 5.3.4 and 5.3 also affected (88341)
  • Updated article 4.2.2.3.7.2.1 with slight correction
Systems Administration
  • Added articles 6.6.0.4.1.* about using Dynamic Caching feature
  • Removed article 6.7.* about Tivoli management systems support (90324)
  • Added article 5.3.3 about securing JSP files (88065.RN, 90580)
  • Updated article 6.6.0.2.2 and WSCP documentation (PQ42239, 90328, 90552, 90569)
  • Updated article 5.2.5 with clarifications and corrections (88914)
  • Updated article 4.4.1.1.7.2 with session affinity support clarification (88212)
  • Removed article 6.3.1.1, which was blank (90645, 89771)
  • Updated article 5.1 with link to Security White Paper (90329)
  • Added article 6.6.3.5 about invoking your own classes during application server startup and shutdown (90538)
  • Updated article 5.2.5 with NTLM clarifications and security risk information (91131, 92065)
  • Updated article 5.4.1 with small addition (90628)
  • Updated article 6.6.0.1a with minimum GUI resolution recommendation (90586)
Tuning and Troubleshooting
  • Updated Tuning Guide
  • Improved Tuning Guide visibility on Tuning and Troubleshooting navigational view (90590)
  • Updated Tools Matrix article (dtab_b.html) with table entry for Log Analyzer (90489, 90588)
Other/General
  • Created article 7.2.1a about workload management for remote Java clients (89589)
  • Updated samples information page with clarification about how to access Samples Gallery using the links included on the page (90922)
  • Updated migration articles 3.2 and 3.3 (PQ42871)
  • Updated navigational view PDF sizes with approximate sizes (upper bounds) (88082)
  • Began adding tracking numbers to revision history entries (as applicable)
  • Added links to programming examples to sitemap
  • Grouped conceptual topics together on sitemap
  • Moved Sitemap link from InfoCenter frame set to lefthand navigation panel
  • Implemented automatically generated sitemap for improved accuracy
Version 6 for IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5.x
(Coinciding with late December IBM WebSphere Application Server for Linux availability)

The InfoCenter now contains information about:

The 12/22 refresh of the English Standard and Advanced Edition InfoCenters builds on # 1 through 5 below.

Planning and installation
  • Added installation and configuration information for product for Linux on S/390
  • Added installation and configuration information for product on NetWare
  • Added Linux for S/390 and NetWare pages to "Operating systems..." views to Welcome page
  • Updated article 1.2.3.6 with Linux for S/390 and NetWare database driver information
Programming
  • No changes
Systems Administration
  • No changes
Tuning and Troubleshooting
  • No changes
Other/General
  • Updated Release Notes for Linux; expanded to include Linux on S/390 support
  • Added Release Notes for NetWare support
  • Updated article 0.0.7 to reduce length of InfoCenter version headings, provide more detail about which product fix packs and ports are covered by each InfoCenter version

  Important notes about this InfoCenter version:

Version 5 for IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5.x
(Coinciding with late November electronic code delivery of Linux trial code support)

The InfoCenter now contains information about:

The 11/21 refresh of the English Standard and Advanced Edition InfoCenters builds on # 1 through 4 below.

Planning and installation
  • Added installation and configuration information for product on Linux (Intel)
  • Added "Operating systems..." views to Welcome page
  • Deleted "Selecting installation steps" article from Section 2 (file 022.html)
  • Distributed former 022.html material among new operating systems views
  • Updated article 1.2.3.6 with Linux database driver information and general improvements
Programming
  • No changes
Systems Administration
  • No changes
Tuning and Troubleshooting
Other/General
  • Added Release Notes for Linux (Intel) trial code
  • Introduced prototype of "WebSphere InfoCenter" (new look and feel)
  • Restored online Search capability (English InfoCenters for now)

  Important notes about this InfoCenter version:

Version 4 for IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5.x
(Coinciding with 10/13 electronic code delivery of Fix Pack 2)

The InfoCenter now contains information about:

The 10/13 refresh of the English Standard and Advanced Edition InfoCenters builds on # 1 through 3 below. It contains the following updates, geared toward Fix Pack 2 code changes.

Planning and installation
  • Added case-specific instructions for IBM UDB DB2 Version 6.1 Fix Pack 5
  • Applied usability improvements to case-specific installation and configuration instructions
  • Corrected and extended article 1.2.4.2, the remote OSE configuration documentation (Advanced Edition only)
Programming
  • Added article 4.2.1.2.1a describing new Java Servlet 2.2. support
  • Added articles 4.2.5.* describing Bean Scripting Framework support
  • Added article 4.2.10 describing a script for running a Web application from XML on a servlet engine inside a development runtime environment such as IBM VisualAge for Java
  • Added article 4.2.2.2.4 describing JSP 1.1 batch compiling
  • Updated articles 3.3.2.* regarding migration to the newly supported Servlet 2.2 and JSP 1.1 levels
  • Updated article 4.3.1 with note that EJB clients need ioser.dll
  • Added article 4.3.2 describing JNDI caching support new in 3.5.2
  • Updated article 4.4.1.1.2 with tip regarding the use of sync() in locking and unlocking sessions
Systems Administration
  • Added article 6.6.8.1.3 describing WAR file conversions using the Java console (WebSphere Administrative Console)
  • Updated article 6.6.10 to describe how to configure JSP file reloading options
  • Updated articles 6.6.8, 6.6.7.1.4, 6.6.8.1.4, and 6.6.16.1.4 with descriptions of new properties in Java console pertaining to extended Servlet and JSP file support
  • Added article 6.6.0.2.1.4 describing WAR file conversion using XMLConfig
  • Updated articles 6.6.0.2.* to include WebSphere XML changes pertaining to extended Servlet and JSP file support
  • Updated article 1.2.3.6 with new driver information; reorganized article for increased usability
  • Updated article 6.6.0.1.14 to better explain Stop for Restart setting
  • Updated article 5.2.5, removing outdated security information regarding Domino users
  • Updated article 0.18.8 with slight clarification about the use of directory services (change applies to Advanced Edition only)
  • Updated articles 1.4.1 and 6.6.0.1a to clarify that Java console requires a JDK in order to run, and that a JDK is not automatically installed with the console
  • Added link from transport type descriptions in 6.6.7.1.4 and 6.6.13.1.4 (latter is for Advanced Edition only) to Tuning Guide, which provides advice for configuring the transport type setting
  • Modified articles 6.6.0.2.* to address WSCP documentation correction
  • Added missing *.tcl.txt WSCP example scripts to documentation set (accessible from WSCP documentation in InfoCenter)
Tuning and Troubleshooting
  • Updated WebSphere Performance Tuning Guide further
  • Added article 8.7.1 describing new Log Analyzer, available from Web site
  • Updated article 8.1.3 with Invocation Cache Size tuning information
  • Updated article 1.2.3.7 with InstantDB tracing information
Other/General
  • Added 0.8.1 and 0.8.2 providing conceptual information about WAR file support and conversion
  • Miscellaneous link fixes
Version 3 for IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5.x
(Coinciding with 9/10 electronic code delivery of Fix Pack 1)

The InfoCenter now contains information about:

The 9/10 refresh of the English Standard and Advanced Edition InfoCenters builds on #1 and 2 below. It contains the following updates, geared toward Fix Pack 1 code changes and general documentation improvements.

Planning and installation
  • Updated "Planning and installation" to include DB2 Version 7.1 information in the case-specific installation and configuration instructions
  • Updated "Planning and installation" with installation and configuration instructions for new cases
  • Added database migration assistant documentation (articles 1.2.3.2.*)
  • Added JDK migration assistant documentation (articles 1.2.12.*)
  • Updated articles 3.1.* regarding the Migration Assistant (Advanced Edition only)
  • Updated article 1.2.3.8 to contain Sybase session persistence tip; arranged article 1.2.3.8 by database type to increase usability; modified session help article 6.6.11 to refer to 1.2.3.8
  • Updated article 1.4.2.4 regarding remote OSE sample topology, numerous small changes
  • Updated article 1.4.1 with installation workaround affecting remote OSE topology; added links to various sample topologies from their entries in the installable components table
  • Updated article 6.6.0.1.14 with improved descriptions of Stop for Restart and Restart actions in WebSphere Administrative Console (Java console)
Programming
  • Added article 4.2.8 regarding Web application performance, including ServletContext.log() usage tip
  • Added article 4.2.9 regarding Web application language encodings, including instructions for setting JSP file and servlet encodings, and encodings for data access
  • Added link to product Javadoc index from bottom of each Programming file (articles 4.*)
Systems Administration
  • Added article 6.6.18.2 about securing cloned applications (Advanced Edition only); modified some other 6.6.18.* articles to link to it
  • Added link to InfoCenter from bottom of each help file (articles 6.6.*) for navigating to InfoCenter interface from a help file that has been opened in a standalone browser window from a product administrative client
  • Updated article 6.6.8.1.4 to indicate that the Use Shared Context setting for Web applications should remain set to false
Tuning and Troubleshooting
  • Updated and expanded WebSphere Performance Tuning Guide to include tuning methodology, tuning reference, and summary of tuning differences from IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.0x. Access the Tuning Guide through "Tuning and Troubleshooting" on the Welcome page
Other/General
  • Added Version 3.5 Fix Pack 1 Release Notes to Section 0 (Introduction)
  • Added this revision history (article 0.0.7) to Section 0 (Introduction)
  • Corrected typos in article 3.3.10, XML configuration migration
  • Removed Release Notes links from "Planning and Installation," instead pointing to InfoCenter Section 0, which will offer an archive of Release Notes for base and subsequent Fix Packs and ports of the base
  • Modified file headers to prevent Javascript error when file is opened outside of the InfoCenter interface
  • Other, trivial updates (link fixes and such)
Version 2 for IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5 - English ZIP file downloads
(Coinciding with 8/31 code delivery for AIX, HP-UX, Solaris, and Windows NT)

In late August, ZIP files containing the English InfoCenters were posted to the Web site for temporary use while the InfoCenter "smart" downloads in ten languages were being finalized.

These English InfoCenters contained these main changes with respect to the documentation posted for the previous delivery:

  Important notes about this InfoCenter version:

Version 1 for IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5 base
(Coinciding with 8/31 code delivery in 10 languages for AIX, HP-UX, Solaris, and Windows NT)

For the 8/31 delivery (and 8/17 electronic delivery) of IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 3.5, the Web site was updated to include "live" InfoCenter versions for supported languages. The live versions can be browsed from the Web site, but cannot be downloaded. Their Search facilities were disabled due to a technical problem currently under investigation.

This InfoCenter version is the baseline against which this article (0.0.7) documents changes to the InfoCenter in subsequent refreshes.

  Important notes about this InfoCenter version:

Related information...
  • 0.0: Becoming an InfoCenter super user