iPlanet Calendar Server Release Notes

iPlanet Calendar Server 2.1Patch 2 Release Notes

These notes were last updated June 30, 2000.

Contents

What's new in this release

Improved Functionality
Updates since 2.1 Patch 1
Features of iPlanet Calendar Server Patch 2
iPlanet Calendar Server 2.1 Patch 1 Release notes
Supported Platforms
Recommended Browser
Solaris Tuning Recommendations
HP-UX Tuning Recommendations
Known Limitations and Considerations
Potential Problems and Solutions
Corrections to the Documentation
How to Report Problems
Where to Go for More Information

What's New in this Release

Improved Functionality of iPlanet Calendar Server 2.1 Patch 2

iCalendar 2.1 P2 introduces two more language versions, Japanese and Simplified Chinese. iCalendar is now localized and available in five languages - English, French, German, Japanese and Simplified Chinese.

Updates since iPlanet Calendar Server 2.1 Patch 1

Installation

HP-UX - Error message on Install: (395986)

Directory to store Calendar Server database into [/var/opt/iPlanet/CalendarServer/csdb]:

MsgCat (cs.cat.CalResources):

wbTemporaryFileDirectorySelectionPanel-Gui-IntroText not found

MsgCat (cs.cat.CalResources):

wbTemporaryFileDirectorySelectionPanel-Gui-DirectorySelectionLabel not found

MsgCat (cs.cat.CalResources):

wbTemporaryFileDirectorySelectionPanel-Gui-BrowseButton not found

MsgCat (cs.cat.CalResources):

wbTemporaryFileDirectorySelectionPanel-ConsoleInteraction not found

CalwbTemporaryFileDirectorySelectionPanel-ConsoleInteraction

MsgCat (cs.cat.CalResources):

wbTemporaryFileDirectorySelectionPanel-ConsoleInteraction-DirectorySelectionQuestion not found

java.lang.OutOfMemoryError

at java.lang.StringBuffer.expandCapacity(Compiled Code)

at java.lang.StringBuffer.insert(Compiled Code)

at com.sun.wizards.core.TTYDisplay.prettyPrintText(Compiled Code)

at com.sun.wizards.core.TTYDisplay.queryValue(Compiled Code)

at wb.panels.wbDirectorySelectionPanel.consoleInteraction(Compiled Code)

at com.sun.wizards.core.IteratorLayout.setCurrentLeaf(Compiled Code)

at com.sun.wizards.core.IteratorLayout.next(Compiled Code)

at com.sun.wizards.core.WizardTreeManager.nextButtonPressed(Compiled Code)

at com.sun.wizards.core.CommandLineConsole.run(Compiled Code)

at java.lang.Thread.run(Compiled Code)

Calendar Server

Invalid session-id hangs UI. (390206)

DEC only. Change an event time or date and the new notification message reports as status as CANCELED(390386)

In the returned HTTP header of a "text/xml" or "text/calendar" file, the Content Type "charset" is set to the encoding of the user's preferred language (usually iso-8859-1) and it should be set to UTF-8. (391163)

HP-UX only. Intermittent cshttpd crashes due to memory usage patterns observed which are not memory leaks, but indicative of the type of testing being performed on the server. (393519)

HP-UX only. Email notification crashes with a core dump - a buffer was being overwritten (397242)

Internationalization

From the main help link in the top right corner, under Configuring Calendar Express Preferences, the link titled How Do I Change My Password ? has been removed, since no such button exists in Options.

Features of iPlanet Calendar Server 2.1 Patch 2

iPlanet Calendar Server (iCS) version 2.1 Patch 2 is a high performance, standards-based calendaring server. It is designed to scale to large numbers of calendar users hosted by a single machine. It provides personal calendar information to users and allows them to share all or some of their calendar information with others on the Internet. It's client interface is the Web Calendar Access Protocol (WCAP), which uses HTTP as it's transport. Refer to the Calendar Server Programmer's Reference for details on WCAP.

A web client, Calendar Express, is provided as part of the Calendar Server. Calendar Express is JavaScript-based and runs on the Netscape Communicator and Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers. Calendar Express has the following features:

Create and edit calendars (name, description, time zone) and calendar sets (a single composite view of multiple calendars), including support for:

Multiple owners of a calendar.
Simple access control (public or private read and write).
Multiple time zones associated with calendars and calendar sets.

Create and edit events and tasks (summary, date/time, location, description), including support for:

Recurring (repeating) events and tasks.
Notification and reminder (minutes, hours, or days before an event or task) emails to multiple recipients.

Multiple views like overview, day, week, and month, including support for:

Table, list, and condensed views.
View (without login) of public calendars.
HTML render of summaries and descriptions.
Print preview.

Find other calendars by id, name, or owner, including support for:

Subscription to other calendars.
Links to individual events in other calendars.

Import and export of calendars in text/calendar or text/xml formats.
Options to change appearance and default settings.
Localizeable to other countries and languages; default is US English.

The Calendar Server also includes a tool that automates simple customizations of Calendar Express. These include the ability to change the name, branding, and icons. The UI can be extensively modified by changing the server's JavaScript and HTML. A simple update might be to add a frame for banner advertising. A more extensive change might be to change the entire look and feel of the application.
Here is a document that may be of use:

Calendar Express UI Customization

The Calendar Server also supports a plugin layer called Calendar Server API (CSAPI). Although LDAP is the default mechanism for user authentication and for storing user preferences, this plugin layer allows for custom plugins that can interface to non-LDAP user authentication and user preferences. Refer to the Calendar Server Programmer's Reference for details on CSAPI.

A number of command line utilities to perform administration tasks is included with the Calendar Server. One or more users can be assigned as Calendar Server administrators. These administration utilities provide ways to:

Start and stop the Calendar Server.

Backup and restore the calendar database.

Create, modify, delete, or list calendars and their components.

Create, modify, delete, or list calendar users.

List or logout user sessions.

Display Calendar Server statistics.

All Calendar Server configuration is centralized in an ASCII configuration file that is installed with the Calendar Server. There are over 100 parameters in this file. Refer to the Calendar Server Administrator's Guide for details on how to configure and administer the Calendar Server.

Supported Platforms

Calendar Server 2.1 supports the following operating systems at the appropriate version and patch levels:

Solaris 2.6 and 2.7 (SPARC) with recommended patches. See:

http://access1.sun.com/patch.recommended/rec.html

HP-UX 11.00 (PA-RISC1.1 or better) with the following required operating system patches:

PHKL_18141
PHNE_16017
See http://hp.com for information on these recommended patches.

Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4

NOTE: Read the installation instructions for these patches carefully. When these patches supersede another patch, the superseded patch must be removed before installation. These patches may also have dependencies on other patches, which must be installed first. Finally, your system may have these patches (or patches superseded by these patches) installed from the factory.

Recommended Browsers

For Calendar Server 2.1 Patch 2, we recommend the following Netscape Communicator and Microsoft Internet Explorer versions:

	Windows	Mac	Unix
Netscape Communicator	4.7	4.7	4.7
Microsoft Internet Explorer	5.0	Currently under review	Not supported

Solaris Tuning Recommendations

The following section describes how to tune Solaris Kernel Parameters to support large numbers (greater than 100K) configured users.
Solaris 2 Performance tuning is discussed in detail at http://www.sun.com/sun-on-net/performance.html.

Configurable Kernel Parameters

Dump kernel tcp settings.

/usr/sbin/ndd /dev/tcp \?

Dump kernel tcp stats.

netstat -k [interface]

Dump protocol stack summary stats.

netstat -s

Add these lines to

/etc/system

set maxusers=2048

set ncsize=300000

set ufs_ninode=300000

TCP connection has default hash of 256. SPECweb96 sets this to 262144. Add this line to /etc/system

set tcp:tcp_conn_hash_size=262144

TCP CLOSE_WAIT interval. Solaris default to 240 seconds (4 minutes). SPECweb96 rules let you set it to 60 seconds. Add this /etc/rc2.d/S69inet

/usr/sbin/ndd -set /dev/tcp tcp_close_wait_interval 60000

Tune the TCP window size.

/usr/sbin/ndd -set /dev/tcp tcp_xmit_hiwat 32768

/usr/sbin/ndd -set /dev/tcp tcp_recv_hiwat 32768

Tune TCP slow start. It is advisable to set the initial congestion value to 2 since this is used by other vendors and will probably be the next standard anyway. This gives slightly faster throughput for short, high-speed connections.

/usr/sbin/ndd -set /dev/tcp tcp_slow_start_initial 2

Tune TCP connection request queues.

/usr/sbin/ndd -set /dev/tcp tcp_conn_req_max_q 1024

/usr/sbin/ndd -set /dev/tcp tcp_conn_req_max_q0 1024

NOTE: It is also a good idea to increase swap space. For example, on a 128MB RAM machine, 1GB is a good number.

HP-UX Tuning

The following section describes how to tune HP-UX Kernel Parameters to support large numbers (greater than 100K) configured users.

Configurable Kernel Parameters

You must set the parameters by hand. They are configurable parameters, but HP-UX system administration tools (sam, kmtune) won't allow numbers this high. The procedure for setting any tunable kernel parameter is as follows:

Edit /stand/system to modify the kernel parameter you're interested in. This must be done with some care; the parameter must be listed exactly by name.
Run 'mk_kernel -o /stand/vmunix'. This builds the new kernel, kernel function set, and marks the kernel for replacement on reboot.
Reboot the system.

max_thread_proc (maximum threads per process)

set to 8192

nkthread (maximum threads in system)

set to 32768

maxdsiz (max data segment size limit, heap memory)

figure 100K per concurrent user session, depending on the size of their inbox, a good number is 1GB (0x040000000)

maxtsiz (max text size)

use 64MB (0x04000000)

maxfiles_lim (max number of open files per process)

set to 32768

nfile (max number of files system wide)

set to 65536

ninode (maximum number inodes in memory)

set to 32768

These numbers should serve as a baseline for kernel tuning, and are a little higher than can be used safely on a 128MB C160 (workstation class machine). If these numbers are set too high, your system will exhaust lockable memory, and your system will fail to start up properly (network tracing and logging daemons are the first to complain, and X won't work). Calendar Server needs lots of intra-process resources, but comparatively few global resources. For this reason nproc, nusers, and similar system wide resources can be left low, freeing up lockable memory for inode and thread structures. The exceptions to this rule are nkthread, nfile, and ninode, which also restrict per process limits.

NOTE: It is also a good idea to increase swap space. For example, on a 128MB RAM machine, 1GB is a good number.

Known Limitations and Considerations

Calendar Server 2.1 Patch 2 includes the following known limitations and considerations See also Potential Problems and Solutions later in this document for other issues that might affect product capability or use.

Internationalization

Setting caldb.smtpmsgfmtdir in server.conf to "ja"causes corrupted characters in the event notification mails including corrupted characters. (395748)
Split days in settings doesn't work correctly (395497)

Calendar Server

"How to change password" link in the main Help online document, refers to a Password button in Options section. No such button exists. (398278)
Counter in recurring events is not being set correctly when meetings are removed. When repeating meetings are created using the "create n# events" option, the count does not get reset after deleting an occurrence of the meeting from the users calendar. (395472)

Calendar Express

In the Week - Table view, the first block of each column has a star which when the New event window with "All Day" checked is launched the date shown is wrong: it always shows the date of today, not the chosen date. (396172)
In the Options menu, enable the Event Reminders checkbox to always send a reminder for events and tasks. And then create a task - the checkbox is not set by default. (390573)

Potential Problems and Solutions

The following section details the known problems and solutions for the Calendar Server 2.1 Patch 2 release. If a bug report number follows the problem, please use that number when communicating with Netscape Technical Support concerning the problem.

See also the previous section, Known Limitations and Considerations, and the following section, Corrections to the Documentation, for other issues that might affect product capability or use.

Installation

Important note if you have downloaded a Unix version:

The tar files generated for download use the GNU tar utility. In most cases the "GNU tar" (also known as "gtar") and the native Unix "tar" commands are compatible. However, in this case they are not. At this time, you must obtain a copy of the GNU tar utility and use it to extract the files from the archive.

For more information, including where you can obtain the GNU tar utility, refer to technote: http://help.netscape.com/kb/corporate/20000222-3.html
Note: Neither Netscape Communications Corp., Sun MicroSystems Inc., nor iPlanet provide support for the GNU tar utility.

Internationalization

The format of the user-preferences has changed slightly to fix Internationalization issues.

Consideration: IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A LDIF BACKUP IS MADE OF THE USER DIRECTORY BEFORE USING THE MODIFY_XPREFS.PL SCRIPT.

This change will only affect users who have multiple calendars or multiple calendar-sets. The

modify_xprefs.pl script

will modify the nswcalextendeduserprefs attributes for user(s) in an iPlanet Directory Server. By default this script will automatically fix an issue regarding changing the encryption of the nswcalextendeduserprefs value

'ceAgendaList'.

If when using this script you get a warning about an administrative limit exceeded you will have to go into the Admin Console, double-click on the Directory Server icon, go to Configuration, Database, and under the Performance tab increase the "Look-through limit" to 50,000 or greater.

This script must be run in the same directory as the ldap tools (found in the

<DS server root>/shared/bin

). The options used are basically the same as the ldap tools with the addition of the -u (user) and -x (nswcalextendeduserpref) options ...

The bad value in the `'ceAgendaList`' was the semicolon in front of the 'name' value. If this is found then make the necessary modifications to the '`ceAgendaList'`values and then call fix_attributes.

Other Problems and Potential Solutions

Macintoshes running Internet Explorer are unable to view the calendar in the browser. (390542)

When trying to display the page there is a javascript error; "Object doesn't support this property or method". The top and bottom panel are visible but there is no calendar data displayed in the main middle frame.

Note: We are aware if this problem and it is currently under review.

Corrections to the Documentation

The service.listenaddr attribute parameter is supported in both iCS 2.0 and iCS 2.1 and only works in UNIX environments. It is used to specify the specific TCP address iCS will listen on for client http requests. The default is INADDR_ANY. It would be appropriate to use this parameter when the UNIX host has more than one network card and you want iCS to use a specific network card.

The iCS 2.1 installation guide under supported platforms, it is reported that Windows NT 4.0is required to have Service Pack 5, which is incorrect. The required Service Pack level is 4. See also technote #20000124-32.

How to Report Problems

See the iPlanet Technical Support site at http://www.iplanet.com/support/.

Where to Go for More Information

For the Calendar Server Administrator's Guide and related documents, visit:
http://docs.iplanet.com/docs/manuals/calendar/ics21/ag/contents.htm

For the Calendar Server installation instructions, visit:
http://docs.iplanet.com/docs/manuals/calendar/ics21/ig/contents.htm

For the Netscape Directory Server 4.1 or 4.11 installation instructions, visit:
http://docs.iplanet.com/docs/manuals/directory.html

If you can't find the information you need, please contact iPlanet technical support.

Legal Notices

Calendar Server 2.1 Patch 2

Use of Calendar Server 2.1 Patch 2 is subject to the terms detailed in the license agreement accompanying it.

Server NSPR 3.1.2 , NSS 2.6, and LDAP SDK 3.1

Calendar Server 2.1 Patch 2 incorporates the following software module(s): NSPR 3.1.x, NSS 2.6.2, and LDAP SDK 3.1. The source code for these module(s) as well as any updates produced by Sun Microsystems, Inc. or Netscape Communications Corporation is available from the Mozilla.org website under terms of the Mozilla Public License (MPL).

This product's license is different from the MPL. Any license terms for this product which differ from the MPL are offered by Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Netscape Communications Corporation, not by the "Initial Developer" or any "Contributor" (as those terms are defined in the MPL).

Copyright 2000 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Some preexisting portions Copyright © Netscape Communications Corp. All rights reserved.