IPlanet Web Server, 4.1, FastTrack Edition FAQ

Product Overview

1. What is iPlanet Web Server, FastTrack Edition?
A. iPlanet Web Server, FastTrack Edition is a FREE version of iPlanet Web Server, Enterprise Edition that is ideally suited to the Java Development community for use as the development and test platform for web applictaions.

2. How much does it cost?
A. It doesn’t: it’s FREE!

3. How can I get a CD?
A. The current distribution channel for FastTrack is via web download only. CDs are not available from iPlanet at this time.

4. Who should use this product?
A. Anyone developing web applications using Java, in particular, but it also supports NSAPI and CGI.

5. What are the system requirements?
A. X86 PC architecture or Unix Workstation (varied); 32MB RAM (minimum), 64MB RAM (recommended); 100MB disk (minimum), 200MB disk (recommended)

6. What are the differences between iWS, 4.1 FastTrack and iWS, 4.1 Enterprise Editions?
A. FastTrack Edition is essentially the same product as Enterprise Edition, supporting the same APIs, but with the following limiting factors:

Single process, 5 threads only, limiting performance to ~20% of Enterprise Edition
Limited to 5 Virtual Servers
Only 56- bit encrpytion version available
No Web Publishing capability: no Search, Web Publishing API or
Applet support
No WAI support
No Server- Side Java Script support
No LiveWire support
No SSL Hardware Accelerator support
No Group/ Cluster Management support
No Distributed Admin support
No SNMP support

7. What are the differences between Netscape FastTrack Server 3.01 and this product?
A. Netscape FastTrack Server 3.01 was intended for the needs of individuals and small workgroups. It had restrictions on user management and administration, but no performance restrictions. It was also licensed as an OEM product. IWS FastTrack Edition is intended specifically for use by web application developers, and Java developers in particular. There are performance limitations on its use and it would not be suitable at all for application deployment in moderate-to-high traffic sites.

8. Is there a FastTrack Server 4.0?
A. No. This is the first release of FastTrack since Netscape FastTrack Server 3.01, and there is no migration path offered.

Upgrade/Migration

1. Is there an upgrade path from FastTrack Server 3.01 to this product?
A. No. See Q. 8 above.

2. How difficult will it be to upgrade iWS, 4.1 Enterprise Edition from this product?
A. Not difficult at all. Applications written for FastTrack 4.1 should run unchanged on Enterprise Edition 4.1.

3. Why would I want to upgrade to Enterprise Edition from this product?
A. Several reasons, as indicated in Q. 6 above: most specifically, for high performance in deployment.

Product Features

1. What Java support does iWS, 4.1 FastTrack Edition provide?
A. Note the following Java support:

Servlets 2.2
JSP 1.1
Provides unique, in-process, plugable Java Virtual Machine (JVM) architecture for enhanced application performance
Enables remote debugging via a Java IDE
JDK 1.2
JDBC 2.0

2. What other programming models does FastTrack support?
A. NSAPI and CGI are supported.

3. What configuration and management tools are provided?
A. The following:

Same easy-to-use browser-based administration as Enterprise Edition
Ships with runtime version of iPlanet Directory Server
Integrates with LDAP-based directory servers
Includes support for password policies and dynamic groups
See Product Overview Q.6 for list of Enterprise Edition features not supported in FastTrack

4. What platforms does FastTrack run on?
A. Supported Platforms

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5
Sun Solaris™ 2.6, 7*, 8*
Red Hat Linux 6.1 (x86)
HP-UX 11.0, 11.0 64-bit*
IBM AIX 4.32
Compaq Tru64 Unix 4.0d, 4.0e*
SGI IRIX 6.56

* via binary compatibility

5. What security features are provided?
A. Includes support for SSL v3 and X.509 digital certificates

6. What levels of SSL encryption are supported?
A. 56-bit only.

7. Is Server Side JavaScript supported?
A. No.

8. Is WAI supported?
A. No.

9. Is LiveWire supported?
A. No.

10. Can I use FastTrack to deploy my applications on the web?
A. Yes, you can, but it is limited to a single process and only 5 threads. It’s performance will be limited to about 20% of that of Enterprise Edition. We highly recommend that you upgrade to Enterprise Edition for all deployments.

11. Does FastTrack support Virtual Servers?
A. Yes, but only 5 virtual servers supported.

12. Does FastTrack support SNMP?
A. No.

13. Does FastTrack support Web Publishing and Content Management?
A. No.

Product Support

1. Can I get Tech Support for FastTrack?
A. FastTrack is a FREE product and is not supported by our Tech Support organization. However:
A full set of on-line documentation is available. A regularly upAlso, since FastTrack and Enterprise Edition share the same source tree, many of the issues that will arise with FastTrack may have already been identified with Enterprise Edition, so we encourage developers to enroll in newsgroups that cater to that product when looking for answers.

2. How can I get help with installation and configuration?
A. Use the on-line Installation Guide and the newsgroups.

3. How can I get help with Java development issues?
A. Use the java.sun.com web site, as well as the on-line servlet programmer's guide and newsgroups.

4. How can I get help with NSAPI development issues?
A. Use the on-line NSAPI programmer's guide.

5. How can I get help with Administration and Configuration?
A. Use the on-line Administrator's Guide.