Two major versions of Lotus Notes/Domino—6.0 and 6.5—have been released in the last 2½ years, and most organizations have begun upgrading from older versions. This white paper discusses the new features of these releases and whether they present a compelling case for an upgrade. It also provides information gathered from interviews with messaging managers who have upgraded from Notes/Domino 5.
Report 513.
Important Questions Addressed by This Report Include:
- What are the main new features of Notes/Domino 6?
- How does Notes/Domino 6.5 compare with release 6.0?
- Which Notes/Domino 6 features offer benefits to IT and support organizations?
- Are migrations and upgrades to Notes/Domino 6 easier to undertake than in earlier releases?
- Does Notes/Domino 6 increase user productivity?
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
History of Recent Notes/Domino Releases
New Features of Notes/Domino 6
__Connectivity and Communication
____Network Compression
____Compression Support Extended to Web Users
____Streaming Replication and Attachments
__Server Hardware/Software Utilization
____More Efficient Use of Server CPU Resources
____More Efficient Use of Server Storage
____Support for Windows Server 2003
____Single-Partition Support for Multiple Languages
____Single-Server Support for Multiple Domino Versions
__Administration and Operations
____Policy-Based Administration
____Enhanced Directories and Authentication Options
____Improved Monitoring and Reporting
____Additional Notes on Administration and Operations
__Migration and Upgrades
____Smart Upgrade
____Support for Industry-Standard MSI Install
____Domino Access for Microsoft Outlook
__User Productivity
____Efficiencies in Mail Handling
____Improved Usability for Occasionally Connected Users
____Enhancements to Calendaring and Scheduling
____Support for Soft Deletions
____Integrated Instant Messaging and Presence Awareness
____Domino Web Access
____Broader IBM Software Product Integration
____Additional Note on User Productivity
Conclusions and Observations
____Release 6 Is a Compelling Upgrade to Notes/Domino
____Some Organizations Will Benefit More Than Others
____Proving TCO Benefits Requires Metrics
____Notes/Domino 6 Does Little To Address Spam
____Upgrade Costs Are Lower With Notes/Domain
____Client Upgrades Drag On, Delaying Benefits
____Smart Upgrade May Be Underutilized