An update on extst.ibm.com
As discussed previously on this blog, IBM has an extranet Sametime community (extst.ibm.com) that allows external customers to exchange secure instant messages with IBM employees. This service has been available for four years, via the Sametime Connect for Browsers client. Last year, we expanded this capability to include Sametime Connect 3.1 and Sametime Connect 7.5. Many customers have asked me when this list will be expanded to include Sametime Connect 8.0 and the embedded Sametime in Notes 8.0/8.0.1. Over the past several weeks, a number of significant changes to the Sametime infrastructure have been made and given the fact that we are about to enter a quarter end change freeze, the team has decided not to enable these clients in order to minimize the number of changes in the infrastructure. We are, however, committed to expanding the service to meet the needs of our customers and we will be enabling additional clients after the change freeze. Thanks for your continued patience.
Note that extst.ibm.com is not the only IBM's only extranet Sametime service. I posted a list of communities that I am aware of last year. Anyone know of others that I should add to my list? In addition, IBM also has the Sametime Gateway to connect with other Sametime customers as well as AIM/AOL users.
Note that extst.ibm.com is not the only IBM's only extranet Sametime service. I posted a list of communities that I am aware of last year. Anyone know of others that I should add to my list? In addition, IBM also has the Sametime Gateway to connect with other Sametime customers as well as AIM/AOL users.
1) An update on extst.ibm.com
Hi Chris, thanks for the post - I appreciate the effort that you make to update us on this service.
The extst service is the one IBM external site that makes me the most crazy, even more so than Partnerworld! It is such a great service when it works and truly adds value to the wider IBM community, especially to BP folks like myself.
However, when it doesn't work, which is frequently, it can have an enormous impact on the speed of communications regarding sales opportunities, technical issues, critsits and the like. This is no longer just a "best efforts" service from my PoV, it is essential to my means of doing business with IBM.
So, the situation regarding Notes 8.0.1 integration is just farcical... Bizarrely the Sametime Connect 8.0 client (standalone) works (therefore I disagree with this aspect of your post), but the Notes 8.0.1 client featuring the integrated Sametime Connect 8.0 client does not. This makes no sense to me - I assume it is just down to which clients you enable on the Sametime server - and means that I (and I am sure many others) end up running both Notes8.0.1 and Sametime Connect 8.0 on my laptop just so that I can connect to the extst community!
Please oh please, in future, can the extst service be open to any supported Sametime client version - including beta releases. I cannot imagine that your internal Sametime servers kick off Lotus folks using the very latest clients, therefore I don't see BPs and customers should suffer in that way.
Sorry, rant over... Stuart
Stuart McIntyre 2/29/2008 10:15:20 AM2) An update on extst.ibm.com
Don't forget the Bleed Yellow Sametime server ({ Link })
Bob balfe 2/29/2008 10:55:57 AM3) An update on extst.ibm.com
what a complete and utter disappointment. IBM is angering their customers and partners. And the fact that I can use the stand-alone Sametime 8 Connect client but not the 8.0.1 embedded client means that someone is just not putting much effort into this. Frankly, IBM should be ashamed.
John Head 2/29/2008 12:03:09 PM4) An update on extst.ibm.com
While having other community choices is nice, the extst community - when I could connect and added 44 IBMers - was one place I could be certain to reach them. The other sites are hit and miss when you're looking for someone at IBM.
Rob Novak 2/29/2008 2:32:58 PM5) An update on extst.ibm.com
@4: this is true Rob, because IBMers can connect to extst.ibm.com from their internal Sametime client, which usually is open all the time during business hours. I added the extst server myself and can confirm the bad uptime, from time to time it tells me to relogon to the community.
Radu Cadariu 3/3/2008 11:21:29 PM6) An update on extst.ibm.com
Chris, I would value a response. Clearly the delay to the support for Notes8.0.1 is not popular in the community. Can this be brought forward?
Stuart McIntyre 3/4/2008 4:45:17 AM7) An update on extst.ibm.com
I understand and appreciate your frustration on the delay on getting this enabled. This is at the top of our list to enable as soon as IBM exits its quarter end IT freeze in April.
Christopher Pepin 3/6/2008 10:45:38 AM8) An update on extst.ibm.com
Note that is not necessary for IBM employees to log in to extst.ibm.com in order to exchange messages with external customers that are logged on to that community.
Christopher Pepin 3/6/2008 10:48:11 AM9) An update on extst.ibm.com
Chris, thanks for those replies. Could you explain the reasons why IBM has such tight controls on client versions accessing extst?
Stuart McIntyre 3/7/2008 8:27:53 AM10) An update on extst.ibm.com
No tot nit pick, but this "freeze" has been used for years now, you can log in with some clients but not with others. You can log in via the web but not with any version of Sametime. Something is amiss and to see servers like DFW get upgrades makes extst look embarrassing.
I don't get it still.
Chris Miller 3/19/2008 12:49:28 PM11) An update on extst.ibm.com
That's correct - the clients that can connect are limited. However, if there is a need to enable additional clients, let me know.
Admittedly, the Notes 8.0/8.0.1/8.5 should have been enabled prior to IBM's quarter-end change freeze but unfortunately that didn't happen. We are targeting to enable this on April 19 when we exit the freeze. Thanks for your continued patience.
Christopher Pepin 3/20/2008 6:32:10 PM12) An update on extst.ibm.com
We're an external BizPartner trying to connect using the desktop client, ST v8.0.1, build 2008-04-21-21-05. Can you send me an updated versi0n of the configuration settings for the extst.ibm.com community? The settings we have do not work and result in 'cannot connect' errors.
Community name: IBM
Host Server: extst.ibm.com
Port: 80
Use Global Connection Settings
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly 9/15/2008 2:57:40 PM13) An update on extst.ibm.com
At this time, the standalone Samtime Connect 8.0.1 is not authorized to log into extst.ibm.com. The team is investigating enabling this capability next year when the service is upgraded. In the meantime, I recommend using the standalong Sametime Connect 8.0 client or Notes 8.0.1 with integrated Sametime.
Christopher Pepin 9/17/2008 5:27:28 PM14) An update on extst.ibm.com
Is it enabled for 7.5.1.x versions of sametime?
Yulia 10/24/2008 1:12:53 PM15) An update on extst.ibm.com
Yes. Sametime 7.5 clients should be enabled.
Christopher Pepin 10/26/2008 9:57:51 AM16) An update on extst.ibm.com
Any update on 8.5 client access to extst?
Would really like to get access back.
Thanks for your help Chris!
Mark Burdick 10/28/2008 5:20:27 PM17) An update on extst.ibm.com
Unfortunately, at this time Notes 8.5 beta with integrated Sametime is not enabled. However, this is being investigated for 2009. See this post for more details:
http://www.chrispepin.com/cpepin/cpepin.nsf/dx/instant-messaging-with-ibm-employees
Christopher Pepin 10/29/2008 1:57:39 PM18) An update on extst.ibm.com
Hi Chris
2 days ago the integrated client suddenly started to display my connected ibm partners & colleagues. Since yesterday it doesn't work anymore...
Did IBM make some tests? Will it be enabled soon?
I'm using 8.02CCH3
Tnx
Daniel 2/26/2009 9:09:51 AM19) An update on extst.ibm.com
that's cool... now it works :-)
Daniel 2/27/2009 3:09:35 AM20) An update on extst.ibm.com
Does anyone know if 8.02 standalone client is supported yet?
Have upgraded and have lost access
Error message I get:-
reason:
Unable to access sametime try again later.
Peter 5/21/2009 7:04:33 PM21) An update on extst.ibm.com
Hi.
Does anybody can confirm if Lotus Notes 8.5's Sametimes works with extst.ibm.com now ?
Martin 6/9/2009 11:25:08 AM22) An update on extst.ibm.com
Uhm.. I just keep trying, with Notes 8.5's sametime connect, with port 80 and it is not working.
reason:
Unable to access sametime try again later.
Too bad.
Martin 6/9/2009 11:29:40 AM23) An update on extst.ibm.com
I understand that integrated Sametime in Notes 8.5 is not enabled for extst.ibm.com. I have moved to a new job but I will request an update from the new owner of the service, Matthew Simpson.
Christopher Pepin 6/9/2009 4:24:23 PM24) An update on extst.ibm.com
We have the same issues here with 8.5 I think this is due to the reason that this client was blocked :-(
Bernd Webster 8/10/2009 9:36:24 AM25) An update on extst.ibm.com
Same issue. v8.5 is not on. Any way we can get a chat or forum that Matthew Simpson can weigh in on?
Jeff 8/14/2009 6:16:49 PM26) An update on extst.ibm.com
this blog entry is quite old, but still extst.ibm.com does not allow any notes 8/8.5 client; this is definitly an issue - extst.ibm.com is a very well used service, but we have to get rid of the additional st 7.5.1 connect client, only used for this purpose; when may we expect this feature?
Ole Reim 9/16/2009 11:34:05 AM27) An update on extst.ibm.com
Thanks for your feedback. I have forwarded your comments to the new owner of the service - Matthew Simpson. Thanks
Christopher Pepin 9/19/2009 12:02:46 PM28) An update on extst.ibm.com
I had updated to Lotus Notes 8.5.2 that comes with Sametime connect 8.0.2. It seems I can not access extst.ibm.com anymore (port 80). It used to work (not excelent but connected) with Lotus Notes 8.5.1. Any reports of Notes 8.5.2 working with extst?
Martin 9/3/2010 9:03:47 AM