Viewing and managing IBM Traveler client packages

The client manager is a subsystem that manages IBM Traveler clients that are available for download using the IBM Traveler server. This feature is available in either the stand-alone IBM Traveler server scenario or in a high availability configuration using a remote database.

Note: The Domino® Administration Client cannot be used to manage IBM Traveler Client Installation packages.

IBM Traveler client images are now stored in the central IBM Traveler database. In a high availability configuration, where multiple IBM Traveler servers are connected to a remote database, this allows all of the IBM Traveler servers connected to the database to immediately become aware of any new IBM Traveler clients that have been installed on any of the servers.

When a IBM Traveler server is installed using the normal full package installation program, it automatically lays down a copy of all IBM Traveler clients that ship with the release. This includes Android .apk files, Windows™ Mobile .cab files, and Nokia .sisx files. While the client files are stored in the database, they are stored locally on each machine under <domino data>/domino/html/travelerclients/ so that they can be downloaded using regular HTTP file requests. If a change is made in the database, the local file system will be updated with that same change. In most cases, the client version installed by the full package installer is made the default client version when the server restarts. However, if this is an upgrade scenario for a server in a IBM Traveler service pool, then the client will only become the default once all servers in the IBM Traveler pool have the same three digit version. This rule is in place so that new feature clients do not inadvertently start communicating with an older server that does not support the new features.

For example, if a pool of IBM Traveler servers all running version 8.5.3.100 is installed, and a new server fixpack is made available with version number 8.5.3.101, then this version is installed on any server within the IBM Traveler pool, and the clients that were shipped, such as 8.5.3.101 version clients, will automatically be made available to all users that are currently receiving the latest default client. This is because the client version (8.5.3) matches the server version to the first 3 digits. However, if a new feature release ships and one of the servers in the IBM Traveler pool is installed with version 9, the client will not automatically be pushed down to devices using the latest default version because there are other IBM Traveler servers in the IBM Traveler pool that cannot support this level yet. In this case, once the remaining IBM Traveler servers are upgraded to version 9, the IBM Traveler 9 clients will automatically be promoted to the default level.

An administrator can use the new, web-based administration client to view which client levels have been installed on the IBM Traveler server or server pool. To view the client levels, open the administration web page and select the Clients view.

Table 1. Client Manager view descriptions
Column	Description
Client	Description of the client type. This will always include the OS type, such as Windows™ Mobile, Android, or Nokia. All clients will have a Sync type, which represents the main client program that contains the synchronization capability and security enforcement code. Some clients will have an "Installer" option which is the IBM® Installer client used to facilitate installation of the sync client and keep the client up to date.
Build Level	The four digit version string and a build level which represents the build date for this version.
Default	Values include Yes, No or Pending. Yes - this client is the default for its type and is automatically assigned to any user requesting it that does not already have an explicit client assignment. No - this is not the default client, though it may still be assigned explicitly to individual users or groups of users. It could also be deleted if needed. Pending - this client will become the default client level once all servers in the IBM Traveler pool are upgraded to a level that can support this client version.
Assignments	A list of users or groups that have been explicitly assigned to use this specific client version.

IBM® support may deliver an updated version of a specific IBM Traveler client that contains either new features or bug fixes. The update includes instructions on applying a client update. In the case of a high availability pool, the updated client must only be applied to one server in the IBM Traveler server pool. All servers in the IBM Traveler server pool will be aware of the new client. The administrator can use the web-based administration program to assign the updated client level to either specific users or groups of users, or make this the default client of its type and assign it to all users that do not already have an explicit client assignment.

Table 2. Client Manager actions
Action	Description
Change Assignments	Add or remove explicit user assignments for this client level. This action allows the assignment of individual users or groups of users.
Make Default	Promote this client level to be the default level for this client type. Note that this will only succeed if all servers in the IBM Traveler pool can support this client level.
Delete Client Level	Remove this client level. If any users were explicitly assigned to this level, then those users are assigned to the default client version once this client is deleted. This action is not allowed if this level is currently the default for its client type.