IBM/Lotus last week released Notes/Domino 7.0, the newest version of its collaboration software and the latest step in its plan to merge the platform and its Java-based Workplace initiative.

The 7.0 release focuses mostly on the Domino server, including performance and management enhancements designed so users can more easily manage and more cost effectively run the software.

New administration features include a Linux-based Web Administration client and tighter integration with Web services standards, as well as back-end hooks to IBM's DB2, WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere Portal.

Lotus has added client-side features, including its first effort at integration of Notes and its WorkPlace Managed Client, and updates to Domino Designer, including deeper integration with Web services.

IBM/Lotus has been developing the next version of its Java-based Workplace platform, which will eventually incorporate the Notes client into its Eclipse-based Managed Client framework. The platform will let users run their existing Notes applications, Java-based applications or a blending of the two.

Jim Tieri, IT director for Holland Co., which manufactures railroad equipment, says he is not worried about the Notes-to-Workplace transition, having made the jump from Exchange to Notes/Domino. "The majority of the Notes development that we are doing is handled by our [systems integrators] and I am entrusting them with making sure that the code, going forward to Workplace, is going to be handled," he says.

In terms of better performance, IBM/Lotus officials say Domino 7.0 can handle 25% to 80% more users, and CPU utilization is down 25% over corresponding workloads on older versions of the collaboration software.

In addition, Version 7.0 enables users to run a complete Linux platform, with Domino running on Linux, the Domino Web Administration available on Linux and Firefox as the browser. Also, IBM/Lotus last month unveiled an upcoming version of its Notes plug-in that will run on Linux.

Notes/Domino 7.0 represents one step along the road map IBM/Lotus has proposed, including the unveiling earlier this year of the next Notes client, code-named Hannover. The client will merge the Notes client with IBM's new Workplace technology.