Install Lotus Notes 8 in Ubuntu Linux [Glump.net]

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~~META:
creator = Brendan Kidwell
&date created = 2007-09-17
~~
{{tag>linux lotus-notes}}
~~DISCUSSION~~
====== Install Lotus Notes 8 in Ubuntu Linux ======

I was able to get Lotus Notes 8 for Linux working on my Ubuntu desktop at work today. I am using Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn with a GNOME desktop. YMMV.

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===== Step 1: Acquire Lotus Notes distribution =====

I started with the file <wrap file>C13NCEN.tar</wrap>. You need to get this from your system administrator or from the IBM web site, if you have an appropriate login there.

Using your favorite archiver, extract <wrap file>C13NCEN.tar</wrap> to a **new** folder. (There are three files and a folder in the root of the tar file.)

===== Step 2: Link bash to /bin/sh =====

For some reason, the installer assumes <wrap file>/bin/sh</wrap> is bash and doesn't work if that's not true.

<code bash>
sudo mv /bin/sh /bin/sh.old
sudo ln --symbolic /bin/bash /bin/sh
</code>

===== Step 3: Install some more fonts =====

When I first started Notes, a lot of text was displayed in Courier font, which takes up a lot of visual space. A blog post (second URL linked in "References" below) points out a fix:

<code bash>
sudo apt-get install ttf-xfree86-nonfree
</code>

//31 Aug 2009// Reader Shawn M suggests also non-free PostScript Type 1 fonts if non-free TrueType fonts are insufficient to fix the font problem:

<code bash>
sudo apt-get install t1-xfree86-nonfree
</code>

===== Step 4: Run the installer =====

Run <wrap file>setup.sh</wrap>.

<code bash>
cd ~/downloads/notes8   # cd into the directory where you extracted the installer
sudo ./setup.sh
</code>

The installer will run a Java-based GUI setup wizard. When asked, elect to install **all of the available features**.

//Note: Did it fail? If you get the message "<wrap out>sudo: ./setup.sh: command not found</wrap>" try copying the installer directory to a local, non-networked volume. I just discovered this now while trying to install from an SSH connection via FUSE, mounted rw; copying it to the local disk fixed the problem.//

//Note 2: Did it still fail? Try making sure the path to the installer does not contain any spaces. I don't know if this is really a problem or not, but it's a guess I just had. If my friend gets it working for himself after trying this, then yes.//

===== Step 5: Remove ~/lotus =====

The page at the first URL in "References" below says that the installer creates a faulty <wrap file>~/lotus</wrap> data directory and that you should rename or remove it. Since I had trouble removing it while logged in as myself, I suspect there may be files in it owned by root.

<code bash>
sudo chown --recursive brendan.brendan ~/lotus   # substitute YOUR username
rm --recursive ~/lotus
</code>

When you start Lotus Notes, it will create a fresh <wrap file>~/lotus</wrap> directory.

===== Step 6: First run =====

Use this command to start Lotus Notes the first time:

<code bash>
/opt/ibm/lotus/notes/notes
</code>

After the application does some basic initialization, it will give you another wizard to setup your connection to your Domino server (or whatever other server you wish to access). Go through this wizard in the normal way.

Now Lotus Notes should be ready to use. Note that if you previously used an older version of Notes, bookmarks you used to have in a narrow sidebar on the left of the window are now in the [btn]Open[/btn] button at the top of the window.

===== Step 7: Create a launcher =====

You can create a Launcher on your desktop or in your Applications menu for Lotus Notes. See documentation for your Linux distribution for the exact procedure.

^Type   |Application                   |
^Name   |Lotus Notes                   |
^Command|/opt/ibm/lotus/notes/notes    |
^Icon   |/opt/ibm/lotus/notes/notes.ico|

//Note: a reader pointed out to me that this step isn't necessary. The installer creates Launchers in Applications / Office. I just didn't notice them there.//

===== Step 8: Restore /bin/sh =====

Fix the <wrap file>/bin/sh</wrap> kludge you created:

<code bash>
sudo rm /bin/sh
sudo mv /bin/sh.old /bin/sh
</code>

----

References

I used these pages for help:

  * [[http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/nd8forum.nsf/5f27803bba85d8e285256bf10054620d/f683185b98129dd7852572ea001db523?OpenDocument|Step by step from initual Ubuntu Feisty install]]
  * [[http://www.kluge.de/2007/04/my-little-linux-diary-continued.html|My little Linux diary - continued]]