OpenDeploy 6.1.1 has been out for quite a while. I have not had a look at it for a while but I don't think there was any reason to look at this version before: it does not contain much news.

The new features that are included are not that shocking (some new adapters and an option to only deploy files at the root-level, I'm not sure yet what good that is for).

But it comes with 1 major drawback and one that is well hidden in the release notes: you must obtain (and install) a license key for each install (both base server and receiver). This fact should be WRITTEN IN BOLD in the release notes but no, Interwoven has chosen not to mention this at all. How stupid can you be? The good thing is that license keys for receivers can be installed remote via.... opendeploy!!!. That is indeed quite nice.

And obtaining an license key is the same old hassle it has been since TS65 Sp2: via a website that is running on (or should I say hidden behind) port 8080. This port is, in most sensible enterprises, blocked for out going traffic. And thus you either have to use your private home internet connection, how professional, or send a request to support via email. Either way, it will cost you extra downtime, something that you can do without on any production server. You would think Interwoven would be wiser and run this website on a decent port, well let's say port 80.

Little tip for if you want to install Ts65Sp2 on a production server AND minimize downtime: install the service pack on another server, copy the license-detail executable to your production server and run it. It will return the needed details to generate a key BEFORE you run the Sp2-installer.

Teamsite 6.7.1 comes with some very nice features again.

First of all Linux (Red Hat 4) is now supported as a platform to run Teamsite on.

Further Teamsite on Unix will now run as a non-root user. I'm not yet convinced by this feature. You still need root to install TS and to do the most admin-tasks. So in most enterprises you will still need to be very nice to the system-admin with the root-password.

But the best thing in this release is the workflow modeler. A graphic GUI to design and develop your workflows. All Java-based. If done right this could be a very good thing. Java-developers are easier found then perl-coders and workflow are just easier to design in a graphical mode. If only to keep the managers that always enjoy a good image happy.

The old wft-style workflows can NOT be converted, will be phased out in the long run but for now are still supported.

Teamsite 6.7.0 has been out for quite a while now but I just didn't have time to look at it. Lately I did and I was very impressed with what it called 'Flexible roles'.

The role that a user has is no longer set via the uid-files & chosen the moment the user logs in. Instead roles are set on a per-branch basis. A user can be an author in one branch and be an admin in another. This is very strong because you often want to give say 'create branch/workarea' privileges to a developer but restrict this right to a limited set of branches. Well done, interwoven!

More over one can define custom-roles which are assigned privileges. I not sure what a proper use for this scenario could be but it is certainly a nice-to-have.

Watch the conversion tool, however! After installing TS6.7.0 you need to run a conversion-script that upgrades the backing store to the new structure. This script grabs a os/ts-group and searches for the HIGHEST role within this group. That role is then assigned to the whole group. And thus, any editors/authors within a group that also contains 1 admin will be upgraded to an admin! Watch your steps here!