How can i use different instances of Internet explorer with different Java versions/settings?
We have financial exchanges that we deal with whereby we log onto their websites to do transactions. We work on several different exchanges, none of which are affiliated or related in any way. Upgrades to one of the websites has created a situation where one site needs one version of Java with certain specific settings. One of the others sites needs a different version of Java with certain specific settings. We therefore cannot get both of these exchanges working on the same computer. Thought maybe we could use firefox or some other browser for one of them, but it appears that both may need IE.....although i haven't totally verified that. This is a major problem that just came up that is having a big impact on our productivity. Any help in finding a workaround would be great.
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Irwin W.
This sounds like a job for Citrix. Citrix XenApp is the product your in need of. With XenApp you can host multiple versions of Internet Explorer, Microsoft office and many other applications. It is also platform independant. So if you have Macs and Windows, it will still run.
If the apps need specific versions then they should be specifying that in the html. Not aware of any way to have IE use different versions on different instances
Take a listen to XenApp..you may just enjoy what it can do http://www.citrix.com/English/ps2/products/feature.asp?contentID=1684340
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Been trying to read a little bit about XenApp. My background is Electrical Engineering (not an IT professional like most of you guys here), so i may need a little more explanation than you would typically give to an IT guy. I guess my first impression is that this seems taylored for a very large corporate type implementation. I have a small office environment (about 15 employees) with a small business server. So obviously, cost is an issue. If i need all of this for 4 guys, is this the best solution? The most cost effective solution? Also, can you guys give me a little more dumbed down explanation of what this does? I read the citrix website, but still need to hear a little more.
Well, for a typical installation of 10 users, you are looking about $7000-$8000 dollars all because of licensing.
Basically, XenApp is Terminal Services on steroids. Citrix was the original creator of Terminal Services which was sold to Microsoft back in the late80's/early 90's.
Citrix runs on top of Terminal server. The big difference is that Citrix allows a user to run MULTIPLE versions of the same application on the SAME computer at the SAME time.
In your case, you need to be able to run 2 differing versions of Explorer and JAVA all at the same time, possibly on the same computer. XenApp can do this for you. I suggest that you contact your local Citrix rep for a demo. IT is best seen and all the lights with go on in your head.
Basically, XenApp is Terminal Services on steroids. Citrix was the original creator of Terminal Services which was sold to Microsoft back in the late80's/early 90's.
Citrix runs on top of Terminal server. The big difference is that Citrix allows a user to run MULTIPLE versions of the same application on the SAME computer at the SAME time.
In your case, you need to be able to run 2 differing versions of Explorer and JAVA all at the same time, possibly on the same computer. XenApp can do this for you. I suggest that you contact your local Citrix rep for a demo. IT is best seen and all the lights with go on in your head.
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well unfortunately $7K - $8K is not in my budget. Is there SOME other alternate way to tackle this problem other than XenApp, which appears to be out of my price range?
At my office I keep a separate test station with older hardware for things like IE6, Firefox 2.
The VMware solution is free if you use Vmware server, but you need an additional windows license per VM. XP licenses are cheap now on eBay.
The VMware solution is free if you use Vmware server, but you need an additional windows license per VM. XP licenses are cheap now on eBay.
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Mrjoltcola,
So i have a small business server with about 15 employees. There are 3 particular individuals that have this issue because of the particular combination of exchanges that they trade on. For your solution, can you give me more details as far as what would reside where (as far as server/workstation)?
As far as the specifics of why both cant seem to operate with a single version of Internet explorer, Here is what i have heard from the IT folks that work for the companies that maintain these platforms. From what i understand, one online platform requires Sun Java jre.......the other requires Microsofts jvm. As a result, A single user (which normally has both exchanges open on his workstation with multiple screens) cannot get both platforms working. This hasn't always been an issue. The one platform just introduced new software which required/forced an update to the Java jre. That is when the problem started.
So i have a small business server with about 15 employees. There are 3 particular individuals that have this issue because of the particular combination of exchanges that they trade on. For your solution, can you give me more details as far as what would reside where (as far as server/workstation)?
As far as the specifics of why both cant seem to operate with a single version of Internet explorer, Here is what i have heard from the IT folks that work for the companies that maintain these platforms. From what i understand, one online platform requires Sun Java jre.......the other requires Microsofts jvm. As a result, A single user (which normally has both exchanges open on his workstation with multiple screens) cannot get both platforms working. This hasn't always been an issue. The one platform just introduced new software which required/forced an update to the Java jre. That is when the problem started.
Possibly you can skip the browser altogether. I know, at least eTrade's platform can install a Java startup link on your PC and it runs the JVM directly, if I recall. You can have multiple JRE's installed fine, but I am not aware of anyway to have multiple registered with the same browser, and also have not been able to have multiple IEs on the same PC.
Is it a browser requirement or a Java requirement?
Is it a browser requirement or a Java requirement?
ASKER
well......these platforms must not have that capability as eTrades does. have had several calls with their IT groups and neither seems to care or want to devote much time to the fact that the others doesn't work. Everything stopped working whenever the one exchange released their newest version of the web based interface to their exchange. This forced a java update that essentially killed access the the other exchange (which required an older version (of the microsoft jvm i believe)). As far as your question about "Is it a browser requirement or a Java requirement?" I'm not sure how to answer that....it seems to be that they have configured their website to force the update when you log onto their exchange.
Ok so you want to have multiple JRE's and multiple IEs running. $7k or $8k sounds like a lot but do the cost analysist.
If you run multiple Windows XP clients in a Virtual Desktop enviroment, only one user at a time can connect per workstation. Now you would have to have exponentially as many versions of XP with the varying versions of Java, times the number of users. Don't forget your licensing costs.
Running a single XenApp could net out lower and give you the ability to do more than just multiple versions of IE and Java.
If you run multiple Windows XP clients in a Virtual Desktop enviroment, only one user at a time can connect per workstation. Now you would have to have exponentially as many versions of XP with the varying versions of Java, times the number of users. Don't forget your licensing costs.
Running a single XenApp could net out lower and give you the ability to do more than just multiple versions of IE and Java.
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thanks nappy d,
I agree that the XenApp might be a solution tailored for this, but the cost is definitely prohibitive in my budget. That is why i need a workaround. For less than the $7 or $8K of XenApp i could buy each a new laptop and have them access the one exchange from their laptop and the other from their desktop. Still not the best solution in my opinion.
I agree that the XenApp might be a solution tailored for this, but the cost is definitely prohibitive in my budget. That is why i need a workaround. For less than the $7 or $8K of XenApp i could buy each a new laptop and have them access the one exchange from their laptop and the other from their desktop. Still not the best solution in my opinion.
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