T33-2019 BIOVIA Notebook 2018 Hot Fix 3
BIOVIA Notebook
Program
BIOVIA Notebook 2018 SP3
Operating System
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 64-bit only; Microsoft Windows Server 2016 64-bit only
Background
BIOVIA Notebook needs to interact with third party applications on a desktop computer e.g. Excel, Word to pull in data. This enabling feature is referred to as the “plugin”, “legacy plugin or “Desktop connector” and installed on a user’s desktop (Windows 7, Windows 10 and OSX Mojave).
From version BIOVIA Notebook 2018 SP3 onwards, the plugin took two development tracks whereby “legacy plugin” stayed as the traditional implementation and the “Desktop connector” took on a new design. Both are shipped with the BIOVIA Notebook and the customer configures the systems as they deem fit.
Many of the technologies underpinning the web browsers have been blocked for the “legacy plugin” see table below.
Browser | Legacy Plugin | BIOVIA Desktop connector |
|---|---|---|
Chrome | Certificate expires and need Hot Fix * | Works |
Firefox | Certificate expires and need Hot Fix * | Works |
IE11 | Active X technology works | Works |
EDGE | Some distributions blocked | Works |
Safari (OSX) | Blocked NPAPI technology | Works |
Firefox (OSX) | Blocked NPAPI technology | Works |
Chrome (OSX) | Blocked NPAPI technology | Works |
* BIOVIA is issuing security updates as needed
Solution
BIOVIA Desktop connector is dependent on a server side messaging service that only runs on MS Windows Server. If the customer is unable to run on such an environment, consider applying one of the relevant hotfixes as the “legacy plugin” will expire in Jan 2020 and will affect usage.
A new security update “legacy plugin” is issued in BIOVIA Notebook 2018 HF3; this new certificate expires 05-Sept-2021.
Using BIOVIA Notebook 2018 with the web client on browsers Firefox and Chrome
- By default the plugin is set to “legacy mode” and need a new security update as current certificate expires in Jan 2020
- Recommend upgrading to 2018 HF3
Using BIOVIA Notebook 2018 SP3 with the web client on browsers Firefox and Chrome
- By default the plugin is set to “legacy mode” and need a new security update as current certificate expires in Jan 2020
- Two recommended options
- Upgrading to BIOVIA Notebook 2019 H6 or BIOVIA Notebook 2020
- The other option is to run a MS Windows Server messaging service with “Desktop Connector” then no need to upgrade to 2019 HF6 but rather to setup the messaging service.
Jira Change Request: CELN-10925
How to contact BIOVIA Support
If you have any questions, please contact BIOVIA Support.