ReadMe file for Fortel's VisualRoute(tm).
 
                 SOLARIS(tm) VERSION 5.0a

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|     PLEASE, read this file completely before proceeding, thanks.    |
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     ----- Program Requirements -----
1. Solaris(tm) 2.5, 2.6 or 2.7 (Solaris 7)
2. SPARC or x86 architecture
3. X Windowing environment for output display.
4. Sun's JRE (Java Runtime Environment) 1.1.6 or later.
5. TCP/IP Stack
6. Internet Connection


     ----- Items of note -----

1.) The VisualRoute 'Help' menu item invokes a browser to access web
pages.  Sun's HotJava(tm) browser is the default browser.  If you 
want another browser started, set the environment variable VR_BROWSER
to specify the browser to start.  You must either specify the absolute
path, or the browser must be on the path.  If you do not have HotJava
installed, and do not specify another browser the web page accesses
will not happen. 

2.) The VisualRoute 'Edit | Snap table as text...' menu item uses a
text editor to capture the generated report.  By default the Solaris
Common Desktop Environment (Solaris CDE) editor (/usr/dt/bin/dtpad)
is used.  If you want to start another editor, set the environment
variable VR_EDITOR to specify the editor to start.  The editor must
be started in a new window.  To do this for the vi editor, for example,
use the following (/bin/sh) shell command:

     VR_EDITOR="dtterm -e vi";export VR_EDITOR

In this example, vi is assumed to be on the current path.
This starts the vi editor in a new window.  Note that the name of the
file to edit is immediately appended to the string provided by the
VR_EDITOR environment variable.  See the dtterm man page for more
information on dtterm.
 
If you are not using the Solaris CDE and you do not specify another
editor to use, then nothing will start for this menu item selection.

3.) Right mouse clicks in the VisualRoute report 'Node Name'
column access the WHOIS server information (RFC954).  Informational
items presented include an e-mail address.  If the e-mail address is
clicked, VisualRoute starts an e-mail application.  By default this
is the Solaris CDE e-mail interface (/usr/dt/bin/dtmail).  If you
want to start another e-mail interface set the environment variable
VR_EMAIL to specify the application to start.  This email application
must be started in a new window.  To do this for /bin/mail, for
example, use the following command:

     VR_EMAIL="dtterm -e /bin/mail";export VR_EMAIL

In this example, the absolute path is specified.  Note that the
recipient's name is appended to the string provided by the VR_EMAIL
envrionment variable.  This means that, if it was not the default, and
you wanted to specify dtpad as the editor, the string "dtpad -T" would
be the value of the VR_EMAIL environment variable. (dtpad already starts 
in a new window.)

If you are not running Solaris CDE, and do not specify another e-mail
application, no e-mail is started.


     ----- Determining the Java Runtime Environment version -----
Enter the command 'java -version' or  'jre'.  The version number
is displayed.  If java or jre is not on the path, you will need to
specify the absolute path.


     ----- How to install or upgrade the Java Runtime Envrionment -----
Reference:

     http://java.sun.com/products/hotjava/3.0/

to obtain HotJava 3.0.  Note that this should provide the 1.1.6 
Solaris Java Runtime Envrionment, and may be simpler than trying
to install the latest Solaris Java Runtime Envrionment.


Reference:

     http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.1/jre/index.html

for instructions on downloading the latest Solaris Java Runtime
Environment. Note that this may require operating system patches.


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How is the UNIX version different from the Microsoft Windows(tm) version?

The UNIX version uses a different "ping" engine to elicit network
responses.  It also brings up different applications for the
'Edit | Snap table as text...', the 'Help' menu items, and e-mail.

If web access (which can take several seconds to appear), the Edit menu
item operations, or e-mail accesses fail, it may be because the path to
the appropriate application is not in the PATH environment variable. 
Specifically, the path to 'hotjava' for browser access, the path to
'dtpad' for the editor, and the path to 'dtmail' for email for the
defaults.  Or, the path to the application specified by VR_BROWSER,
VR_EDITOR or VR_EMAIL.


If you have used VisualRoute previously, the functionality should be
the same.

=======================================================================
What to note in this Solaris version:

(Please note the version of the OS you are running.) 

1.) Did you have to do anything "special" to get VisualRoute to run;
i.e.  was it indeed necessary to modify the PATH environment variable
to include HotJava, or anything else.

2.) Did the editor come up for the "Edit | Snap table as text..."
option? (If not, are you running CDE? What happens if you enter 
/usr/dt/bin/dtpad?)

3.) Was the web accessed for Help menu item selection?

4.) If you have previously used VisualRoute did things "seem the same?"

5.) Any other comments on this Solaris version?

