AIX Open Source

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  • 1.  Current browser for AIX?

    Posted Tue December 01, 2020 01:50 PM
    Is there any effort by the AIX Open Source folks to get a current browser to run on AIX?  
     
    I have been using Firefox V3.6.28 for AIX, but that version is now more than 8 years old and prehistoric compared to the Firefox  V78.5.0 code running on our Redhat LPARs that I now often have to switch to for functionality reasons.
     
    Another big problem with Firefox on AIX (besides its age) is that I have to be very selective with the RPMs I install from the AIX Toolbox because of conflicting RPMs, and I've had to keep track of the packages that I cannot update on AIX because the newer code from AIX Toolbox will cause Firefox on AIX to stop working completely.  
     
    I really don't want to have to be so selective and have to use the trial-and-error approach to keep the old Firefox browser functioning on AIX.  Is there any hope for getting a current browser available from AIX Toolbox?

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    Mark Skinner
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  • 2.  RE: Current browser for AIX?

    Posted Tue December 01, 2020 10:02 PM
    Hi Mark

    As you probably know,  the browser has not worked on most sites for a long time, due to TLS support.
    See AIX Firefox Browser unsupported on many HTTPS sites.
    I opened an RFE on behalf of a customer in 2017, and it was declined, but you can still add comments and business justifications on the RFE.
    http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rfe/execute?use_case=viewRfe&CR_ID=110327

    Meanwhile, since some customers still use it for local html reading or installer purposes, I have posted a new technote which provides details about limitations, but also provides a way to install it for local use, with tips for using alternative directories for conflicting libraries, if needed:
    See Firefox for AIX Permanent Limitations 

    I hope this helps!



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    Jan Harris
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  • 3.  RE: Current browser for AIX?

    Posted Tue April 25, 2023 05:04 PM

    hello,

    the page "Firefox for AIX Permanent Limitations" seems to have disappeared.
    Where can I find it, or better yet, its content.
    I'm trying hard to run old FF as well as the latest toolbox stuff. 

    tia



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    Michael Kraemer
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  • 4.  RE: Current browser for AIX?

    Posted Wed December 02, 2020 07:03 AM
    We looked into past to port newer version of browser to AIX but now browser are very heavy with lot of dependencies.
    It is not easy to port and going to be very involved effort. 
    Also we did not see much requirements for browser on AIX.
    What is your use case of browser on AIX ? Is it not possible with starting a web server ?

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    SANKET RATHI
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