Internet Explorer 8 Doesn’t Support HMC V7. . . or Does It?
March 24, 2010 Hey, Joe
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I wanted to pass this IBM email along about HMC V7 HMC compatibility with Internet Explorer 8 (IE), in case you hadn’t seen it. Evidently there are some problems trying to remotely access HMC V7 with IE 8. –Terrence If you’re running HMC V7 (including the new v7.7.1 software), IBM is currently passing around a note that clarifies Big Blue’s position on support for Internet Explorer 8 (IE) compatibility with Hardware Management Console (HMC) v7.x.x and higher. Here’s what IBM has to say about this issue and what you can try to do to fix it. When IBM released the HMC v7.7.1 software, it omitted the official support statement for IE 8 from its release notes. This statement was already included in the HMC V7.3.5 release notes, but it was left out of the V7.7.1 notes. Like V7.3.5, Internet Explorer 8 is not supported for remote connection to the HMC and most views and panels will not render correctly with the product. The reported problems include an inability to display panel content in the browser’s viewable area along with rendering HMC’s default window size too small to see what is on the display. So IE 8 is not a supported browser for HMC V7.x.x, and IBM’s recommended fix for IE 8-to-HMC V7.x.x problems is to switch to a browser that is supported with the software. However, also tucked away into that IBM email, Big Blue noted that you have another unsupported option if you still want to trying using IE 8 with HMC V7.x.x. IBM is reporting that IE 8’s Compatibility View feature appears to alleviate most of the browser’s display problems. Compatibility View is a new IE feature that allows you to display Web sites that were created for older browsers (and this evidently includes all remote HMC V7. x.x views) as they were designed to appear. Beware however, that while IBM states that Compatibility View “seems” to solve the problem, IE 8 is still unsupported for HMC V7.x.x. In other words, you’re on your own if you try using IE 8 in compatibility mode with HMC V7.x.x and it doesn’t work out. According to Microsoft, there are three ways to enable compatibility view in IE 8. The first method allows you to enable Compatibility View only for specific Web sites, such as remote HMC capability. You would do this by remotely connecting to your HMC with IE 8. When the Web site does not display correctly, look for the Compatibility View button that will be located directly to the right of the IE 8 address bar. Clicking on that button while you are remotely accessing the HMC should enable IE 8 compatibility for HMC V7.x.x connectivity. Alternatively, you can open the IE 8 Tools menu and select Compatibility View from the menu options. On the screen that appears, click the Add button in the Compatibility View Settings window to add your HMC V7.x.x Web address to the list of Web sites that IE 8 will use compatibility view to display. Either of these methods may enable you to access HMC V7.x.x correctly with IE 8. But you should also be aware Microsoft is reporting that in certain situations–such as when you are using a home computer or your administrator has enabled a Group Policy setting that enables Compatibility View in a way that isn’t compatible with HMC V7.x.x–this technique will not work. If you’re in a business environment, check with your network administrator for help in enabling Compatibility View, if it’s preventing you for viewing your HMC V7.x.x installation. The second method for using Compatibility View to fix your problem is to enable Compatibility View for all Web sites that you’re going to visit with IE 8. You can enable full Compatibility View capability by once again selecting the Tools menu in IE 8 and going to the Compatibility View Settings window. Turn on the Display all websites in Compatibility View check box on this screen and any Web site you visit will be viewed with Compatibility View turned on. It’s worth pointing out, however, that if you’re going to use Compatibility View to display all Web sites as if you were using an older browser, there may not be much point in using IE 8 in the first place. You might as well downgrade your browser to something more compatible with the sites you’re going to visit rather than neutering the browser. If you’re administering IE 8 in an enterprise environment and you want to turn on Compatibility View for several computers, Microsoft also offers a function for setting Compatibility View by using Group Policy settings. You can find these instructions in Microsoft Support document 956197. Some Web sites may not be displayed correctly or work correctly in Windows Internet Explorer 8. –Joe
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