Catalyst Development

One of the significant new features in SocketTools 6.0 will be support for the Secure Shell protocol, also known as SSH. As the name implies, this protocol provides a secure, encrypted connection between the local host and a remote computer, ensuring that third-parties cannot decipher any intercepted network traffic. Originally SSH was used primarily on UNIX based systems as a secure alternative to the insecure TELNET protocol, in which private information such as passwords would be sent as plain text over the network. SSH provides a high level of data integrity and confidentiality over insecure and public networks (e.g.: the Internet) and is widely supported a broad range of operating system platforms. The protocol itself is defined by a set of open standards, with RFC 4251 outlining the basic structure of the protocol, and other standards documents covering the different subsystems. Continue Reading »

We’ve reached another milestone with the development of SocketTools 6.0, and are getting ready to make it available for beta testing. To participate in the beta test, we have a form that you’ll need to complete that provides us with some basic company information, along with a signed non-disclosure agreement. We’ll be using our forums to provide access to the software, as well as provide a means for developers to offer feedback, submit bug reports and request additional features. If you’re interested in participating in the test, please make sure that you register on our forums using your full name and the same email address that you use when submitting the request to join the beta test. Continue Reading »

Microsoft released Windows Server 2008 to manufacturing on February 4th and is available to volume licensees and MSDN subscribers. The operating system will be officially released on February 27th as part of a larger product launch that also includes Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008. Additional information about Windows Server 2008 is available on the Microsoft TechNet site.

SocketTools developers who are currently using version 5.0 should download the free Service Pack 3 update that includes support for Windows Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008. For those developers who are using older versions of SocketTools, we recommend upgrading to the current version to ensure compatibility with the latest Windows operating systems and programming tools. Customers who have purchased the SocketTools Subscription can download the latest version using the download link provided when they purchased the subscription. More information about SocketTools 5.0 is available on our website at www.catalyst.com.

For developers who are using still Visual Basic 6.0, the product is reaching the end of it’s extended support on April 8th, 2008 as it transitions into the non-supported phase of its lifecycle. This includes the Standard, Professional and Enterprise editions of Visual Basic 6.0, as well as those versions that were included as part of Visual Studio 6.0. Microsoft will no longer release service packs, hotfixes, security updates or provide incident support. However, Microsoft will continue to support the Visual Basic 6.0 runtime on Windows XP and Windows Vista as outlined in this support statement.

Likewise, we will continue to support the SocketTools ActiveX controls (as well as our other products) for Visual Basic 6.0 on Windows 2000, Windows XP and Vista. Although Microsoft’s support for the classic Visual Basic development environment is coming to an end, it will not impact developers insofar as SocketTools is concerned. This is the same policy that we have followed when Microsoft ended support for Visual C++ 6.0 in September 2005 and we have continued to support our Library Edition with that version of the compiler. It is recommended that you download Service Pack 6 for Visual Studio 6.0, which you can obtain from the Microsoft Download Center.

We understand that many companies and end-users continue to depend on applications created using Visual Basic 6.0. We will continue updating and improving the ActiveX controls in our products, and will continue to support development tools using ActiveX/COM. Please note that if you are using an earlier version of SocketTools, we recommend that you upgrade to the current version and continue to receive technical support and updates for the product. This is particularly true for those developers who are using the MFC-based ActiveX controls in SocketTools 3.6 or earlier versions. The current version of the ATL-based ActiveX controls offer superior performance, stability and improved features that can extend the life of legacy applications written in Visual Basic 6.0, helping to ensure that your software will continue to work correctly on the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 platforms.

Technical support for version 4.5 of all SocketTools Editions, all SocketWrench Editions, the File Transfer and Internet Mail products officially ended on December 31, 2007. It is recommended that those developers who are currently using version 4.5 download the last available build. Links to download the product files can be found in Knowledge Base article 100269. There will be no further updates or hotfixes published for this version of the product.

If you are using version 4.0, you can upgrade to version 4.5 at no charge. Simply download the current version of your product and use your 4.0 serial number to install the software. Version 4.5 is completely backwards compatible with version 4.0 and requires no code changes. If you have any questions, feel free to post in the technical support forum section appropriate for your product.

SocketTools 5.0 Service Pack 3 has been released and offers developers new features, improved performance and full compatibility with Visual Studio 2008 and the Windows Vista operating system. This service pack update is a complete release of the product with the latest improvements to all of the SocketTools components. If your customers are migrating to Vista, or you plan on upgrading to the latest version of Visual Studio, you’ll want to ensure that they have a simple, trouble-free experience with your software. Upgrading to SocketTools 5.0 helps ensure that your applications continue to run smoothly, and best of all, there’s no additional coding required on your part. The SocketTools 5.0 components are source compatible with version 4.0 and 4.5, simplifying the upgrade process so that you can spend your time improving your software, not rewriting it.
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If you are working with the .NET Framework and need to incorporate file transfer or e-mail functionality in your software, the new File Transfer .NET and Internet Mail .NET components can enable you to add those features quickly and easily, with a minimum of coding and virtually no learning curve. These managed code classes are similar to what is offered in our larger SocketTools .NET product, but with a streamlined interface that is designed specifically for developers who want a single interface that is easy to use and understand. Both components also support secure connections using the standard SSL and TLS security protocols, and as with all of our components, are licensed without redistribution limitations, royalties or runtime licensing fees. If you have an active SocketTools Subscription license, then these new components are available to you free as part of the current update to your subscription download. Continue Reading »

For those developers who are using the SocketTools .NET Edition or SocketTools Secure .NET Edition and have downloaded Visual Studio 2008 Beta 2, we’ve released an updated version of the assemblies built using Visual Studio 2008 that target the 3.5 Framework. This is a free update that is available to all developers who are currently using SocketTools 5.0:

Download Visual Studio 2008 Update

It is important to note that Visual Studio 2008 is currently a beta release, and should only be used for testing and evaluation purposes. We don’t recommended that you install it on your primary development system. Instead, you should either install it on a test system, or download Virtual PC 2007 and install it on a virtual machine.

The archive that you download contains a ReadMe file that explains the steps that you need to take to install the updated SocketTools assemblies. When Visual Studio 2008 is released, a new version of the SocketTools .NET installer will also be published which contains the current version of these assemblies and example programs. If you experience any problems or have any questions, please visit our technical support forums at forums.catalyst.com.

We’ve released an updated version of the SocketWrench Tutorial we originally made for the ActiveX control and Visual Basic. This new version uses the SocketWrench .NET component with Visual Studio 2005, and we believe that it is easier to read and understand, focusing on the developer who is new to Internet programming. The tutorial is divided into two general sections. The first section provides a broad overview of the concepts and terminology behind Internet programming. This includes topics on the network protocols, the domain name system, and the general design structure of a client-server application. We also include information about data encryption and certificate management using the standard SSL/TLS security protocols.
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One of the more frequent questions that we get from customers is whether an update is available for their software, or when a new version has been released. We have a number of RSS newsfeeds that can easily provide you with exactly that kind of information. You can subscribe to these feeds and receive update and product information as soon as it’s released. There’s no registration required, and our feeds are publically available to both customers and evaluators alike.
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