LINKS 2.7.7 Release – 2023
Release Highlights
The current version of LINKS is version 2.7.7, released in May 2023 and is an infrastructure release including:
➢ Support for the current version of the development environment
➢ LINKS E-mail Support for TLS 1.2 and 1.3
➢ LINKS Security Enhancements
Implementation Considerations
To allow LINKS to operate on the latest version of the development environment (PowerBuilder) we needed to upgrade the LINKS code line. This recompilation of the source code will also be required for customer specific customisations (including conversions, enterprise reports, utilities etc.). The following considerations should be given prior to upgrading to LINKS 2.7.7:
➢ Plan which versions of the OS and Database you wish to run LINKS on. Customers you should be planning to upgrade to MS SQL 2019 if not already on this version.
➢ You can only upgrade to 2.7.7 from 2.7.5 or above. If you are on an older version of LINKS you will need to discuss your upgrade path with Dataline. The upgrade to LINKS 2.7.7 is possible however it will involve further steps which we can assist with.
➢ Customers must carefully plan and give consideration to their own user acceptance testing. Dataline has fully regression tested the core of LINKS, however it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure their solution operates correctly with all their customisations.
➢ If customers don’t have test licenses for their LINKS system, they should consider engaging Dataline to assist on a consulting basis with user acceptance testing or alternatively a test license can be purchased.
➢ Dataline strongly recommends that all customers plan to move to LINKS 2.7.7 if they are currently on LINKS 2.7.5 or older in the near term to keep up to date with third party support within the development environment, operating system, and database versions. For those customers on LINKS2.7.4 or older you should be aware that the development environment used is no longer support by the third party Powerbuilder Developer. See below statement published last year with regards to LINKS 2.7.4 moving to extended support as of 1st July 2023.
As always, the Dataline professional services team can assist with your upgrade to LINKS 2.7.7 from on-site support to project management. Please contact us for further details.
Upgrade Costs
➢ The new Version of LINKS 2.7.7 comes free under your support contract.
➢ Recompilation of customised source code comes free under your support contract.
➢ Where customers choose to have Dataline perform the upgrade or assist with user acceptance testing then additional costs will apply.
As announced in previous release notifications LINKS Version 2.7.4 was released in January 2018 and as of the 1st of July 2023 it will no longer be covered under our general support and maintenance agreement.
We will provide extended support for LINKS 2.7.4 for the 24 months period to 30 June 2025, with a view to reviewing at that time. During extended support customers receive all benefits provided by their previous support agreement for all Severity 1 & 2 cases, including hot fixes to product defects if necessary. For cases of other severity levels, customers receive best-effort support but no hot fixes.
Extended Support is provided at additional cost. Our policy is if a customer elects to take up extended support, the Annual Support Fee for the first year and/or the renewal (second year), shall be an additional 25% of the Annual Support Fee for the current renewal term.
Will Dataline offer support beyond the extended support phase?
Dataline understands that support requirements differ by industry sector and individual customer. Therefore, Dataline offers custom support relationships that go beyond the extended support phase. These custom support relationships may include assisted support and hotfix support and may extend beyond 10 years from the date a product becomes generally available. Customers can contact Dataline for more information.
If my LINKS software is currently supported, but my operating system is no longer supported, can I still receive support for LINKS? For example, can I receive support for LINKS 2.7.3 running on Microsoft Windows 2008R2?
If the problem is specific to the LINKS program, Dataline will provide support. If the problem is a result of the combination of the operating system and LINKS, that problem will not be supported.
How will Extended Support for LINKS affect you?
During the extended support phase, customer support options remain the same as they are today, being phone and e-mail. As for defect resolution, all Severity 1& 2 cases, including hot fixes to product defects are provided. For cases of other severity levels, customers receive best-effort support but no hot fixes.
Service Level
The specified response time above assumes that Dataline receives the details of the defects within its business hours and can act upon such details within its business hours.
Customers who have not upgraded to a fully supported version of LINKS by the 1st of July 2023 will incur the extended support fee. The extended support fee will be charged and prorated to the customers next LINKS support and maintenance anniversary date.
