Recently I have migrated from Ubuntu to OpenSuSE due to my work requirements.
Since OpenSuSE is an RPM-based distro, I thought that Lotus Notes 8.5 would be easier to install. I was mistaken.
Lotus Notes 8.5 depends on some libraries that were updated on OpenSuSE 11.2 causing some panels to appears blank. After a weekend debuging I was able to isolate the required libraries.
Lotus Notes 8.5 Blank Panel
The trick is that Lotus Notes requires the following libraries from OpenSuSE 11.1 (note that I am running a 64-bit version, so your required library may be the default one):
- gtk2-32bit
- pango-32bit
Go to the OpenSuSE 11.1 repository and grab the packages but do not install. If you install it will break the GTK applications on your desktop.
The trick here is to use these libraries only for Notes. To achieve these we must extract the RPM in a temporary dir, move the lib file to a isolate path and create a wrapper for the Notes to use LD_DIRECTORY_PATH.
So, as a root, do the following:
# mkdir /tmp/rpmsextracted
# cd /tmp/rpmsextracted
# rpm2cpio <PATH_WHERE_DOWNLOADED_RPMS>/gtk2-32bit*.rpm | cpio -idmv
# rpm2cpio <PATH_WHERE_DOWNLOADED_RPMS>/pango-32bit*.rpm | cpio -idvm
# mkdir /opt/ibm/ibm-lotus-notes-compat
# mv /tmp/rpmsextracted/usr/lib /opt/ibm/ibm-lotus-notes-compat
# chmod 755 /opt/ibm/ibm-lotus-notes-compat/lib
# chown -R root:root /opt/ibm/ibm-lotus-notes-compat
# mv /opt/ibm/lotus/notes/notes /opt/ibm/lotus/notes/notes.real
Now you have the libraries on /opt/ibm/ibm-lotus-notes-compat, so lets create a wrapper. Create a new file /opt/ibm/lotus/notes/notes with execute permissions (chmod 755 /opt/ibm/lotus/notes/notes) and the following content:
#!/bin/bash
NOTESCOMPAT=/opt/ibm/ibm-lotus-notes-compat/lib
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$NOTESCOMPAT:/opt/ibm/lotus/notes:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
echo $LD_LIBRARY_PATH
/opt/ibm/lotus/notes/notes.real $@
That’s it. Now runs Notes and see if everything is working as expected.
Lotus Notes 8.5 Working as Expected
Final Note: You must have other gtk libraries installed as well. If you are running 64-bits, make sure that you have the 32-bits libs installed.
Flavio Preto's Weblog 
Hi Flavio
thanks for this, very very helpful.
Notes mail is now working fine, but I cannot open the replication window
Does yours work?
Geoff
Hello Geoff,
I had no issues using the replication. My Notes Release is 8.5.1.
But the replication window do not appear to me anymore.
Thanks,
Flavio
Hello Flavio,
regarding the needed libraries, you show the 32 bit repository.
But I think, Lotus notes is 32 bit:
file notes
notes: ELF 32-bit LSB executable, Intel 80386, version 1 (SYSV), for GNU/Linux 2.6.4, dynamically linked (uses shared libs), not stripped
So isn’t it better, to download the needed libs from the 32 bit repo, although I use SuSE 11.2 64 bit too?
Many Thanks for your answer.
Wolfram
IMHO, the 32bits libraries on the 64bit repository is the same libraries on the 32bit repository. So, I think that does not make any differences.
The main point of my post is: Notes requires the gtk and pango library from the OpenSuSE 11.1 to work properly.
Thanks!
Hi Flavio,
trying to run 8.5.1 on openSUSE 11.2 x86_64 as well, but still not the best results, even after applying your solution. Would you mind to publish or send me the output of “rpm -qa” from your system, so I can check for missing/mis-versioned dependencies?
Many thanks, Lothar
These are the 32bit rpms on my system:
rpm -qa | grep 32bit | sort
ConsoleKit-32bit-0.3.1-2.1.x86_64
alsa-oss-32bit-1.0.17-25.2.x86_64
alsa-plugins-32bit-1.0.21-3.3.x86_64
audiofile-32bit-0.2.6-147.2.x86_64
audit-libs-32bit-1.7.13-4.2.x86_64
cairo-32bit-1.8.8-2.1.x86_64
check-32bit-0.9.6-3.2.x86_64
cracklib-32bit-2.8.13-2.2.x86_64
cups-libs-32bit-1.3.11-4.1.x86_64
cyrus-sasl-32bit-2.1.23-3.1.x86_64
dbus-1-32bit-1.2.16-5.2.x86_64
dbus-1-glib-32bit-0.80-3.2.x86_64
fam-32bit-2.7.0-133.2.x86_64
fontconfig-32bit-2.7.0-3.2.x86_64
freetype2-32bit-2.3.9-2.2.x86_64
gconf2-32bit-2.28.0-2.5.x86_64
gdbm-32bit-1.8.3-373.7.x86_64
glibc-32bit-2.10.1-10.4.x86_64
glibc-locale-32bit-2.10.1-10.4.x86_64
gnome-keyring-32bit-2.28.0-3.5.x86_64
gnome-vfs2-32bit-2.24.1-3.4.x86_64
gtk2-32bit-2.18.1-3.5.x86_64
gtk2-engine-murrine-32bit-0.90.3-4.5.x86_64
gtk2-engines-32bit-2.18.4-2.5.x86_64
keyutils-libs-32bit-1.2-109.2.x86_64
krb5-32bit-1.7-6.1.x86_64
libFLAC8-32bit-1.2.1-70.2.x86_64
libacl-32bit-2.2.48-2.2.x86_64
libapparmor1-32bit-2.3-55.56.1.x86_64
libart_lgpl-32bit-2.3.20-50.2.x86_64
libasound2-32bit-1.0.21-3.2.x86_64
libatk-1_0-0-32bit-1.28.0-2.2.x86_64
libattr-32bit-2.4.44-2.2.x86_64
libavahi-client3-32bit-0.6.25-4.5.1.x86_64
libavahi-common3-32bit-0.6.25-4.5.1.x86_64
libavahi-glib1-32bit-0.6.25-4.5.1.x86_64
libbonobo-32bit-2.24.2-2.1.x86_64
libbonoboui-32bit-2.24.2-2.3.x86_64
libbz2-1-32bit-1.0.5-36.6.x86_64
libcanberra-gtk-32bit-0.18-3.3.x86_64
libcanberra-gtk0-32bit-0.18-3.3.x86_64
libcanberra0-32bit-0.18-3.3.x86_64
libcom_err2-32bit-1.41.9-3.1.x86_64
libcroco-0_6-3-32bit-0.6.2-2.1.x86_64
libcurl4-32bit-7.19.6-2.1.x86_64
libdb-4_5-32bit-4.5.20-98.4.x86_64
libesd0-32bit-0.2.41-4.2.x86_64
libexpat1-32bit-2.0.1-92.2.x86_64
libfreebl3-32bit-3.12.4-2.4.x86_64
libgcc44-32bit-4.4.1_20090817-2.3.4.x86_64
libgcrypt11-32bit-1.4.4-2.2.x86_64
libgio-2_0-0-32bit-2.22.1-2.2.x86_64
libglade2-32bit-2.6.4-2.5.x86_64
libglib-2_0-0-32bit-2.22.1-2.2.x86_64
libgmodule-2_0-0-32bit-2.22.1-2.2.x86_64
libgnome-32bit-2.28.0-2.4.x86_64
libgnomecanvas-32bit-2.26.0-2.4.x86_64
libgnomecups-32bit-0.2.3-114.2.x86_64
libgnomeprint-32bit-2.18.6-2.6.x86_64
libgnomeprintui-32bit-2.18.4-3.4.x86_64
libgnomeui-32bit-2.24.2-2.3.x86_64
libgobject-2_0-0-32bit-2.22.1-2.2.x86_64
libgpg-error0-32bit-1.7-3.2.x86_64
libgsf-1-114-32bit-1.14.15-3.4.x86_64
libgstreamer-0_10-0-32bit-0.10.24-3.1.x86_64
libgthread-2_0-0-32bit-2.22.1-2.2.x86_64
libidl-32bit-0.8.13-2.2.x86_64
libidn-32bit-1.10-4.2.x86_64
libjpeg-32bit-6.2.0-882.2.x86_64
libldap-2_4-2-32bit-2.4.17-5.3.x86_64
libltdl7-32bit-2.2.6-47.7.x86_64
libncurses5-32bit-5.6-91.2.x86_64
libnscd-32bit-2.0.2-109.2.x86_64
libogg0-32bit-1.1.4-2.2.x86_64
libopenssl0_9_8-32bit-0.9.8k-3.5.3.x86_64
libpcre0-32bit-7.9.0-2.3.1.x86_64
libpixman-1-0-32bit-0.16.0-2.2.x86_64
libpng12-0-32bit-1.2.39-2.2.x86_64
libpopt0-32bit-1.13-4.2.x86_64
libpulse0-32bit-0.9.19-2.3.x86_64
librsvg-32bit-2.26.0-3.4.x86_64
libselinux1-32bit-2.0.80-5.2.x86_64
libsmbclient0-32bit-3.4.2-1.1.3.1.x86_64
libsndfile-32bit-1.0.20-3.2.x86_64
libsqlite3-0-32bit-3.6.16-2.3.x86_64
libstdc++33-32bit-3.3.3-15.3.x86_64
libstdc++44-32bit-4.4.1_20090817-2.3.4.x86_64
libtalloc1-32bit-3.4.2-1.1.3.1.x86_64
libtasn1-3-32bit-2.2-2.2.x86_64
libtdb1-32bit-3.4.2-1.1.3.1.x86_64
libtiff3-32bit-3.8.2-145.2.x86_64
libuuid1-32bit-2.16-4.5.1.x86_64
libvorbis-32bit-1.2.0-83.2.x86_64
libwbclient0-32bit-3.4.2-1.1.3.1.x86_64
libxcrypt-32bit-3.0.2-3.2.x86_64
libxml2-32bit-2.7.3-2.2.x86_64
mozilla-nspr-32bit-4.8.2-1.1.3.x86_64
mozilla-nss-32bit-3.12.4-2.4.x86_64
nss-mdns-32bit-0.10-42.2.x86_64
orbit2-32bit-2.14.17-3.1.x86_64
pam-32bit-1.1.0-3.2.x86_64
pam-modules-32bit-11.2-4.1.x86_64
pam_apparmor-32bit-2.3-53.1.x86_64
pango-32bit-1.26.0-2.5.x86_64
qtcurve-gtk2-32bit-0.68.0-2.2.x86_64
samba-32bit-3.4.2-1.1.3.1.x86_64
samba-client-32bit-3.4.2-1.1.3.1.x86_64
tcpd-32bit-7.6-858.2.x86_64
xorg-x11-libICE-32bit-7.4-7.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libSM-32bit-7.4-7.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libX11-32bit-7.4-12.3.x86_64
xorg-x11-libXau-32bit-7.4-6.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libXext-32bit-7.4-7.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libXfixes-32bit-7.4-6.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libXmu-32bit-7.4-6.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libXp-32bit-7.4-6.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libXpm-32bit-7.4-6.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libXprintUtil-32bit-7.4-6.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libXrender-32bit-7.4-6.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libXt-32bit-7.4-6.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libfontenc-32bit-7.4-6.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libs-32bit-7.4-25.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libxcb-32bit-7.4-11.1.x86_64
xorg-x11-libxkbfile-32bit-7.4-6.1.x86_64
zlib-32bit-1.2.3-140.2.x86_64
thanks a million, I was missing qtcurve-gtk2-32bit, it seems! Cheers, lothar
Hi Flavio,
I have a problem where all files that I attach to the lotus notes client only shows a grey color icon. Attachments in external mails also have the same problems. I checked my file sets against your list above, and find that I have all of them installed.
I have been searching for a resolution but not successful. This problem has been around since Lotus Notes 8.0, and I was hoping this will be resolved in 8.5, but it’s still there.
I am using KDE 4.4.
Thank you Flavio for your posting, used your method to update 32-bit 11.2 from 32-bit repo and succesfully got Notes 8.5.1 working correctly
Hi George / Flavio.
I have the 11.2 32 bit system. I have D-loaded the gtk2-2.14.4-8.i586RPM and the pango-1.22.1-2.9.i586rpm from the 11.1 oss repo site. Is that the version for a 32 bit system? The reson I ask is, in Flavio’s link above, I found the gtk32 and pango32, and wondered if they will in fact work on a 32bit system.
I have D-loaded both, but I’d like to be sure…
Thanks for your help everyone!
Todd from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
(Linux Lover, but novice user!)
Hi again guys.
I gave it my best to do it as was instructed by Flavio using the Terminal commands, and I ended up messing Lotus up. So, I did an uninstall and re-installed Lotus, and still realizing I needed the 11.1 gtk / gdk files, I found another way to perform the fix here:
http://forums.opensuse.org/applications/426513-install-run-lotus-notes-8-5-8-5-1-opensuse-11-2-a.html#post2089115
8.5.1 now works great on my SuSE 11.2 32 bit Dell Inspirion 9400 Laptop (it’s a few years old but still rocks!). Many thanks for helping Linux “noobs” like me to get the bugs out.
Happy Holidays to all!
Todd.
[…] я нашел описание проблемы на английском языке, читаем тут. Там же выложены скриншот, на котором отображена суть […]
Hello Flavio,
Great tips on getting Notes working!! THANK YOU!!
Brian
[…] […]
I had the same problem on 32-bit openSUSE 11.2.
Flavio’s fix saved the day for me.
Many thanks to Flavio.
First of all I would like to inform you that I am a newbie to Linux, I tried to install Lotus Notes 8.5 client on my opensuse 11.2 (32-bit) machine, the installation process goes smoothly but i couldn’t find any short cut to run the software !!! nor in the desktop neither in the Recently Installed sub menu !!
is there anything wrong there?
Thanks Flavio. It saved my day.
I’m using openSUSE 11.2 x86_64 and finally Notes 8.5 working on it. 🙂
Thanks for the tips.
Murat, say please, what file run from derictoryies Lotus/Notes?
How can I create a file? do you mean i should create a text file?
after executing the following command :
/tmp/rpmsextracted # chmod 755 /opt/ibm/lotus/notes/notes
I’ve got the following error message:
chmod: cannot access `/opt/ibm/lotus/notes/notes’: No such file or directory
any idea?
[…] […]
How file to run for job Lotus Notes?
Hi Flavio,
great Job !!!
Works perfect and no problems. I think it will take a year until IBM will make the Notes Client running on OpenSuse11.2-64 🙂
Just got a new Laptop (DELL 6510 i7820QM,8GB Mem) and its still not easy to get everything running….Juniper Network Connect…
Intel Wireless Pro 6300..after an update (kernel) the also updated compat wireless and wireless scripts did not any longer working.
Anyway…From click on the Notes Icon until Appearance (including typing the password) it takes only amazing 5 Seconds !!!! 🙂
Never experienced this with Notes 🙂
My colleagues are jealous 🙂
So again….great job and thanks a lot for your help
Greetings from Germany
Hermann
This works on openSuSE 11.3 x64 as well. Thanks for the guide. Works great.
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