A. Lotus Sametime is a family of real-time collaboration tools. It consists of client and server applications that enable a community of users to collaborate in real-time online meetings over an intranet or the Internet. Members of the Sametime community use presence awareness (who is online and available), instant messaging, and Web conferencing to meet, converse, and work together in instant or scheduled meetings. Tools include screen sharing, slide presentations, a shared whiteboard, and real-time audio/video capabilities.

Sametime allows geographically dispersed individuals and teams to come together and work productively in a variety of ways.

For more product information, see Lotus Sametime.

Back to top

Q2. What is Sametime, Instant Messaging Limited Use?

A. The Instant Messaging Limited Use version of Sametime is a limited version of the full Lotus Sametime product. This version of Sametime is available to qualified Lotus Notes/Domino customers at no extra charge. For more information, see the entitlement FAQs.

The full version of Sametime supports presence, instant messaging, and Web conferencing functionality. Customers entitled to use the Instant Messaging Limited Use version of Sametime are licensed to use the integrated instant messaging and presence awareness functions, but not meetings (Web conferencing). Also, entitlement to the Instant Messaging Limited Use version of Sametime only permits access from within the Lotus Notes/Domino environment. Therefore, the Instant Messaging Limited Use version of Sametime must be integrated with a Domino server so that Sametime's instant messaging and presence functionality can be accessed from Domino applications such as the Lotus Notes client and Domino Web Access.

Back to top

Q3. What releases of Sametime are currently supported?

A. For a list of all supported Sametime releases along with compatible Lotus Domino and i5/OS versions, see the Lotus Software for i5/OS Compatibility Guide (317KB).

To learn about the many enhancements available in the newest release, see Sametime 7.5.

Back to top

Q4. Are there any differences between Lotus Sametime for i5/OS and Sametime running on another supported platform?

A. The vast majority of the product function and user interfaces are the same but there are some differences. Sametime for i5/OS...

allows you to configure more than one Sametime server on single system, even on the same logical partition (LPAR).
allows you to configure up to 99 total Domino, Sametime and QuickPlace servers in the same LPAR.
supports automatic conversion of documents for display in the slides section of a meeting but releases prior to Sametime 7.5.1 required installation of a component called Sametime Conversion Services on a Windows system. With Sametime 7.5.1, you can either run conversion services on a separate Windows system (a remote conversion server) or as a native function of your Sametime server (integrated conversion services). However, for any non-Windows Sametime server, a remote conversion server is recommended for the most faithful rendering of slides. For more information, see the Sametime 7.5.1 Information Center or the Lotus Sametime 7.5 Administrator's Guide (sthelpad.pdf or sthelpad.nsf), available from the online Lotus Sametime Documentation Library. (For earlier releases, refer to the Lotus Sametime Conversion Services Setup Guide, stconv.pdf.)

Back to top

Q5. Do I need to purchase a Domino server license in addition to a Sametime license?

A. No, as long as you are only using Domino for running Sametime.

Anyone in your organization who is using Domino for e-mail can access Sametime presence awareness and instant messaging features directly from the Lotus Notes client or Domino Web Access. However, you do not need to use Domino for e-mail or install a Notes client in order to use Sametime. For instant messaging, your Sametime users can download and install the Sametime Connect Client. For scheduling and attending web conferences, all you need is a Web browser.

Back to top

Q6. How do I purchase Sametime for i5/OS?

A. Sametime for i5/OS can be purchased from Lotus and Lotus authorized software resellers.

If you plan to use Lotus Sametime only within your organization, the pricing is based entirely on the number of Sametime users. Your Sametime license entitles you to run both the server code and the authorized number of users. Volume discounts are available and the license includes software maintenance.
If you plan to allow people outside of your organization to access your Sametime servers, you need to purchase an Extranet Server license (for unlimited external users).

Once you have purchased a Sametime license, you are entitled to the entire Sametime product which provides full capability for instant messaging and Web conferencing on any supported platform, including i5/OS. Sametime media packs include everything you need: the server code, the Sametime Connect Client and Domino. You can also choose to download any of the necessary software, including Domino.

Contact your local IBM representative or Lotus Business Partner for additional help or visit How to Buy.

Back to top

Q7. What documentation is available for Sametime for i5/OS?

A. See Sametime for i5/OS Library.

Back to top

Q8. What are the system requirements for Sametime for i5/OS?

A. See Sametime for i5/OS System Requirements.

Back to top

Q9. Can I run Sametime for i5/OS on the same Domino server that I use for mail or other Domino applications?

A. This configuration is not supported. You must create a new Domino server partition for running Sametime. The new Domino server can reside on the same system as your existing Domino server.

Back to top

Q10. Can I run Lotus QuickPlace and Sametime on the same IBM System i server? on the same Domino server?

A. Yes, you can run both products on the same System i server but you must run Sametime and QuickPlace on separate partitioned Domino servers.

You should consult the Lotus Software for i5/OS Compatibility Guide (PDF, 317KB) to be certain you select compatible versions of Sametime, QuickPlace, Domino and i5/OS.

For information about enabling Sametime instant messaging, awareness and Web conferences for QuickPlace, see

For QuickPlace 7.0: Lotus QuickPlace 7.0 Installation and Upgrade Guide available from the online Lotus QuickPlace library
For QuickPlace releases prior to 7.0: QuickPlace for iSeries: Enabling integration with Sametime (technote #7003786)

Back to top

Q11. Can I run more than one Sametime server on a single IBM System i server?

A. Yes, Sametime for i5/OS allows you to configure and run more than one Sametime server on your system, even within the same logical partition (LPAR).

Back to top

Q12. Can I run Sametime for i5/OS in a Sametime community that includes Sametime servers running on a Windows system?

A. Yes, running multiple Sametime servers in a community that includes servers running on both i5/OS and Windows systems is supported. See the Release Notes and Sametime for i5/OS Readme file for additional recommendations pertaining to your specific release of Sametime.

Back to top

Q13. What languages are supported by Sametime for i5/OS?

A. Sametime for i5/OS is delivered in Global English. Sametime Language Packs are available for the following languages:

Brazilian Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Spanish
Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
New for Sametime 7.5: Czech, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish
New for Sametime 7.5.1: Arabic, Hebrew

Conversations and meetings can contain text in any language.

If you plan to install a language version of Sametime, you should first install Domino and the Domino Language Pack for your preferred language. Then follow the instructions in the guide for Installing and Managing Lotus Sametime for i5/OS to install the English version of Sametime and the corresponding Sametime Language Pack.

Back to top

Q14. What communications/connectivity protocols are supported?

A. Sametime supports TCP/IP connectivity.

Back to top

Additional information

Lotus homepage

Lotus Sametime

Lotus Domino for i5/OS

How to buy (software)

How to buy (System i)