Check out these cool new features in IBM Rational ClearQuest v7.1.2.1:

• ClearQuest now supports Open Services for Lifecycle Collaboration (OSLC) APIs and is implemented as OSLC Links Package. This is available out of the box. With this feature, ClearQuest records can be linked to the requirement artifacts in IBM Rational Doors or IBM Rational Requirements Composer, test artifacts in Rational Quality Manager and related change management artifacts in Rational Change, Rational Team Concert or even Bugzilla. This feature enables requirements driven development with requirements to change request traceability. To lean more about OSLC Link Package, click here.
• ClearQuest provides Jazz based Collaborative Change Management solution. Now dynamic planning can be added to the existing Configuration and Change Management(CCM) tools. With this feature, planning, tracking, measurements and generation of reports are all integrated, enabling team collaboration by sharing the inter-linked data. Improves end to end traceability, transparency and flexibility for teams to utilize resources from anywhere. Every stake holder can know project status without having to ask.
• ClearQuest v7.1.2.1 introduces Dashboard support providing integrated data tracking from ClearQuest and RTC.
• The ClearQuest – Jazz bridge which connects the ClearQuest system and the Jazz system through the OSLC link provides process management support (state transitions are syned between systems), bi-directional links, rich hover support and many more features.
• SmartCard Authentication is now supported in ClearQuest Web. This enhances security in deployments where requirements dictate stronger authentication than user name and password. CQWeb can be configured for smart card authentication such that user must use a smart card and PIN to gain access. To know more about SmartCard authentication for CQWeb, click here.
• ClearQuest Web Help now available. One place for all documentation on ClearQuest. Click here to learn more about web help.

There are over 30 additional noteworthy improvements in ClearQuest v7.1.2.1. Click here for a detailed list of these enhancements.

New(s) about IBM Rational ClearCase v7.1.2.1:

• With integrated Configuration and Change Management realize flexible ClearQuest enabled integrations with base ClearCase or UCM. With this enhancement, LAN ClearCase can communicate with WAN ClearQuest. The new functionality is available even on platforms not supported by ClearQuest, for example, Solaris X86, Linux 390, Linux PPC and HP IA64. This functionality reduces the dependency on mulisite and need for deploying CQ thick clients.
• Leverage Jazz capabilities with ClearCase through the Jazz integration with ClearCase dynamic views, for example, setting up build definitions that run out of ClearCase views (click here for a demo), create work items directly from  failed builds, agile planning, linking agile plans and work itmes to base ClearCase or UCM, dashboards, reports, etc.
• ClearCase Multisite now supports Synchronous Request for Mastership (SRFM) through which mastership request is issued silently during checkout of a remotely mastered branch. This eliminates the wait for the replica sync to happen before beginning work.
• IBM Rational ClearCase integrated with the Electronics Design and Automation (EDA) tool, Cadence Design Framework, from Cadence Design Systems. This first class integration of ClearCase inside Cadence Design Framework provides co-development and verification management solutions for electronic and software design. Click here for more information.
• Token license support available in ClearCase v7.1.2.1, providing customers the flexibility in licensing to deploy Rational Solutions to address business needs by purchasing license tokens that can be used or moved around between several Rational products.
• ClearCase v7.1.2.1 supports Windows 7 BitLocker, Windows 7 User Access Control. Support for Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Client added.

See You There!!!

As posted on this link.

The premium Software event, Rational Innovate India 2011 kicks-off at Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi in August, 2011. The VoICE event would happen on Aug 9^th at Bangalore, followed by Innovate sessions in Bangalore on Aug 10^th, 11^th, sessions in Delhi on 11^th and sessions in Chennai on 12^th.

The VoICE event presents a unique opportunity to a select group of customers to meet up with the development organization and discuss about the products, their requirements and pain-areas.

The Change and Configuration management sessions would be the one to watch out for with the track kick-off by Rolf Nelson, Product Manager, IBM Rational Team Concert (RTC). In a separate sessions, Rolf would also talk about what’s new in RTC 3.0.x.

The other topics presented around RTC would be:

• Using IBM Rational Team Concert with other Software Configuration Management Systems – Presenter would talk about how to use RTC with other Software Configuration Management (SCM) systems IBM / non-IBM, like ClearCase, Synergy, Subversion and Git. This would make a lot of sense for customers who would like to keep their existing investments, but would like to reap the benefit of using RTC for its planning or Change Management capabilities.

• Leveraging Rational Team Concert’s build capabilities for Continuous Integration
• Best Practices for Tailoring IBM Rational Team Concert Work Items and Process for Your Environment
• Aligning IT Strategy and Execution with IBM Rational Focal Point and IBM Rational Team Concert
• Bringing Applications Together: Leverage Open Services for Lifecycle Collaboration (OSLC) for integrating 3rd party tools with IBM Rational Jazz – The benefits of moving away from point-to-point integration to an integration using RESTful architecture which would even allow 3^rd party tools to integrate with Jazz.

In the other topics being presented in the Change and Configuration Management track, the folks from IBM Rational ClearCase (CC) and IBM Rational ClearQuest (CQ) would talk about what’s new with these products.  The session on ClearCase / ClearQuest  would be conducted by a senior architect from ClearCase lab in the US and senior developers from the India lab. Some of the topics that would be discussed in this forum would be around CC/CQ support for OSLC, Requirement/ Change Request traceability through CQ / DOORS integration, Dashboard support for CQ, Jazz integration with CC Dynamic Views, Providing codevelopment and verification management solutions for electronic and software design through the integration between CC and Cadence Design Systems.

Do not miss it!

As posted on this link.

As posted on this link.

In case you are wondering what to expect at Innovate 2011, here’s a sneak peek!