Ion General FAQs

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What is Browsium Ion?

Browsium Ion is an enterprise web application remediation and browser management solution, designed to simplify browser migration and enable IT to maintain control over browser compatibility and security. Ion was developed specifically to enable legacy IE-dependent line-of-business web applications to …

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How does Browsium Ion work?

IT administrators deploy the Ion Client to all PCs that require legacy compatibility or Java version management. The Ion Client reads a set of opt-in profiles and rules that were created in Ion Configuration Manager and deployed on a central …

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What are the minimum system requirements for Ion?

The following minimum system specifications are required to run Browsium Ion. Operating System Windows 7 or later Windows Server 2008 R2 or later (for multi user terminal servers) Browsers Internet Explorer 8, 9, 10, or 11 .NET Framework Version 3.5 …

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How does Browsium Ion enable my enterprise to use legacy applications?

Browsium Ion cost-effectively enables legacy IE-dependent line-of-business web applications to run in modern browsers with no server-side code changes. This web application remediation tool also allows enterprises to manage and secure Java. Ion is not virtualization, does not run a …

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Isn’t Microsoft’s Internet Explorer Enterprise Mode (EMIE) good enough to remediate incompatible web applications?

With the release of IE11, Microsoft introduced Enterprise Mode to address compatibility issues found in static websites and simple web applications found in an enterprise. For these breadth applications, Enterprise Mode provides IT with an easy-to-use solution that can be …

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How has Java management improved with Browsium Ion 4.0?

Enabling multiple versions of Java to run side-by-side in Internet Explorer has been a hallmark capability of Browsium Ion since its first release in 2012, providing IT with a simple, yet powerful solution to manage and secure Java across the …

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Can’t I just use virtualization to achieve application compatibility?

There are a variety of virtualization options to discuss in reference to web application compatibility, including multi-user terminal servers, server-based or client-side virtual operating systems, and application virtualization. These can be simplified into two categories: operating system virtualization and application …

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How do Ion 4.0 Limited Java profiles compare to Oracle Java Deployment Rule Sets?

Limited Java profiles in Ion 4.0 build on Oracle Java Deployment Rule Sets (DRS) to provide enhanced Java management. The DRS functionality is built into the Java Development Kit (JDK) that Browsium has long-used for Ion’s Java Version Manager. Now, …

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Can’t I achieve application compatibility by rewriting our custom applications?

Rewriting applications is an expensive and often unproductive strategy – both in financial terms and in terms of opportunity cost. Some companies estimate that rewriting just one legacy application to function properly in a modern browser can cost millions of …

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Can’t enterprises achieve application compatibility by modifying their web applications?

Because most enterprises utilize hundreds, if not thousands of web applications, the cost to rewrite, upgrade, or replace every incompatible application is substantial. Rewriting web applications can only be considered if the original in-house or third-party custom application developers are …

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Is there more to browser management than remediating web applications with Ion?

Yes, together, Browsium Ion and Catalyst create Browsium’s browser management platform. Our platform provides enterprise IT with granular control of their browser environments, to optimize both web application compatibility and security, today and for the future. This enables a quick …

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What is the difference between Catalyst and Ion?

Browsium Catalyst Browsium Catalyst is a multi-browser web traffic manager for the enterprise, enabling IT to pair all web applications with the most compatible and secure browser. Catalyst works with Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox on all PCs in the …

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What can Browsium do for an organization as they embrace the cloud?

Browsium is dedicated to “future proofing” enterprise browser environments for optimum compatibility and security, which is critical as companies embrace cloud computing. Change in enterprise web browsers is inevitable. Browsers continue to evolve, while new applications and cloud solutions with …

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Can I implement Browsium Ion myself or should I hire a professional?

If you’re an IT professional managing a large-scale Windows migration for your organization, you and your team are experts in the things that matter the most to your success. These include PC hardware, Windows image configuration and deployment, user state …

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Can’t we achieve application compatibility by upgrading our commercial applications?

Upgrading commercial applications is often far more difficult and expensive than expected. First, it assumes the software vendor still offers a viable upgrade path for your legacy application. Don’t be surprised to find that your vendor has discontinued the product …

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What can Browsium products do for my company in the long-term?

Browsium is dedicated to “future proofing” your enterprise browser environment for optimum compatibility and security. Change in enterprise web browsers is inevitable. Browsers are continually evolving with new features and security, while older versions – the versions you have deployed …

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Will Browsium support Windows 10 and Microsoft’s new Edge browser?

Browsium products will support Windows 10 once it is released, with a focus on Internet Explorer 11 (IE11). We expect to deliver the same functionality for IE11 in Windows 10 as we do for IE11 on Windows 8 and Windows …

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Are multi-browser environments the trend in IT organizations?

Yes. As browsers have become a critical component of every enterprise infrastructure, Gartner Research* has advised against enterprises standardizing on a single browser. This recommendation was first delivered in 1997 and continues today as web-based business applications become more and …

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Can Ion be used to upgrade to IE8 on Windows XP?

Yes, Ion works on both Windows XP and Windows 7. It enables end users to use IE8 on Windows XP as their default browser but render specific websites (determined by IT administrators) using legacy rendering modes for backward compatibility.

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Can I use Browsium’s products, Ion and Catalyst, together?

Yes. Together, Browsium Ion and Browsium Catalyst create Browsium’s browser management platform. Our  platform provides enterprise IT with granular control of their browser environments, to optimize both web application compatibility and security today and for the future. This enables a …

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Does Ion support Windows 8 or IE11?

Yes, beginning with Ion 3.2, Windows 8.1 with IE11 and IE11 on Windows 7 are supported.

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Does Ion support IE7?

No, Ion starts support at IE8 on Windows XP and also supports IE8 thru IE11 on Windows 7. Ion can help today if your web applications render properly using Compatibility View feature but require specific browser settings, Java plugins, or …

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How does Ion safely intercept HTTPS traffic?

To ensure Ion is able to control the browser environment and application settings needed to make the target line of business application function properly, Ion functions as a localhost web application proxy. Much like any proxy, traffic is terminated by …

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What are profiles?

Profiles are groups of settings and configuration options tied to a particular browser engine. Profiles enable you to set specific registry values or define custom ActiveX settings to ensure a web application runs properly if it requires specific versions or …

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How do I create a profile?

Profiles are created using the Configuration Manager. Simply create a project, then choose “Add Profile” from the Action pane on the right side of the manager. Choose the Internet Explorer rendering mode you need and then name your new profile. That’s all …

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How do I manage Ion rules?

All Ion rules are managed through the Configuration Manager. Making a rule is very simple – just select your options from the dropdown lists, enter the URL, domain name or pattern to be matched and select which Profile should be …

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What features are being added to Ion and Catalyst in the future?

Browsium is committed to creating products which “future proof” your enterprise browser environment for optimum compatibility and security. To that end, we are making ongoing investments in adding capabilities such as: improved performance, easier configuration development, browser usage metrics and …

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Does Microsoft support Ion?

Ion is a 3rd party product created and sold by Browsium and Microsoft is not responsible for supporting any 3rd party products. However Microsoft is responsible for supporting Windows and IE (per Microsoft’s support lifecycle policy) and will continue to …

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Microsoft says that running multiple instances or versions of Internet Explorer is unsupported. Is Ion affected by this?

No, Ion complies fully with this Microsoft policy. Ion does not install or run a separate instance or version of Internet Explorer, and doesn’t repackage executable components of Internet Explorer. Instead, it provides granular management of the rendering engines and …

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Isn’t Microsoft trying to get customers to stop using IE6 because of security concerns?

Absolutely. That’s why Ion is such a smart solution to the problem. Ion allows IT administrators to upgrade all of their desktops to modern versions of Internet Explorer (IE8 on Windows XP and IE8, IE9, or IE10 on Windows 7) and define which intranet …

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If Ion is such a simple and clean solution, why didn’t Microsoft just include that functionality inside modern versions of IE?

Ion achieves high degrees of compatibility with legacy web applications via a combination of granular control over the rendering modes built into modern versions of Internet Explorer, along with the ability to modify browser and security settings application by application. …

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What happens if Microsoft releases a security patch for Internet Explorer? Will Ion be updated?

Browsium Ion has been carefully built using only supported and documented APIs and features provided by Microsoft. Ion’s technology design enables the software to deliver granular control over Internet Explorer document modes and settings while remaining in compliance with Microsoft …

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What is Adaptive Quirks Mode and how does it compare to IE’s Quirks Mode?

Quirks Mode can solve issues for many websites.  Unfortunately, there are two issues with Internet Explorer which prevent Quirks mode from being effective:  The inability to properly determine the correct time to invoke Quirks mode (based on the where and …

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Does Ion require system admin rights?

No, Ion has been designed as a per-user application. We worked hard to make sure Ion is very lightweight, easily deployed and requires no special configurations to run. Ion will work the same if the user has local admin rights or on …

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How do I deploy Ion?

Ion can be deployed using any infrastructure technology you are using today. We don’t make any assumptions about or put requirements on your infrastructure in order to deploy Ion. The user mode package is created as an MSI, so you …

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What must be considered when deploying the Ion Client software?

When deploying Browsium Ion in the enterprise, planning and proper execution are critical to ensure a successful outcome. There are three components which must be considered when approaching a deployment. These are: (1) upgrading Internet Explorer itself, (2) the Ion …

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Can multiple teams independently manage their own set of Ion rules and profiles?

Absolutely. The Ion Configuration Manager is an application to edit and configure Ion settings. Administration isn’t done centrally by design – Ion doesn’t have any infrastructure or server components – so the ownership can be shared by members of team, or even …

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Does Ion change my default browser?

No. Whether Internet Explorer is your default browser in your organization or not, Ion does not affect your default browser choice. By design, Ion is meant to be used to provide a compatibility experience and should be used when needed rather …

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What changes does Ion make to the system?

None. Ion was designed to run as a per-user application so it can actually be run without being installed on the system if needed. No system configurations are changed or values modified, and Ion can be fully uninstalled at any …

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Can the Ion Configuration Manager be used by multiple users simultaneously?

The Ion Configuration Manager was designed to be used individually by application owners, IT administrators, and remediation consultants working on a given application. The Ion Configuration Manager can be installed on multiple PCs if there are IT administrators, developers or …

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Does Ion replace any operating system components?

Ion is designed using software isolation, so we are able to provide the rendering experience as needed without replacing system components. When a user enters a URL, Ion evaluates the request against the rules list and determines if the resource requires Ion …

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How does Ion compare to Google’s ChromeFrame plug-in for Internet Explorer?

Google’s Chrome Frame plug-in is an add-on for Internet Explorer that can be used to run web sites with the Chrome browser engine. It was designed so that customers running older versions of Internet Explorer (like IE6) can get the …

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