Bravo Memo

From the desk of: Sam C. Chan

Product Support Levels & Strategic Solutions

First Published: January 3, 2003

Last Updated: September 10, 2021

This memo is continuously revised (not original + addenda). Major announcements are posted at Bravo News

Hint: Use Ctrl-F to find what you're looking for within the page

PRODUCT SUPPORT LEVELS (PSL) Explained

PSL0 Bravo Strategic Solution Offerings (BSSO):
These products form the foundation of our operations, and they're considered to be among our core competency. When a product is assigned a PSL0/BSSO Status, it indicates that we have:

significant research and investment in the product

long history and experience through active usage in-house

authoritative knowledge on the product

formal strategic alliance and with the vendor, and

long-term commitment to the platform

PSL1 Officially Supported: Actively used or installed in-house, walk-thru available, up-to-date on versions, problems, news & development, etc.

PSL2 Supported: Trained on product, but not keeping up on development. Do not maintain in-house installed copies.

PSL3 Assisted: Only basic familiarity with product.

PSL4 Unknown: No knowledge on product. Will research on clients' behalf.

PSL5 Unsupported: No support. We decline to work on such product due to known insurmountable issues, or specific concern/objections from past experience.

NOTE: Sometimes, the latest version is not supported, or out-right banned!

Below is a list of products in each of the 6 categories (* indicates Not Vista Compatible)

Bravo Strategic Solution Offerings (PSL0/BSSO) Highest level of support

Security
- Symantec End-point Protection Management Console SEPM
- Symantec Endpoint Protection: Network Threat Protection
- Symantec Endpoint Protection: Proactive Threat Protection
- NT 6.x Windows Firewall (all versions 6/7/8/10/11)
- Bravo KPF custom patches & Rules Set 4.4 to 4.7
- Kerio Personal Firewall 2.1.5 ONLY*
- ~~Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) 2.0.1 & 2.1.2030 beta~~
- ~~HFNetChk Pro~~
- Symantec Endpoint Protection 12.1 (SEP12.1) Small Business edition
- Symantec Endpoint Protection 14.2 (SEP14.2)
- ~~Symantec Anti-Virus (SAV) Corporate edition 10.x~~
- Custom in-house developed tools & scripts
Encryption
- Microsoft EFS: 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Windows 7, 8.1, 10, Server 2016
- Bitlocker + PIN + TPM
- VeraCrypt WDE
- TrueCrypt 6.x and 7.1a (standard and traveling modes)
- AxCrypt 1.6.3
- 7-Zip 16.x AES-256
- Gpg4Win + Kelopatra + Enigmail
- ~~Winzip 9 & 10~~
- ~~JDsecure II~~
General Productivity Applications
- OneNote all versions & editions (PC, Android, iPad, Web)
- Exchange Server 2016 & Hosted Exchange
- Exchange Server 2013
- Exchange Server 2010
- Exchange Server 2007 SP2 (6.5.7638)
- Exchange Server 2003 SP2 (6.5.7638)
- MS SQL Server 2019
- MS SQL Server 2012
- MS SQL Server 2008
- MS SQL Server 2005 SP2 (9.0.3175)
- SoftMaker Office standard 2021 | Free Office 2006, 2008
- WPS Office
- LibreOffice
- Office 365
- Office 2019
- Office 2016
- Office 2013
- Office 2010
- Office 2007
- ~~Office 2003, XP, 2000, 97, 95~~
- Office Data Conversion add-on for Office 2003
- ~~Office 2000 SR1A SP3 and 2003 SP2 OLP versions~~
- ~~Word 97*, 2000 SR1A SP3, 2003 SP2, 2007, 2010~~
- ~~Excel 97*, 2000 SR1A SP3, 2003 SP2, 2007, 2010~~
- ~~PowerPoint 97 and later~~
- Hybrid Office version: Word 2000, Excel 2000 + Outlook 2003
Drive Imaging/Recovery/Deployment & Data Backup Management
- ImgBurn 2.5.8
- Code42 CrashPlan 6.x
- Retrospect 16, 17 Single Server/Multi-Server/Professional
- Retrospect SBS 7.6, 7.7 14
- ~~Backup Exec 2010~~
- ~~Backup Exec Recovery Server 7~~ (formerly Livestate)
- Symantec Ghost 8.3, 11.0 & 11.5
- Ghost Solutions Suite 2.5
- Microsoft DISM
- Windows System Imaging
- CloneZilla
- DSS v1.47 with VSS + PKI
- AOMEI Backupper
- Macrium Reflect 7
- Partition Wizard 7.x, 8.x
- Acronis True Image 9.1 Workstation
- Acronis Disk Director Suite 10.0
File Manager/Sync/Compression
- Super Flexible File Synchronizer 5.7 (legacy)
- FreeFileSync 10.16
- ViceVersa
- 7-Zip x64/x86/CLI
Graphics
- ACDsee 6, 8, 10, 15 and 17 (3, 4, 5, 7 & 9 are PSL3)
- ACDsee Pro 5, 6
- FastStone Capture 5.2
- FastStone MaxViewer
- Ulead PhotoImpact 8*, 10* and 12 (but not 11)
Multimedia
- VLC
- K-lite codec bundle (QuickTime, Real, DVD, ShoutCast)
- Vista Codec Package
- Media Player Classic 6.4.8.7 and later
- Windows Media Player 6.4, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12.0
- ShoutCast Server on Linux platform
- Adobe Flash Player 11.x (active-x & plug-in)
- Silverlight 5.0
- SMPlayer w/ recorder
System Administration
- Terminal Services/Remote Desktop (RDC client, protocol 7~10)
- UltraVNC 1.3.4 Sep 2021
- UltraVNC Listener (reversed out-bound server)
- ~~pcAnywhere 10.5, 11, 12 & 12.1~~
- ~~SmartFTP 2.0.993 or later~~
- DynDNS.org services & update client NT5 or NT6
- DirectUpdate 3.6.3 only (not 4.x) and for NT5 only
- PingPlotter Free/Standard/Professional
- MutliPing all versions
- Dependency Walker 2.2
Document Interchange/Viewing
- Fox-It 2.3, 6.x, 8.x, 10.x, 11.x
- Fox-It Phantom Basic/Business/Professional
- Acrobat 5, 7, X, XI DC
- doPDF 5.3
- CutePDF Writer 3.0
- Ghostscript 8.x 9.x
Communications
- Zello
- PicoPhone 1.64
- LANmessager
- ~~AIM 7.5.20.x~~ (classic, not the new "AIM for Windows" 8.x)
- ~~AIM-LT1~~ based on 5.5.3595 (Bravo custom) only
- ~~AIM-LT2~~ based on 6.8.10.1 (Bravo custom) only
- Windows Live Messenger 2009 Build 14.0.8117.x
- ~~Windows Live Messenger 2011~~ Build 15.4.3538.x
- ~~Android platform client: IM~~+
- Skype Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Android
- Live Messenger (only briefly during 2009-2012)
- ~~Pidgin 2.2.0~~
Operating Systems Platforms
- Desktop
  - Windows 11 Pro/Enterprise
  - Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise 1089 2004 20H2 21H1
  - Windows 8/8.1 Pro/Enterprise
  - Windows 7 SP1 Professional x86/x64 (post-EOL phase)
  - Windows Vista Business SP1/SP2 x86/x64
  - Windows XP Professional SP3
  - Windows 2000 Professional SP4
  - ~~Windows 98 SE w/ SEPP1~~
  - FreeDOS 1.1
  - MS-DOS 6.22
  - Ubuntu all LTS versions
  - FreeBSD 4.3 and later
  - Mac OS
  - Tails
- Server (Server 2012 was not supported)
  - Windows Server Essentials 2019
  - Windows Server Essentials 2016
  - Windows Server Essentials 2012R2
  - SBS 2011 (post-EOL phase)
  - SBS 2008
  - SBS 2003 R2
  - SBS 2003 SP2
  - Windows Server 2008
  - Windows Server 2003 SP2
  - Windows Server 2003 R2
  - Bravo PMS 5.3, 5.2 and 4.3 (post-EOL phase)
  - Ubuntu Server LTS
  - SCO Xenix, UNIX, UNIXware, Open Server
- Virtualization
  - Microsoft Hyper-V Server, Manager, Client
  - Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
  - Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
  - Oracle VirtualBox 5.x for Windows hosts
  - Oracle VirtualBox 5.x for Linux hosts
  - VMware Workstation Pro
  - VMware Workstation Player
- Mobile
  - Windows RT, RT 8.1 (post-EOL)
  - Android 2.2, 2.3, 4.0, 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 5.0, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
  - iOS 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14
  - Windows Phone 8.1
  - Windows Mobile 10
Web Browsers + Application Platforms
- Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
- Firefox 1.5.0.4, 3.6.3, 44, 53, 62, 68ESR
- Microsoft Edge 8.1 10
- ~~SUN Java JRE 6 update 4~17~~
- MS Dotnet Framework ~~1.1 SP1~~, 2.0 SP1, ~~3.0~~, 3.5, ~~4, 4.5, 4.6~~, 4.7, 4.8, 5.0
Software Tools
- for use by clients
  - Bravo Install, Recovery & Diagnostics (BIRD) 4.1.2 and 5.x (legacy)
  - AE1 AE2 AE2+
  - Bravo Security Incident Response (SIR2021) kit
  - HyperTrace
  - Netscan 6.0.4 (not 7.x)
  - Magic Mail Monitor
  - POPpeeper 3.0
  - Simple Socket File Transfer (SSFT)
  - HJsplit
  - EditPAD
  - NoteTab
  - iDisk 1.93
  - TreeSize 4.2.2 & 7.0
- for internal use during operations & development
  - Bravo SU Script Suite 2.1
  - winscp 4.0.4
  - ssh/putty/telnet
  - FrontPage 2003
  - KompoZer 0.7.10
  - NVU
  - HTTrack 3.49-2
  - WinHEX
  - procexp
  - autoruns
  - CPUz
  - SiW 2008.9.3
  - PowerISO 4.5
  - Daemon Tool (ISO mounter)
  - All Microsoft Resource Kits (RK)
  - All SysInternal/WinInternal utilities
  - ERD Commander & Administrator Pak
  - Numerous graphics tools
  - Numerous misc. utilities
  - Numerous Web Dev tools
Hardware
- Systems
  - Bravo Encore Workgroup Severs
  - Bravo Sonata Workstations
  - Intel processors see memo for details
  - Intel motherboards see memo for details
  - Aopen (Acer) motherboards & peripherals
  - Intel Storage Matrix (RAID)
  - Promise RAID storage
- Printers
  - Lexmark M821N
  - Lexmark T654N
  - Lexmark MX511 Multi-function
  - Lexmark Optra T644N, T644TN, T644DTN
  - Xerox Phaser Network Printers
  - Xerox VersaLink
- Scanners
  - Fujitsu ScanSnap S510
  - Fujitsu fi-5120C
  - Fujitsu fi-5220C
  - Xerox DocuMate 152
- Monitors & Projectors
  - Acer monitors CRT/LCD
  - Acer LCD Projectors
- Misc. Peripherals
  - Microsoft Keyboard & Mice
- Power Protection
  - APC UPSs
  - Tripplite OMNI1500LCDT
  - Tripplite Line Conditioners
- Networking
  - Cisco SG-300 Managed Switch
  - Netgear GS716T, GS 724T, GS108T
  - Ubiquiti UniFi access point
  - D-Link SOHO grade DI-624+
  - D-Link SOHO grade DI-634M
  - D-Link SOHO grade DIR655, DIR615
  - Bravo Forte Enterprise-Grade Routers
    - pfSense 2.4.4 purpose-built
    - Linux-based Smoothwall 2.x and 3.x purpose-built
    - FreeBSD-based Monowall embedded system SFF
  - 10Base2/10BaseT/100BaseT/Gigabit Ethernet
  - Fiber Optics SC ST, SFP, single/multi-mode

Officially Support Products (PSL1)

QuickBooks: all current (non-EOL) QBDT & QBES + QBO
SyncBack 3.2.18 only
FileZilla 3.26.2 or later
WinSCP
CyberDuck (downgraded to PSL2)
Audacity 1.3
NCH Switch Sound Converter
Magix Xtreme Photo Designer 6 (German**)
PhotoFiltre Studio & Portable (French**)
XNView 1.96.5 (French**)
IrfanView 4.58
FileMaker Pro 8 v3
MSDE (SQL server)
Offline Explorer
VMware Server
~~Nero 6.6.x~~
Format Factory 2.10
Nero Wave Editor 2.0
~~Windows Vista Home Basic (Business, Enterprise & Home Premium are BSSO)~~
Windows XP Home/MCE (Pro is BSSO)
~~Ghost 10/2006 (older 8.x/2003 is BSSO)~~
WinZip 8.x, 9.x and 10.x
IZArc 3.7
Dsynchronize v2.30.1
~~Karen's Replicator 3.6.0 & 3.3.4 only~~ (see PSL5 below for exclusions)

Supported Products (PSL2)

Bravo PMS 3.x (with severe limitations)
Microsoft Office XP
Remote Assistance
Street Atlas USA 2003 to 2006
Taxwise 1997 to 2019
Microvision
CCH (all products)
Larcerte (all products)
Appraise-It
NTI Backup Now 2.2 and 3.x
Radmin 2.2 (excluded for SAV 10 sites)
Exchange Server 5.5
Numerous other "vertical market applications"
Outlook Express 5 & 6

Assisted Products (PSL3)

ACT 2000
Palm Desktop
Palm HotSync
Backup Exec 9, 10, 11d
Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall 4.2.3
ACDsee 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 24
ACDsee Pro 13
Quicken
MS My Money

Unknown Products (PSL4)

By nature, we cannot publish a finite list in this category.

NOT Supported Products (PSL5) ["banned," historical list]

AOL client suite (all versions)
All ISP proprietary dialer
Symantec SystemWorks
Norton Antivirus (not to be confused with Symantec Anti-Virus)
Norton Internet Security
All McAfee consumer products
Kerio Personal Firewall 3.x (Flawed design, stability issues)
Enable (memory management issues, video conflicts)
All Linksys Wifi adapters (routers are OK)
D-Link router DI-514 and DI-524 (flawed design)
RealPlayer (No, QuickTime Player is NOT accidentally omitted here)
Retrospect SBS 6.5 (Professional 6.5 is OK)
Karen's Replicator 3.3.3 (Major bug with UNC under W2K!)
Karen's Replicator 3.4.4 (Major bug: leaving files open, and skipping files!)

* Not Vista compatible
** These products are made by French/German firms, but installed with English language.

See also: Product Support Levels page on Main Web Site