port number 591 or >1024?

[PowerMike]

I am hosting a few database-driven websites from a Mac G4 running OS X, and in the past year I have had (only) three people inform me that they cannot access the pages where the dynamic data is generated by FileMaker Pro 5.5. Evidently in each case it has been because the users were behind firewalls which were blocking port 591. Because port 80 is used by the Apache server in Mac OS X, I am using port 591 for FileMaker. Recently, however I read that better performance might be gained by choosing a port number higher than 1024.

Would choosing a port number >1024 solve my occassional access problems, or would it introduce more problems of people not being able to access my site? Also, it appears that the available port numbers range from 1024 to 66535. If I choose a port number other than 591, which one should I choose, or should I stick with 591?

Thanks in avance.

[Garry Claridge]

I would stick with 591. You will not receive better performance from other ports. Besides 591 is a registered port for FM.

If you are not using the 'built-in' Apache you can disable it and use port 80.

All the best.

Garry