FileMaker Online Database Help

[JonLuc]

Hello all. We have an OS9 iMac serving several FileMaker Pro 4.0 databases over the internet. This computer is plugged directly into the DSL router. The problem is that the databases keep going down (eg: server not responding message from a browser trying to connect). The fix is simple, we quit FileMaker and then open the files back up. This always makes them accessible again. It seems that the more traffic these databases get the more frequent they go down. The databases are not crashing or closing, they just become inaccessible via the net. Any thoughts on how to solve this, or why this happening? Thanks for any help!!

[Leb i Sol]

Hi JonLuc!

It sounds like your DSL router can not handle the traffic through the port 80 .:. closing - opening the DB (esentially the port 80) closes connections and re-opens them again.....as soon as you get some traffic the router dies. I would look into the specs of your router...Not the specs written by the company but rather in consumer reports/satisfactions.

BTW what is the router brand name?

I hope this helps!

p.s. DSL routers are getting cheep...maybe it's time for an upgrade ( whole new model or a new version of firmware )

[JonLuc]

Hi .. thanks for the response, our router is a speedstream model 5851, I'll see if there is any info on it ...

[Leb i Sol]

I know you have checked the configuration on it....here is a quikc Google link

http://www.billmoss.com/router.htm

...for whatever is worth!

how familiar are you with configuring routers?

- I hope your server is on static IP and that IP is mapped with the port that have FM configure.....

sorry I can't be much of help wihout knowing your skills or "seeing" the router! It could be something simple but it could be many things at the same time...If you really get stuck send me a PMsg!

good luck!

[Jeff Spall]

Hi, please excuse me if I'm stating the obvious here, but if you are using an iMac then the energy saver settings *must* be set for the computer and hard disk to never sleep as it will drop its network connection and can't respond to a call from the network. It would fit your symptom. Monitor sleep is OK.

regards, jeff

[Leb i Sol]

+good call Jeff...most obvious things are the easiest to overlook.

One thing is sure you can't have your Mac taking "naps"

[JonLuc]

Thanks for that note on sleep, but it is set to "never" for sleep ...

[Leb i Sol]

In that case Jon I would really look into router issues.

Does the connection drop if you access it locally/LAN or is it stricly when connected from the "outside"?

now that I think obout it...are you using Instant Pubplishing or Custom?(if custom- it might be the user rights issue...)

post some more info!

[JonLuc]

Thanks for those tips ... the last time the database went down, I tried to accees it via the machine IP number via a browser on our LAN and was not able to get it to respond that way either. But, again, quiting filemaker and reopening the database fixes all. You can access the database via the site URL and by the machine IP (static IP).

I don't think there is anything custom about the web publishing .... how would I check this?

In additon to the 5851 router, I also have a Netopia R7200 router which looks to be far more feature rich than the 5851 -- I'll ask my ISP about switching to that one. The 5851 has 4 ethernet ports (LAN use?), one DSL "IN" port, and one unmarked ethernet port. Currently, the server is plugged into one of the four ethernet ports that are used for LAN access. I'm wondering if there is a more direct way to hook the server up to the router for a better connection. Also, would traffic flowing to the server with this current configuration slow down our LAN? THANKS all for the help with this!

[Leb i Sol]

Q:I don't think there is anything custom about the web publishing .... how would I check this?

A:Edit-->Preferences..-->Application...[Plug-Ins Tab]-->Scroll& Select "Web Companion"--->Configure...---->[]Enable Instant Web Publishing

If "it" is checked you have the Instant Web publishing...if not then you have Custom Web Publishing and Index.html ( or any page name) is selected!

Q:I'll ask my ISP about switching to that one

A: They have nothing to do with Yes-No aspect of it. It is your decision which model/brand you want to use.They "might" help you out if their tech. support if familiar with it

Q:(LAN use?)

A: Yes

Q:would traffic flowing to the server with this current configuration slow down our LAN?

A: Not really,...the concept of router (depending on quality of it) is to take care of that! Router-Switch combo would be the best way to "utilize" your traffic but that is another story

As far as accessing you machine is concerned....double check:

-under "Web Companion Configuration" that TPC/IP port used is 80

-the firewall/router has opened/allowed access to the machine_server (eg. 192.168.0.50:80)

-make sure your machine_server has the static IP (FULLY configured TCP/IP)

-above all...that you actually have purchased a static IP at you bussiness location and that your ISP does Not have port 80 blocked on that IP u purchased from them

....and the saga continues

[Leb i Sol]

also...

File-->Access Priviledges--->Passwords....

this is especially important if you are using Instant Web Publishing and File Maker Access Priviledges (under Web Companion Configuration)

good luck

[JonLuc]

Great, thanks, I checked all that .... I found that 4.0v1 has a different web plug-in from 4.0v2, so I installed that patch. I hope this was a bug in v1 that was fixed in v2. I can't see what else it could be at this point. So far so good, the databases are stable (at least more so than before).

[JonLuc]

The answer seems to be the patch to go from 4.0v1 to 4.0v2. The databases have not dropped since this. Thanks for the info and tips, it was helpfull none the less.