Fine tuning the Server

[alloyd]

We currently run Filemaker server 5.5v1 under OS 9.1. Running 80 files and on average 20 guests. Any thoughts about what makes for the most reliable configuration. The Server has crashed a number of times recently (following a rise in the number of files and guests). Is OS 9.2 a better option?

[RodinBangkok]

alloyd

I would recommend updating to 5.5v2, and use 9.2.2, with this combo we have run server on several different machines over the years without any hassles. If when you upgrade run Norton and start with the recommended settings for server. Make sure you back everything up before making changes!

[LiveOak]

I would update the OS, I'm not sure FM 5 is a factor. Turn off all possible extensions. If you are not already doing so, make sure the machine is clean with Norton Utilities. Make sure Norton Disklight and FileSaver are OFF. Norton should be Version 6. Versions before version 5 will cause problems. Don't run any other applications on this machine. The biggest thing is MAKE SURE FILE SHARING IS OFF! Did I say that loud enough. This is the NUMBER ONE cause of FM Server instability.

For performance improvements, run a RAM disk (with a UPS). For this use Clarkwook Software RAMBunctious and Peek-a-Boo. Peek-a-Boo allows you to specify the priority of applications and prevents slowdown when the Finder is clicked into the foreground. We have run this configuration on four Mac Cube server in the same facility for three years with very good stability.

-bd

[Pupiweb]

Take a look at the white paper FMI released on FM Server best practices:

http://www.filemaker.com/downloads/pdf/fms_best_practices.pdf

[paulage77]

I have found OS X to be very stable. OS 9 crashed constantly on us, after switching to OS X we have never crashed. Although there are many other problems with switching to X. So, we get rid of one problem, crashing, and inherit all of OS X quirkiness.

My advice is that if crashing is completely unacceptable (as was our case) and the advice already given doesn't stop it, then swtich to FM 5.5 on OS X, but be prepared to meet with an entirely new interface and schedule some time to work on developing all new back-up routines. You do back up, right

[alloyd]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I will kook into some of them. Others I am already doing. YES FILE SHARING IS SWITCHED OFF! And yes I do back up -once a day for everything and a few times a day for certain files at peak times in the year. The backup folder is then backed up again using retrospect remote. The most disagreement seems to be between using OS 9 or OS X. I like the idea of a RAM disk option but worry about the data loss in the event of a crash. I am considering load sharing with two servers.

Thanks again for all your ideas.

[cscott]

What is the optimal RAM allocation to use with FM Server on OS 9? 32MB? or as much as possible? I have heard conflicting stories that one should use either the minimum recommendation or to allocate as much free memory as possible (up to 800MB if your computer has 1GB of RAM).

[Kurt Knippel]

FMS in OS9 should not be given more than 40MB, any more just degrades performance as the machine has to spend more and more time just managing all that RAM. Filemaker is disk based and thus only needs a little bit of RAM.

However, if you do have 1GB of RAM, I would suggest running your database out of a RAM Disk. We do this on 4 of our 5 Filemaker Server and the performance gains were awesome. We use RAMBunctious software to provide the persistant RAM disk. Install Filemaker Server and all the database directly into the RAM disk, then make sure to backup to a network drive regularly (we do 3x per day each server).