I've got three clients who are using OS X and FileMaker Server 5.5 and who are all experiencing crashes and data loss. Can anyone tell me what the problem is? Help!

the problem is ... it crashes. period.

You may want to search this forum for similar experiences and moan the no-cure-yet situation.

FileMaker, Inc. actually has a warning out that this may happen. So far, I know of no solution (this life preserver is not suitable for use in water, etc.). Silly you to pay $800 for a product that doesn't work as advertised.

Sarcasm aside, I would take the servers back to OS 9.2.2. We are keeping all of our clients on OS 8.6, OS 9.0.4 or OS 9.2.2 until this is solved. We try to keep things like mission critical data off of the "bleeding edge".

-bd

Read Filemaker's article on this topic:

http://www.filemaker.com/ti/108428

Suggestions:

1) Read Filemaker's white paper on "best practices"

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

2) When a server is hosting files never try to open them locally (always use the "hosts" command).

3) Always close files remotely before shutting down the server.

4) Make regular backups and test them to be sure they still function correctly.

5) Do not use the server computer for any other network activity (e.g. web browser, printing, etc.) while the server is running (this is associated with file damage in my experience). Turn off Appletalk and File sharing.

I would also add to check the server log when opening or closing a file to make sure it was successful.

OK, if you run the server on OS 9, can the clients run OSX?

Yes, and it works quite well.