Server for MAC 9.1/OSX + Win32 clients?

[Mudge]

Currently, the only users of the db are MAC OS 9.1 clients (one box is a new OSX/Classic mode "dual booter"), and it is hosted on one of those boxes.

The plan however is to have a couple PC users jump onto the db after an upgrade to to 6.x, we are I think 4.1/4.2 now, so its a bit of a leap. I know just about nothing about FileMaker and I'm not a MAC guy, I mainly keep the network up and the WinNT4/2k servers running and doing thier thing.

So I need to decide are we going to host this db server on an OSX box for 9.1/OSx/Win32 clients, or should I stick it on a 2k box? So that is the advice I'm looking for. Everyone is on the same subnet, it would not get alot of traffic - probably 8 people at a time max. I am not totally up on *nix either, but my understanding is I will have to get Samba running on the OSX box for the PC clients to be able to access the db, or I will have to get AppleTalk/Filesharing going on the 2k box for the 9.1/OSX clients.

Between the two, ideas on which might be a better choice, ease of administration or other reasoning? Or either or?

Thanks!

[Mudge]

Looks like I've got one vote elsewhere for OSX (mostly because they dont like Microsoft...)

[Guest]

Mudge said: I am not totally up on *nix either, but my understanding is I will have to get Samba running on the OSX box for the PC clients to be able to access the db, or I will have to get AppleTalk/Filesharing going on the 2k box for the 9.1/OSX clients.

Nope. We are running FMP Server 5.5 on OSX with both windows and mac clients. It just works over TCP/IP.

[kenneth2k1]

The only thing I see ppl using Samba for nowdays is for emulating AS/400 apps on Windows

[Mudge]

gandolph said:

Nope. We are running FMP Server 5.5 on OSX with both windows and mac clients. It just works over TCP/IP.

Excellent. Someone filled me in on this on another board also, all I need is 5.5 or better and any TCP/IP and ODBC information, no file sharing needed. Someone had 5.5 running on OS 8.6 serving Win/MAC clients, which makes this much easier.

[BobWeaver]

If you are going to run it on a Mac, you might want to run under OS8.6 or 9. There are reports of data corruption when running on OSX. Apparently FMI has acknowledged the problem but I don't think they have a fix yet. There are comments about it here in the FM Server section if you look at some of the past messages.

[fishma]

At this point, go with the Windows machine. I know I am going to anger some Mac advocates but there are two strikes against the Mac OS. One - With OSX there is the aforementioned stability and corruption issues. File corruption must be avoided at all costs. Two - FMP Server is not a true service on the OS9.2. What you gain in stability, you lose in performance.

Many Mac advocates will tell you that you can use work around techniques and tricks to get both the stability and speed for which you are looking. But the Windows environment provides both right out of the box. Add in your familiarity with the W2K OS and your set. Just because somebody mentions that they don't have the data corruption problems, doesn't mean you won't. It is a well documented problem.

I know that Mac people will come back at me for this. The simple fact is that we are professionals recommending the what is best for our clients business. We as a whole need to put our petty pride aside and make the best recommendations for those clients. If FMP was more stable and had better performance on a Nintendo Game cube, I'd recommend that.

[BobWeaver]

I'm a Mac user, but I agree completely that you should be using the best platform possible in the given situation. We have been using Mac servers because we have an all Mac network and don't want the nuisance of maintaining an odd machine. But in a mixed network I think Windows is a good choice at least until FMI can solve the OSX problem. And yes, I know that many users have been running FMServer on OSX without any problems, but I would rather not take the chance.