Connecting to FM Server

[Lucky]

Does anyone know why I am losing connection with my FM server v5.5 ?

I have 20 macs on a Ethernet network connecting to a G3 (beige) FM Server 5.5 OS9 hosting 15-20 databases. The other macs connecting to the server range from OS 9 - 10.3.1. The problem I have is that after about 20mins using 10.3.1 it loses conection and gives me a error message of " Communication with the host was interupted and could not be re-established. (-3284)" I connect to FM Server in 10.3.1 by selecting File - Open Remote and selecting DB. The problem happpens to three computers here all running 10.3.1. I did not have this problem in 10.2.8.

Any ideas??

[stanley]

Lucky:

I've been having a very similar problem this past 10 days, FM Server running on a beige G3 (8.6), 25 databases, a dozen users on Macs 9 to 10.3 or Win95 to 2k. Until ten days ago, I'd NEVER seen that error message, but now it comes up all over the place. I'm still trying to find the source of the problem - at first I thought it was a network hardware issue (which yours could be) and reset the switches, etc. Then the problem came up again. I thought maybe it was an IP addressing issue. Checked all that, no dice. Today a user pointed out to me that one particular record causes his machine to show the error message, so tomorrow I'm going to dig into that issue.

Sorry I'm not really answering your question. My original post is directly below yours "FM Server Misbehaving" and you might want to look at some of the responses I've gotten, regarding what the different issues might be. To paraphrase:

1. Check all your networking and see that the connections are good & the IP addressing is okay.

2. Check all your databases and make sure there's no corruption of a file.

3. Cross your fingers and hope it has nothing to do with 10.3

-Stanley

[Vaughan]

First of all, make sure you are using FMS 5.5v4.

Secondly, is FMS bumping off idle guests? This is combination of access privileges in each file, and a preference setting in FMServer Config.

As Stanley suggested, it could also be network dropouts.

[Kundinger]

Hi Lucky,

You're lucky! You got an error code... "-3284". Most of the time, users won't show us an error code. I went to Apple's support site and entered "3284". It came back with a OpenTransport port error... very basic explanation. Are you accessing these files through a FireWall? You may want to check with your ISP. Also, you may want to 'play' with the OS-X FireWall software in 10.3 to see if you need to turn on any ports to allow communication with a FMP server.

I have systems with OS-9/FMP Server 5.x with OS-9.x and OS-X 10.2 workstations... everything appears okay. Haven't updated any workstations to OS-X 10.3... waiting for future updates!

This may warrant a call to Apple tech support!

Good Luck! Let us know what you find.

Bob Kundinger

[email protected]

[stanley]

Bob:

I understood part of what you wrote to Lucky, but not all. As you know, I'm having the same problem - I'm not sure if my client is getting a "-3284" error (didn't bother to write it down, but I'll check tomorrow, when I try to replicate the error) but it sounds the same...

What I'm curious about is that if I'm NOT accessing through a firewall (which my users are not doing), but if one or two clients are accessing from Jaguar, will they (the Jaguar users, not going through a firewall) somehow interfere with the system?

Again (as in my other posts here regarding this problem) I'm guessing, as I'm trying to think outside the box and maybe find what's happening, because I'm not seeing any logic to the problem. Of course, some user might be using a mouse as a foot-pedal and I didn't notice, so... as I wrote to Kurt a minute ago, this turns me into Sam Spade in the Maltese Falcon, just looking for an angle into a completely inexplicable situation...

Beyond that, what are the possible causes of an Open Transport Port Error? You wrote me some pretty good stuff about loopbacks, so you clearly know your stuff... is it possible that this isn't a FileMaker problem, but a network problem (i.e., the ISP, the uplink router, whatever) and maybe I've been looking in the wrong place all along? I look forward to your input.

-Stanley

[stanley]

Wait a second. Vaughan: Why do you say "make sure you are using FMS 5.5v4"? You've got me all kinds of paranoid that I've missed an important update or something, but at the same time, why would FMS work fine one day, and then crap out the next, when a Jaguar user (if my theory is correct) connects?

I know I've got FMS 5.5, but I'm not at the client now - I will be tomorrow morning - so I can't say exactly what version I've got going... no, wait, let me correct that. I have the installer disc, and I know no updates have been done since installation, so...

I've got FM Server 5.5v1 going. What's the difference? Why must I have 5.5v4? Is it that simple?

thanks,

Stanley

[stanley]

P.S. to all those posts. I keep saying "Jaguar" but I really mean "Panther." 10.2 is not a problem (or, at least, hasn't been) but the first 10.3 Panther user seems to create the big mystery...

Sorry for the confusion. I wish Apple would change the genus of each OS release - you know, like 10.4 would be "Hummingbird" and then 10.5 would be "Butterfly", because I've never really know the difference between a Jaguar and a Panther in the first place... but I ramble on.

-Stanley

[RodinBangkok]

Stanley. only to reinforce Vaughan's comment don't second guess why.... update to V4 straight away. If you want some history just search for the threads here on the nightmares some of us have had with FM server 5.5 on OSX. Since V4 my problems have completely dissapeared, not necessarily to say they were the same as yours.

Rod

[Lucky]

Thanks for all the reply's

I think the problem I have is pointing towards Panther because I have had a ibook running 10.2.8 without any disconnecting problems for a few weeks but as soon as I upgrade to 10.3.1 the problems start.

I see you recommend using FMS 5.5v4 is this the case even if the server is running in OS 9 ?

I have checked the pref's for FMS 5.5 and disconnecting idle users is not active.

Peter

[RodinBangkok]

Lucky, FMS 5.5 V4 is only for OSX, for OS9 I used to run FMS 5.5 for months without messing with the server. I'd tend to agree this is most likey a Panther issue. I've noticed some strange behaviour, totally unrelated to your problem on systems running Panther, most just annoyances at this point. You may have to run this by Apple, good luck getting any meaningfull help form FM anymore.

Rod

[dkemme]

I have had some issues upon upgrading to 10.3.1 then losing the capability to log onto a machine running OS 9 for sharing files via the Finder. I read somewhere that the firewall extension on the 10.3.1 machine was causing problems and trashing some .com files in the library might cure it. I'm sorry I can't be of more help because I never pursued it myself. Try MacFixIt.com or the Apple Tech website for filesharing problems with 10.3.1 to an OS 9 machine.