Filemaker 5.5 Server on Windows Server 2000

[new to this]

I work for an organization that is trying to rid itself of Macs...we have been working on a solution to house our numerous databases and web pages. We were hoping to house databases on a Mac running Server 5, and our web pages on a Mac running Unlimited. Other sections of our organization are utilizing this type of solution VERY successfully...however, since we are no longer able to get Macs, we are starting from square one attempting to do the same thing with Windows. Right now the boxes are running Windows Server 2000 and we are having LOTS of trouble loading Filemaker Server...any advice would be welcome!!!

[Will]

"Right now the boxes are running Windows Server 2000 and we are having LOTS of trouble loading Filemaker Server"

Can you provide specific details?

[new to this]

yes....when we loaded the filemaker server and remote plug in, we kept getting a DOS "box" that would disappear in a matter of seconds. When we attempted to access the databases from both the box and remotely, we could see the databases, but we could not open them. Also, we could find no area containing administrative tools (security, passwords etc)...the problem is that the knowledge base around here is for MAC, and it would seem that Windows is MUCH different...

[Jana]

It's unclear what the details of your situation are and you could have other issues with installation etc, but since we just installed the same setup, here a couple of shot-in-the-dark-maybe-too-obvious-or-useless suggestions from what I just went through.

Re: Administrative Tools: In the Start menu, under Program Files we have FileMaker Server Console which houses the properties for guests, database hosting, server monitoring, etc. under FileMaker Server window.

The files we originally placed on the server did not have extensions on them. We didn't need them sharing them on our Mac network. I was unable to access them from the Server until I added .fp5 extension to the file names.

Under the C/: drive in the Programs/FileMaker/FileMaker5.5 I had to select the folder holding the files and right click for Properties and under the tab for Sharing, click the Share This Folder button.

Also I had one file on the server that would'nt show and I realized it was set for Multi-user (hidden) sharing.

Good Luck!

[laker_42]

If I remember right, you do not want to enable any sharing on the FM Server. From the FM Server Best Practices: File sharing is the ability to access files on a remote network device. What FM Server does is not file sharing; it is data sharing. FIle sharing uses a good deal of I/O resources, the same the FM Server is reliant upon. Therefore, any type of file sharing will reduce performance of the FM Server. Marking the database files available via file sharing is not only a performance issue but a security issue. IF there is a way for someone to get access to the physical FM Files, then there is the possiblity for a security breach.

When you installed it, did it say it completed successfully?

John

[Wim Decorte]

John is right: do not *ever* enable Windows OS sharing on the folders containing your fm files! It is the #1 cause for corrupted files.

Installing FMS on Windows is usually extermely simple. Any problems are reported in the event logs, so that's your first source for info on what's going wrong. Have a look there and report back what's going on. Much like OSX, fms is one service that on startup will host all files in the FMS folder and folders one level down. Any and all errors will show up in the Application event log.

HTH

Wim

[Marlowe]

When you did the install did you select auto or manual start up for the server sofware when the computer starts up?

If you set it to manual then you will have to go into the FMP Server Console and go to "Services(local), expand the tree and from the window on the right find FM Server, click on it to highlight it and then go to the Action menu on the main menu and select "Start". This will start the server and open all files that are placed in its directory. This is also a quick way to see it the server software is running (if you do not know your way around windows), because if it is running then the option available will be "Stop."

Is TCP/IP set up as the protocol on all machines?

Have you set up the software for number of users, hosted files, etc, etc.?

[Tony Adkins]

Ran FMPRO Srvr 5.5 on a Dell Server, running W2K Server. it worked great for 2 1/2 years. super stable. sorry to hear you guys are having trouble. We just migrated to FMSvr7 on W2003 svr and the admin. console drops off after 4 days or so of running. have to reload the s/w to get it back. (yah, that's productive) Works fine on the mac platform, G4 10.3.2 Svr7. Will cont. to fuss with it until I find the problem.