FM 7 Server Advanced Setup

[DanBrill]

Maybe this belongs in the hardware section, but we're all one big happy family, right?

I'm just setting up to serve web pages driven by a FM 7 database. I want to do custom web publishing so I'll be going with FM7 Server Advanced. I haven't bought any hardware or software, so now is the time to find out what I don't know.

From what I've read I was thinking that I'd need 2 new boxes -- one running Win Server 2003 Standard that acts as the web server (IIS), and a second one running Win Server 2003 and FM7SA.

But as I look at the file maker site I see the following:

* Also consider using this set of requirements if you plan to install the Web Publishing Engine and FileMaker Server 7on the same computer.

seen at: http://www.filemaker.com/products/fmsa_requirements.html

So does this mean that I can get away with one box that acts as both the web server and the FileMaker server? I don't think I'll be getting a huge number of hits, so I'm not too concerned about speed.

Also, the limit of 100 connections -- does that apply to instant web publishing only, or is that the limit for custom web publishing too? Is it 100 simultaneous connections, or 100 within a 12 hour period, or what?

Thanks,

Dan

[Ender]

From what I understand about Server Advanced, you can do everything with one box, or you can split the duties onto up to three computers. Splitting duties is mainly if you have a large portion of your web site that does not interact with the databases, if you want to balance the load so that one machine isn't doing too much, or if you want to add a firewall between the web site and the databases.

You should read this tech brief for more:

http://www.filemaker.com/downloads/pdf/techbrief_fm7_web_publishing.pdf

[DanBrill]

Thanks!

Dan

[MisterK]

I'm considering moving from Server 5.5 to 7, and have read the tech note as referenced.

Unfortunately, it doesn't answer DanBrill's question:

"Also, the limit of 100 connections -- does that apply to instant web publishing only, or is that the limit for custom web publishing too? Is it 100 simultaneous connections, or 100 within a 12 hour period, or what?"

Anyone know about this?

[Ender]

Server 7 Advanced allows 100 concurrent web users.

[MisterK]

Thanks for the reply Ender.

But, I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around 100 concurrent web users. This just doesn't seem like many. Does it mean, say, 100 concurrent requests, like 100 people at the same time searching a catalog, And does Filemaker Advanced then "instantly" release their IP as a "user" so that other users might do searches. This scenario seems to allow for possibly thousands of visitors to my web site to be browsing... as long as no more than 100 happen to click search/submit at approximatelly the exact same time.

On the other hand, if FM somehow detects that 100 users are still browsing the site, though they're not actively interactly with FM, then 100 concurrent users seems "very" low.

For my application, at it's peak a few days before my event, I'd probably have 1000 users at any one time. www.kublacon.com

Thanks for any info.

[DanBrill]

Thanks for clarifying my question, Mr. K. This is what I'm trying to wrap my head around. Since browsing an html page doesn't establish any kind of session, then what the heck is a concurrent user? I could see how they could limit this for IWP, but for CWP?

I don't think I'll have as much traffic as you do, so this is not a huge deal for me. But I'd like to know the answer. Well, the product is ordered, so I should know what it really means in a little while. I'll let you know.

Thanks,

Dan

[MisterK]

DanBrill... I've been on the phone with one of their managers in pre-sales. Hi "finally" understands the question... and the implications of the answer to the question.

He's going to take a couple days to check with people more involved in Server Advanced and then get back to me.

Just to let you know.

[hayesk]

I don't think it means simultaneous IPs. Technically, FM Unlimited 6 supported one simultaneous user. I think it means active logins to the database. If your clients are only doing one-time searches, then yes, they probably can login,search, logout with one request.

[MisterK]

Hi Hayesk,

Just to clarify my question... the question of 100 users isn't for those who might login... and eventually log out. This is to clarify how many web surfers who are interacting with my FM heavy website FM7 Advanced could support. (No logins... just casual searches.)

Here's a response I received from a very helpful tech person. He took a couple of days to talk to the FM7 Advanced trainers -- and the guys who are writing the tech manual.

"Essentially it is not 100 users but 100 sessions. As people are looking at

items then the session should be released for another user. I'm still trying

to find out a time frame for the session to be released. . I think this is

better for you. The way I get it. x number of people connect and search.

While they are reading their page, more people can connect and search. The

only issue is 100 people searching at one time."

In a later clarification, he indicated that each session is released in milliseconds.

So... I'm taking all this to mean that, in essence, the number of web browsers could be unlimited, as long as more than 100 people didn't all execute a search within milliseconds of each other.

[bckwheat]

Along this same line . . .

Would you recommend a site that has an unlimited license (server 5.0, 5.0 users) upgrade to server 7 advanced and use the web feature or update the individual licenses. The programs used are strictly server based and no individual programs are running at the users machine. The is a fair amount of new records entered every day (50 to 100, with 60 fields). Very few scripts, a few lookups, and very few relationships.

About 40 users total . . .

Bckwheat

[MisterK]

First, I'll say I'm probably not qualifed to answer this -- most of my experience is using custom web publishing with CDML.

But, with that perspective in mind, I'll offer this regarding using a web based solution:

1) Creating the CDML for custom web publishing takes a substantial investment in time. More so, moving/converting/creating XML solutions will require even more. (At least for me... since I have to learn from the ground up.)

2) FM7 Server Advanced includes some automated XML page creation tools which good speed the process for basic interactive pages.

3) FM7 Server Advanced definitely has improved on the Instant Web publishing interface, and may be adequate for your use. (I would definitely try this out with a basic FM7 copy first... to see if it serves your purpose.)

There's my two cents... good luck!