Configuration for Filemaker 7 Server Advanced

[RoadrunnerRay]

I am a bit confused on configuring the subject software.

I am currently using Filemaker Pro Unlimited 6.0 to serve my databases and CDML on a Apple G4 running Mac OSX (ver 10.3) and also using a Apple G4 running Mac OSX "Server" (ver 10.3) to serve our web site pages.

We have purchased a new Apple G5 to host our databases under Filemaker 7.0 Server Advanced. I would like to maintain the same configuration described above. I have loaded Filemaker Server 7 on the new Apple G5 and tested one of our converted databases on it over the LAN. All works fine.

I am now ready to load the "Web Publishing Engine" of Filemaker Server 7 Advanced on top of Filemaker Server 7 on the new Apple G5. Do I also need to install the "Web Server Module and Administration Module" on the Apple G4 running OSX "Server" (ver 10.3) that currently serves our web pages? Any thoughts will be much appreciated..... Ray

[Barbecue]

You actually have a few options here. You can host just the database on one server, and the web publishing agent and web server on the second server. That would probably be closest to your current configuration. But you also have the option of putting the web publishing agent on the same server as the database, or even using a third machine for the web publishing agent. Which is best depends on your budget, your traffic, the kind of content you're hosting, and your security requirements.

You might want to read this PDF file.

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

[RoadrunnerRay]

Hi Barbeque, many thanks for your response. I have printed out this document at the office recently and will read it when I return on Monday.

The OSX Server that serves up our web site, links to the CDML pages on the database server (running Filemaker Pro 6.0 Unlimited). Can I use Filemaker Server 7 Advanced to serve up all of the web pages for our site including those that are not converted CDML pages? Would this be a better solution than having the current web server that links to the database server with the CDML pages? I like the idea of having the database on one computer and the web pages on another.

We are a university department that provides our faculty with seminars and workshops to hone their skills. We have a registration database among others that provides them with the ability to register online for these events.

www.teaching.nmsu.edu

Any thoughts would be appreciated........ Ray

=============================================

[Barbecue]

FM Server Advanced actually uses a radically different approach to web publishing.

To use web publishing Server Advanced, you need three pieces: the database itself, the XML-based web publishing agent, and a separate web server that's not part of the package, Apache for Mac servers, or (shudder) MS IIS for Windows servers. Apache communicates with the FM Web Publishing via a standard Apache module, similar to mod_php or mod_perl. A similar process works for IIS.

I don't know if they support Apache on Windows or not.

Basically, you're going to be using a separate web server anyway, so there's no reason why you couldn't consolidate all the pages to that server, as long as it can handle the traffic.

Since you already have two servers, you might as well use them both. If performance is top priority, put the database on its own server, and put the web publishing wizard on the same server as Apache. If you're more concerned about security, then you might want to put the web publishing engine on the same server as the database, which would slow performance, but allow better isolation from the internet.

[RoadrunnerRay]

Thanks again Barbeque, I am not concerned as much about security as performance. Our access volume is light to moderate.

If I put the Web Pulishing Engine on the current web server (Apache), will the XML/XLST pages reside in a different directory/folder than all of the other pages? Will there be any conflict with the Apache process. I am a little gun-shy of doing this and finding out that I have to rebuild the the Mac web server from scratch........ Any thoughts will be much appreciated...... Ray

[RoadrunnerRay]

Barbeque, just started to read the "How to Benefit From Powerful New Web Publishing Capabilities" and it is answering many questions I had, thanks again for your assistance........

[Barbecue]

Glad I was able to help!