Hardware requirements for Server 7

[Jarvis]

I have a question about hardware requirements for Server 7.

I would like to host server on an Apple EMac.

They sell a box with a 1.25GHz PowerPC G4.

It has a 40 gig harddrive and 256 mb ram.

I am envisioning as many as ten client stations,

possibly also being made up of EMacs.

I have a cabinetshop and what I am trying to do is get my solution

launched for as small dollars as possible. If it works well I could justify upgrading the server.

Would an Emac be appropriate for a starter server?

Thanks,

Jarvis

PS: As a side note: I have an IMAC in the shop right now that I originally ordered the first day

they were available for sale. It probably has an inch of sawdust in the box but it keeps on computing,

though the CD drive is not working.

[Ender]

The eMac may work if you bump the RAM up to 1GB. But this is not a server class machine and is not ideal. Perhaps there is someone out there who can report on personal experience with such a configuration.

One thing the eMac does not have, is the capacity to add a second internal hard drive, which is often used as a primary backup drive (though an external Firewire drive may work.)

I would say, if your business depends on the databases for everyday operations, then it's not worth skimping. Get a G5.

[Jarvis]

Ender,

Thanks for your input.

I know you are right about not skimping on the server machine.

Most of the client interaction would consist of navigating from layout to layout via button scripts.

A typical use might be at a chop saw where a fellow needs to see a cutlist. He might click a button to signal he is complete with the task but he would not typically key many values in.

What I am looking for is something that can get launched inexpensively and improved on later.

How would you feel about using emacs as client stations?

Jarvis

[mehronx]

Wow, a G5? I was expecting the answer to be that FM Server didn't use many resources and required a mid range machine to run.

Is this the same for FM Server 5?

Also, is the FM Server machine only used for that single purpose?

[Ender]

While the stated minimum requirements for FM Server 7 are not that demanding (500MH G4 with 256MB RAM), some people have reported acceptable performance only after upgrading RAM to 1-2GB. This implies that an eMac may work (or a good G4), but would perform poorly unless RAM is upgraded.

In my opinion, eMacs and iMacs are not good server hardware. They are too limited in expandability and there is the possibility of an analog board failure rendering the machine useless.

FM Server in version 7 is more reliant on hardware than in Server 5. With Server 5, it could run well on a good G3 in OS9 or a decent G4 with OS X.

In both versions, it is strongly recommended that the server be dedicated to hosting filemaker databases. Performance degrades when other services are competing for the computer's resources.

[Fenton]

I'm using said eMac 1.25GHz with 1GB RAM, mostly running FileMaker 7, though I've run Server a little, just for testing, etc.. So, with that little experience, I would think you could give it a go, especially with 10 or less clients. Yes, it's kind of minimal, but economic; and if it seems a little sluggish, then use it for a client and get a G5. So, you might want to leave one of your workers on a slower machine for now, in case you need to switch.

I would definitely go for at least 512MB RAM, probably 1GB. Otherwise you're not really giving it a chance. The client machines could probably get by with 512, if they're not doing graphics or anything else like that (watching movies, playing games while they're working, etc. :-) Often you can get a free 256 bonus on purchase (with cost of installation, which is kind of a joke, takes about a minute).

I would recommend NOT running sawdust through it. On consideration, I wonder if the liquid-cooled G5 would have an advantage there; they still have fans though. And, of course, right after you buy a bunch of G4 eMacs, the'll announce they're bumping them all up to G5's :-| Though I haven't heard even rumors of this being imminent. It would be difficult for Apple to do, and still make a profit on those machines; but it will happen someday.

[Jarvis]

Thanks for the input guys!

I'm still undecided about the hardware for server.

I will be picking this project up again at the beginning of the year and it will depend on how rich I feel at that time.

I will certainly try an eMac for client if only to see how low I can drive the station cost.

(I'm going to need a bunch of them if the idea works.)

As I said before, I am not so concerned about sawdust. I've had Macs around my shop for about 15 years and I've never had one crash yet for dust build up reasons. Printers are another story. For a few years I was having to replace them every six months. I lucked into an EPSON 740 a few years back that seems to be impervious to anything. ( I do, however, suscribe to the the theory that back-up ink supplies breed bad ju-ju for printers.)

[Larry Schroeder]

I support a small work group (probably 1ess that 20 at any one time of 140 employees) and aprox 90 databases on junk windoze pc machines (all less that 512 mb ram and less that 1 ghz).

Even on my FMS 7 Advance with setttings to 40 databases, and 100mb Cache on a 512mb ram 700 mhz pent III trash machine I still have about 220 mb ram free.

I would say go for whatever you want to in order to support 10 users. The only thing I think you really should give creedence is to your back up strategy to 2 physical hard drives and make sure you are all conected with 100bt ethernet by a nice cheep hub or switch.

For the rest of you mac commenters, I was forced off my beloved mac platform by my employer, given junker machines or nothing. But my Filemaker Pro Server 5.5 (hosting 90+ db), FMP 6 Unlimited (serving 6 of those to internal web), and my newest junker machine running Filemaker Server 7 Advanced (serving out 7+ db to fmp 7 and internal web) are doing ok for our small work group even on stinking windoze machines.