Hosting FM databases created in Windows on OS X

[kdubs]

Hi all,

I'm trying to determine whether to use OS X or Windows Server for hosting my databases. (Using FM Server 7 Advanced and custom web publishing)

Does anyone know if FileMaker databases created in Windows can be hosted on OS X - or is there a conversion procedure required?

Thanks in advance..

Cheers

[Claus Lavendt]

Filemaker files is cross platform, wich means that no conversion is required when using the same filemaker version (v. 7)

I am no fan of windows whatsoever, and I have set up 2 Filemaker Server Advanced systems on MacOs X. They works great, and the built-in Apache Webserver is working easily with fmsa.

Mac Os X is famous for its stability and safety, so for me it was no option. I must add a note; if you are planning to use FMSA with Citrix or terminal services, it could be an id

[kdubs]

Thanks Claus that was just the information I wanted to hear! :...perhaps you know the answer to some of my other questions.

I'm not a fan of Windows either...so the OS X option is looking attractive.

We are planning to run FM Server 7 Advanced on 1 or 2 XServe G5 servers to host a site using custom web publishing. My queries are:

1. Has anyone had experience running a similar set up on 1 machine (pref. on a dual G5). I'm trying to work out if it would be fast enough - if not I'd run it via 2 with Apache and the web server module on 1 of the machines. I'm looking at a site with ~ 100-200 users at any one time as a max.

2. Do the XServe G5s support SCSI drives? I'm a bit concerned that they don't seem to....sure SATA is fast but is there anyone in a similar situation who has had no trouble running a FM database on SATA drives with the G5s? (There is no doubt that SCSI is faster.)

3. Can you easily put SATA drives in the G5 hard drive modules? I don't like the idea of having to buy a new drive from Apple set in a module every time a drive dies ($$$).

4. Can you use the FM Server 7 Advanced built in authentication for custom web publishing? I've been presented with mixed responses from both documentation and technical support.

If anyone can help me with these issues I'd be very grateful!!

Cheers

kdubs

[Claus Lavendt]

Hi

First No I have not tried a similar setup. But...

The Xserver does support SCSI vith a PCI card, but SCSI is an old standard and if you really need fast disk access I would prefer the xRAID. Be aware that the optimal setup is a dedicated machine to FMS and a dedicated machine to run the web engine and the Apache server.

If you have 100-200 concurrent FM clients on your server and only a few web clients, you could have it on 1 machine. If you have allso have many web clients, it would be a good idea to have 2 machines.

FMS use a lot of processing power and memory, so this is the first priority. I would choose 1 xServer with 2 or 3 SATA drives and stripe them in a RAID. eg RAID 0 or RAID 1

Make sure to consider your backup routines....

I have run some fileservers in a photographic environment where we had a lot of big files (100-200 MB) moving, opening, editing and such. With a lot of work for the hard drive. After 2 years, this drive died. Then we bought a new one and a RAID solution. Theese hard drives have not died yet, after 5 years !

If you are using the drives only for FM databases, I think that you would not have to be conserned about SCSI or that you have to buy a new drive. Anyway, both a SATA and a SCSI hard drive can die !!

I am not sure what you mean with the built-in authentication, but when you connect to the database either with a fm client, IWP on the web or with cusom web (xslt) you need to be authenticated to do so. This happens with your name and password specified either on a LDAP or within the fm file.

Buttom line...: I would prefer 2 Xservers with dual processor. One of them with 2-3 internal SATA drives configured as RAID 0 and I presume that you allready have a fileserver, from wich I would get the backup files from your new FM server.

Hope any of this make sense...

;-) Claus