Host files over Network

[mism]

I hope I am not asking a question everyone asks, I've done a search and found some useful info but nothing that answers my specific question. I have also looked at the manual.

I am running Filemaker Server 7.03 on a Mac (panther) and want it to host files that are on another mac, over the network. When I try to enter a path name in the 'additional database folder' field it is rejected 'not a valid path'.

I am using the following format for the path name

filemac:/Volumes/volumename/foldername

Permissions on this folder and contents let anyone do anything

I am logged into the other mac under my normal username which gives me full access.

Two questions then:

Should I even be doing this, is hosting over the network a bad idea (I have 2 databases at 2Mb each, about 7 users)?

How can I make it work if its ok to do?

Thanks in advance for you time and help.

[laker_42]

Is there a reason to keep it on the mac? Ideally I think you would want it on the same machine. Have you tried using the UNC convention, machinenamesharefolder or map a drive (I know it isn't called mapping on a Mac but I can't remember what it is called) to the share folder and refer to that mapped drive. I think either of these would work.

HTH,

John

[Ender]

You should not attempt to connect to a database through file sharing. This can create problems if more than one client works in a database in this manner.

It's not clear why you want the files kept on separate computers. It's probably better to keep them together. If you need two separate hosts, set them both up as hosts, then set your file references using the 'fmnet:/xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/file' protocol.

[mism]

Thanks for your responses.

The actual database files are on a G4 server running 10.1 server, all this machine does is backup to tape and external drive every night, no one actually works from it, no apps other than retrospect run from it. I can't put FM server 7 on it as its only 10.1, we don't really want to have to upgrade it.

Filemaker Pro running on another Mac was hosting these databases, while FM suggests that you don't host accross a network it has never caused a problem. Now that we want six users not five we have bought FM server, I was hoping to set it up in the same way. The system has worked well as the databases get backed up to two different paces every night.

If I really have to have the database files on the same mac that's running FM server I can. I will need to set up retrospect (i.e. learn to do this) so the data is backup up daily. Alternatively I could tell FM server to backup across the network, but the same problem seems to apply.

[Ender]

Put the hosted files on the FileMaker Server computer. For backups, use the scheduled backup feature that's in FileMaker Server to backup to a local 'Backups' folder. Then use Retrospect (or other backup mechanism) to copy the 'Backups' folder to the Mac OS X Server's tape or external drive.