FileMaker Pro 6 Server

[Jess Girard]

This is a repeat of a post I placed at the FM6 Pro forum.

I want to have about 10 people use FM Pro 6. We chose FMP6 rather than FMP7 since many of our users are still running Win98.

Is FM Pro Server 7 capable of hosting FM Pro6 users? If not I'm going to need to purchase a copy of FM Pro 6 Server.

I would appreciate some guidance if possible. I don't like purchasing expensive outdated software unless there's literally no choice....

Is Filemaker permitting FM Pro 7 Sever to be downgraded to FM Pro 6 Server the way they do with the client software?

[BrentHedden]

I have never tried it, but I would say no. My understanding is that FMServer 7 can only host FM7 files.

With that said, there are some possibilities that I see if you want to run FMServer/Pro 7 -

1) Upgrade the Win98 users to 2000 or XP. I've run 2000 & FM7 on a Pentium 1 machine. You can usually have a much weaker machine than the recommended configuration. The drawback on this is that it's slower than a snail going uphill through mollassas, but it does work.

2) As inexpensive as desktops are nowadays, buy new computers. My company just bought me a Dell P4 2.8GHz with 512M memory (no monitor) for $500. You can get them even cheaper, I just happened to get a "mid-grade" one.

3) If the previous ideas aren't good, I know some software distributors will sell you FM7, and provide FM6 as part of the package (at a very reasonable price). That way, you have both versions. You can run 6 for the moment being, and easily upgrade to 7 when you can. Some of our newer clients have done this option.

[QuinTech]

I'm with Brent on recommendation #1. It will cost more up front, but you'll be happy you got rid of those 98 machines. Rather than downgrading your server software to the lowest common denominator, upgrade everybody to a faster and more stable OS.

FMS 7 is definitely NOT capable of hosting .fp5 files, so that option is right out.

Just my ,

Jerry

[QuinTech]

Oh, also: PLEASE do not double-post, even in different areas of the site.

[Jess Girard]

Thanks for the various thoughts.

As for putting our staff on WinXP rather than Win98, unfortunately we're still running several DOS applications which are very grumpy when running on WinXP and do not want to print. Our existing office database which takes care of order entry, invoicing, and several related functions is a DOS application. So either everyone needs two desktop machines during the transition, or we all run FileMaker Pro 6 until everyone and every application has been migrated. I think the only rational path for us now is to purchase FM Pro 6 Server.

BTW, apologies about double-posting. I didn't notice the FM Server forum until after I'd already posted the question in the FM Pro 6 forum. I'll be more careful about that henceforth.

[QuinTech]

Jess, check your email. I may be able to help you with that DOS issue, but i don't want to clutter the forum with off-topic information. I just hate to see you hold on to an outdated OS for one program.

J

[NYPoke]

Not sure about the Costs involved, but another possibility is to run FM 7 Server - with a web interface.

Or, you could possibly run a Terminal Server (or something similar).

Either way, you take '98 out of the equation. With only 10 users, I am not sure how cost effective these options are.