Apache 2 FileMaker module

[flumignan]

I would think that this was asked a million times already, but I can't find a good response.

Our university has a dependency on Apache 2.2 (apache2 for the searchbots) for the purposes of web-based authentication. We are using FM Server 8 Advanced and can't seem to get the mod_jk_fm.so to load. Apache 2 says it's "garbled" and we think that it might be only good to work with Apache 1.3. Which would stink.

The httpd.conf file syntax is fine otherwise, except when that module is called.

Calling FM, they gave me the standard line, "It's only supported on Apache 1.3" but... that can't be, right?

Has anyone any resources for deploying Apache 2.2 with FM Server 8 Advanced?

Edited January 18, 2007 by Guest

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Calling FM, they gave me the standard line, "It's only supported on Apache 1.3" but... that can't be, right?

That is correct. FMS8 Advanced works with Apache 1.3 on OS X, with IIS5 on Windows 2000 Server SP4, and with IIS 6 on Windows Server 2003.

Steven

[flumignan]

Really? Fer reals?

OK, is it just a special FileMaker-ized Apache module that's the fussy part of the equation? Perhaps there's a recompiled mod_jk.so somewhere that will work? Perhaps some FM engineer has cooked up a kinda-not-ready-for-release version?

Plan B: I can have Apache 1.3 do some things, and Apache 2.2 do other things, I just need to figure out how to flow the requests between the two servers-on-one-machine. Different ports, naturally, plus I need to accomodate SSL in the mix.

Oy.

[Steven H. Blackwell]

See:

http://www.filemaker.com/products/fmsa/tech_specs.html

for exact specifications. It's Apache 1.3 for FileMaker Server 8 Advanced.

Steven

[flumignan]

OK, to overcome FileMaker's dependency on Apache 1.3, download the trial version of Tenon's iTools 8.x for Mac OS X. If it works, purchase it; it's $300 for .edu customers.

This will allow you to use Apache 2.2 with FileMaker Server Advanced 8 and the Web Publishing Engine.

See http://www.tenon.com/support/itools8/Single-FMSA8_Apache2.pdf for instructions. It works for our environment quite well.

[Steven H. Blackwell]

A cautionary note. This is not a supported configuration, so carefully watch both your server and your databases while using this.

Steven

[flumignan]

Indeed, good point.

FileMaker, Inc will not support this.

I would depend on Tenon for support for your hosting platform. Their small and independent and very helpful. I've had excellent contact with them. They will help with the Apache 2 and Tomcat parts and getting it to work, even suggesting a thing or two about FMSA.

Call FileMaker for database construction questions and, my advice, don't mention your hosting platform. Their Level-1 Help Desk robots will go deaf, immediately parroting, "FileMaker Server Advanced is certified to work with Apache 1.3" and you'll go nowhere fast with them.

Depend on your own knowledge to decide first whether your "uncertified" hosting platform would have any influence on your particular database problem.