FMSA Win 2003 not working with Apache

[WestCoaster]

Hi there,

I have just been trying to set up FMSA 8 on a Windows 2003 server using Apache. When trying to open http://localhost/fmi/config I get "Service temporarily unavailable" with an 503 HTTP error.

I can't (and don't want to) set up FMSA on this machine using IIS because the server is a virtual private server running at a reseller's location with multiple virtual hosts installed by default with IIS. It took me quite a few hours to get the installing routine of FMSA start running by twirking several virtual directories of IIS.

I set up Apache according to FMWebSchool's step by step howto.

The FM Web connector error log (web_server_module_log.txt) says:

"[Tue May 01 15:45:16 2007][13744:25272] [error] jk_ajp_common.c (1942) (config) Connecting to tomcat failed. Tomcat is probably not started or is listening on the wrong port"

In the Apache error log no entry appears. The Apache error log says:

"127.0.0.1 - - [01/May/2007:16:12:25 +0200] "GET /fmi/config/ HTTP/1.1" 503 323"

Apache and FileMaker Server itself run fine. It appears to me that I am only a few mouse clicks away from hitting the target.

Can anyone help me out?

Thanks in advance.

Thomas

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Apache is not the supported web server for Windows and FIleMaker Server Advanced. Check the Server Admin Guide that ships with the product for details.

Steven

[WestCoaster]

Steven,

thanks for your reply. I know that Apache is not the supported Web Server for Windows 2003 but aren't the forbidden things the ones that attract us most? ;-)

Seriously: There is no reason why Web Server Connector should not be working with Apache on a Windows 2003 server. There are quite a few setups that I know of where it is done that way due to security issues connected with IIS.

FMWebschool has posted an excellent step by step howto in this forum describing how to set up Web Server Connector with Apache on a Windows Server.

However it seems with my setup that Tomcat for some reason is not working or not getting started.

Maybe anyone has experience as to what might have gone wrong in this case?

Nice greetings from Germany

Thomas

[Genx]

Hey Thomas,

As Steven says its not supported... and i think its against his morals to recommend resources for anything that's not supported.

As FMI would say:

Apache 2.0 and FMWPE is not a tested configuration. FileMaker International will not be held liable if a nuclear explosion, or other such event, occurs if your web server crashes as a result of an untested configuration.

Anywho, at your own risk, here's a tutorial:

http://fmwebschool.com/blog/category/filemaker/

P.S. Steven writes a lot of FMI's configuration etc. papers so although he's a bit biased, you may want to take heed to most of what he says. I never experiment with client servers, but will do so with my own quite happily.

Edited May 4, 2007 by Guest

[WestCoaster]

Hi,

thanks a lot for pointing me to the tutorial. In fact that's the very tutorial that I think I have been following in detail when setting up the server. I cross checked all of the files that needed modification and everything seems to be ok so far.

I guess the problem is that Tomcat for some reason is in use by another Windows service (there is a remote web based administration service named plesk present on that virtual private server) blocking Web Server Connector from using it.

If someone could point me to a direction where I can get more detailed logs concerning those services I'd be happy to post anything that might help in tracking the problem.

Best regards,

Thomas

[Genx]

Hmmm, well having personally not tried it yet, go to their forum and ask them www.fmwebschool.com/frm

[WestCoaster]

I didn't notice they have a forum too. I'll post my question there as well and keep you updated.

Thanks,

Thomas

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Try Apache 1.3. That's the supported version.

Steven

[WestCoaster]

Thanks for the suggestion but I rather stick with Apache 2.x and try to find a way to track down what causes the missing link to Tomcat. That way (if I succeed) I can be sure to understand a little bit more what's going on behind the scenes.

Regards

Thomas