Server 8.0v4 services running, but can't connect

[janedoe]

Hi,

We seem to have a semi-frequent occurence with some of our clients that manifests itself a couple of different ways...

1. Clients connected with Pro 8.5v2 lose communication with the host.

2. If already logged in to FileMaker Server Admin, the connection is lost.

3. Trying to login to FileMaker Server Admin fails with "Service is not running, would you like to start it now?" Selecting Yes has no impact.

Both the FileMaker Server 8 and the FileMaker Server 8 Helper are still running.

The only answer seems to be to kills the Services via Task Manager (they don't Stop via Services), and the Outcome of this is usually that some of the files become unstable as they were in use at the time of killing the Service/s.

I think I have tried the command line interface with Server Admin in the past as well, and this has failed, but I haven't tried recently.

Any ideas please?

Thank you,

jd.

[janedoe]

Hi,

Anyone have any clues about what might be causing this one?

Thanks,

jd.

[Steven H. Blackwell]

The files may already be corrupted. Check your network, especially the switch and the cables.

What do the logs tell you is happening?

Steven

[janedoe]

Hi,

The FileMaker Server logs don't report anything unusual, just the usual "user x opened file y", etc.

I can't see anything unusual in the other logs - what should I be looking for?

Have other people experienced this?

jd.

[mr_vodka]

Are they on a wireless network or are they hardwired? If they are on a wireless network sometimes they could be dropped.

[janedoe]

Nope, it's not wireless.

And the problem appears to be the FileMaker Server services themselves as we can't connect to FileMaker Server Admin from the same PC...

Any other ideas ... please?

Thanks,

jd.

[FM_SouthAfrica]

I am using version 9 and often get this, it's the new FMS Admin that's the problem, these days I always launch the FMS manager from my web browser!

Yes that's what it was originally designed to do, the web page launches a small application which is your FMS Manager. The url is http://localhost:1600 and you click on the [color:red]Start Admin Console button.

On each launch this tiny new 'application' is being dowload live (usually to the desktop) and launched. When you quit the FMS Admin it is (should be) automatically deleted.

In your case I would suggest a reinstall of the server and FM Server. . . also have you checked all the permissions on the databases themselves?

[janedoe]

hi,

a reinstall of fm server sounds like a good idea, and one we haven't tried yet.

when you say permissions on the databases - do you mean the privilege sets? these are still in place and working ok. the windows permissions on the files aren't read only or archive.

jd.

[FM_SouthAfrica]

Yes, sometimes when Filemaker databases are damaged and you 'rebuild' them in Filemaker again, the permissions revert back to the current user. They therefore sometimes behave badly, being that you can see them on the network but when you go to edit or create records it tells you do not have permissions. It's usually a good idea to refresh the permission no matter what the properties read . . . although I do not think this would affecting your ability to use the FM Admin on the windows server . . .