Can't open FMS9-Admin Console

[HazMatt]

OK, brand new system:

Xserve with Leopard Server 10.5.4 installed and fully updated via Software Update.

FileMaker Server 9.0v3 (probably the absolute latest sub-version as I just downloaded it and installed it today).

1) Open 'FMS 9 Start Page' alias (http://localhost:16000/?page=splash) in Safari.

2) Safari promptly downloads something and the FMS9-Admin Console launches.

3) I am prompted to Trust FileMaker, Inc., which I do.

4) Immediately after that, I get an Application Error that says "Unable to launch the application."

I tried quitting the 3 FM Server background applications via Activity Monitor and that seems to break the Safari thing where it won't even download the mystery file that launches the console thing.

If I try the same steps from a remote machine running 10.4.11, I get a little farther, but then I get a Deployment message saying:

"The Database Server is not available. To edit server deployment, please start the Database Server first."

[Cancel] [Restart]

If I choose Restart, I then get the following message:

"Unable to start the database server. Please contact your system administrator for assistance."

I AM the system administrator. I can't tell you how irritated I get when I see messages like that.

Anyway, based on some web searches, I see the FMS9 console thing apparently has lots of problems. What's going on? I miss the old, easier to use FileMaker Server Admin app.

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Be sure that the FM Server java wrapper is running. You may want to stop all FMS daemons via Activity Monitor and then use the Terminal to launch the daemons.

[color:red]

For the various daemons:

sudo launchctl start com.filemaker.fms

sudo launchctl stop com.filemaker.fms

Use of the sudo command requires authentication.

For the Admin Console:

fmsadmin START SERVER

fmsadmin STOP {options}

-f force disconnect of all clients

-m message sends message to clients

-t seconds wait time before disconnect

--grace-time a specified number of seconds (minimum 120) before clients are disconnected. Clients receive a message asking them to disconnect

Example: fmsadmin STOP --grace-time 180

For more information review the FileMaker Server Help PDF document that comes with the product.

HTH

Steven

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Xserve with Leopard Server 10.5.4 installed and fully updated via Software Update.

I should have added that this actually might be part of the problem. We are starting to hear reports that the most recent OS patch (7/31) may be breaking things.

Steven

[HazMatt]

Thanks for the info. I don't need to host databases immediately (I'm doing a slow migration) so I might just wait for an update instead of subjecting myself to the command line.

I'll update this thread if I figure something interesting out (and keep an eye on the other threads going on here).

[Steven H. Blackwell]

so I might just wait for an update instead of subjecting myself to the command line.

Vry welcome. Update from whom of what?

Steven

[HazMatt]

Why, an update from Apple or FileMaker Inc. of course. In the form of a version update.

I suspect you're right that a recent 10.5 Server update broke the FMS 9 console thingy, so since I'm not in a rush to host files, I would rather wait for a patch than deal with the command line. Yes, I can use the Terminal app and have done many times in the past, but I'm primarily interested in trying out the new console and it's capabilities.

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Well, just an FYI, FileMaker, Inc. almsot never issues patches. They may issue an occasional v-rev. However, I know of only one instance where they did that in response to an OS chage on either platform.

Steven

[Steven H. Blackwell]

I should have added that perhaps the next Apple OS update--the 10.5.5 now in Beta--might have some fxi in it. We'll just have to wait to see.

Steven

[NeilC]

I'm willing to give the command line a go. I need to get this running on Leopard and version 8 definitely won't work. I'm not sure that I followed your instructions correctly. I found the 3 processes in "Activity Monitor" that had "fms" in the name and killed them. Then I issued the command:

sudo launchctl start com.filemaker.fms

Then I issued the command:

fmsadmin START SERVER

I still get exactly the same behavior described in the original post. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

[NeilC]

Oh wait! Sorry. I misunderstood. I thought this was a command line way to get the regular interface running, but you were really saying use the command line to administer instead. Don't know how I misread that before.

This will work for me. Thanks.

[HazMatt]

Well, just an FYI, FileMaker, Inc. almsot never issues patches. They may issue an occasional v-rev. However, I know of only one instance where they did that in response to an OS chage on either platform.

Steven

Well, whaddya know... FileMaker released an update a few days ago.

http://www.filemaker.com/support/updaters/fms_9.0.3.326_mac_update.html

I installed this update (a process of replacing two files and running a permission fixer app) and I no longer get the original error messages I've been getting. However, I'm running into a new message for a new thread.

[Vaughan]

"Well, whaddya know... FileMaker released an update a few days ago."

Err, that update was released 18 March 2008 which is a couple of months ago.

In your original post you stated you had "FileMaker Server 9.0v3 (probably the absolute latest sub-version as I just downloaded it and installed it today)" which is probably why nobody suggested you check for updates. ;)

[HazMatt]

Wow... I'm pretty embarrassed now, haha.

I guess I assumed the full download that I originally referred to would have been the latest version but that's obviously not the case. Mud's on my face this time, especially since I can't even read the dates right! Ugh. It's a strange feeling being a full 5 months behind...

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Don't be concerned. BTW, the x326 is neither a v-rev nor a patch. It is simply a substituted file. The problem here is with the Java 6 stuff from Apple.

Steven