What version do we need

[Corey-Troy]

I currently have fmp v8, but we are looking at using Filemaker on our small network at work.

What version would we need to allow say 5 users to access and share files across the network?

Does the version allow more than one user to open and modify data at the same time?

Do we need Filemaker Server or does Filemaker Pro v8 do this already?

Corey....

[*susan*]

Like so many things Filemaker, it depends. How critical is the database, how much data is being entered daily, is it mostly a place to look up phone numbers, or is the system storing critical sales data?

Give us an idea about your system and its role within the organization, and we can tell you if using a peer-to-peer network will be satisfactory.

*susan*

[Corey-Troy]

We have 5 users.

1 designated PC as a server to store all the files on.

We will possible have several databases ranging from:

Equipment register, Procedure Register and the like.

I would like a console set up that displays all the available databases via buttons that each user could open up, even if another user has it opened, so they can navigate to one of the databases from there.

There may not be many instances where a record in a particular database is being modified at the same time another user is wanting access to do similar, but it would be good to allow the 2nd(or more) user to still access the database for viewing/finding records whilst the other user is modifying a record.

Corey....

[*susan*]

Corey,

You can absolutely have five people connect to a database at the same time without using Filemaker Server. The real question is, is this a good idea for YOUR database. Can you at least dedicate one machine to ONLY serve your database using Filemaker client? Keeping the files on the same machine as your file server is generally a bad idea.

But again, if all people do is look at data, the requirements are lower than if everyone is entering data and adding lots of records.

For example, I have a client adding 80,000 records a day. No way we can do this with a client version of Filemaker on a shared server. A small non-profit that only updates data once a month but views regularly, is able to get by with a dedicated machine running Filemaker Pro.

So your usage really determines how little you can get by with. But regardless, have a backup plan.

Good luck!

*susan*

[Corey-Troy]

Thank you for the reply Susan.

So if i understand correctly, and our needs are no where near 80,000 record levels a day(or a year for that matter) i could simply purchase 4 more Filemaker Pro 8 and i should be fine?

I assumed that the server version was the only way a database could be opened by more than one user at once.

Once our databases are done there there will only be the occasional modification and adding of a record here and there.

The reason of wanting to share the Console (etc) is that some users tend to open up a database or file then go onto another project, leaving it open for the rest of the day on their pc.

If no one else could access the console until they closed it, it would be quite frustrating. Same with some databases as with the Console.

We may in the future also add a database that will be having new records input daily, but only about 1-5 per day.

regards

Corey....

[Vaughan]

To do this database sharing right -- and it *needs* to be done right because this database is going to become *mission critical* for your business -- you need a dedicated server to host the databases, a UPS to keep it up and running, and a way to do backups. An external hard disk might be sufficient, one of those fancy ones with the dual RAID drives would be better protection.

If it's done right you'll be laughing yourself to sleep every night.

Get FileMaker Server. FMS backups-up the live databases as often as you like. Use another backup program (or some kind of OS scripts) to copy these backups to the external hard disk.

The client version of FMP can host the file but it cannot do live backups. Actually FMP client cannot do backups at all, you'll have to work out how to quit the host copy of FMP, copy the files, then start FMP again. You don't want to go there.

FMI frequently offers bundles of 5 or 10 licenses of FMP with a license of FMS for practically nothing extra. Get one if you can.

[mr_vodka]

I totally agree with Vaughn here. The benefits of server outweigh the issues that can come with peer to peer.