FM Server 5.5

[[email protected]]

Hi,

Can anyone shed some light on why Filemaker Server 5.5 would be shutting down (as if Stop Server' had been clicked) and deleting folders containing Filemaker files!!!

I know it sounds like a virus, faulty files, etc. I (and Filemaker) have tried everything: the latest Norton AV, Disk First Aid, Hardware Test CD, Norton Utilities, replacing files with 3 month old backups, reformatting every disk on network, isolating the network and then reintroducing machines individually, installing only Filemaker clients on every machine, etc., etc., etc....

This has been going on for three months and as helpful as they've been, Filemaker seem unable to commit themselves to taking the files and looking at them under a microscope, since they say that Filemaker does not have this kind of power. Well something is causing the problem and I was wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar?

This is a mission critical system and users are understandably frustrated at our inability to isolate the fault.

ANY feedback much appreciated.

Thanks,

Sean

[Kurt Knippel]

FM Server in an of iteself DOES NOT have the ability to accomplish anything even remotely like this.

What other software is installed on the server?

Is file sharing enabled on the server?

Are the files stored in a location where any user has access to them?

[Ricardo]

Do you have any Anti-virus software which is installed on the FM Server?

If so is it auto protect on?

We had a similar problem with our FM Server crahing and it seemed to be with the anti-virus software when we de-activated the auto protect the problem went away.

I know you've probably looked at these points but:

Try testing FM Server 5.5 on another computer which has Network access.

How much HD space is there on your current FM Server?

How many users have you specified which can log on to the server simultaneously? - check FM server 5.5. prefs.

what memory have you specified to the server?

If on a Mac try creating a basic extensions set just for FM Server 5.5.

re-install a new NIC.

Hope this helps!

Ricardo.

[[email protected]]

I am using a base installation of OS10.1, without filesharing, and no users are able to access the files except using 'Open Remote...' (which I perform automatically via a launch script). The problem also occurs under OS8.6, OS9.1, OS 9.2, OS9.2.1 and using a G4 867, G4 733, iMac 333, Powerbook G4 400. These have all had a typical install, except my Powerbook.

Clients only have FMP 5.5 installed on their machines and again I have used a typical installation of OS 8.6 or OS9.2

I'm quite prepared to believe that FMP does not have the power to perform this operation, the problem is that the ONLY element that has remained consistent throughtout my 'nightmare' is the files themselves.

I have Norton Personal Firewall active with total denial of all services on the only machine which has a modem to the outside world. It is a 'fax machine' only, and there have been no hacks reported by the log.

Your opinion is obviously well respected here and I would very much appreciate your input.

Regards,

Sean

[[email protected]]

Thanks Ricardo,

I just got notification of your response having replied to CaptKurt above.

I have tried all of these things in various ways, on various machines and there seems to be no difference. As a rule I do not use AV protection on my servers, since there are known to be potential problems, however, for a period of two weeks I thought well what difference can it make since my problems are so bad and left Norton AV 7.0 (with latest updates) ON. This made no difference and reported no virussess, or virus-like activity!

As you will see from my post above I'm a desparate man!!!

Thank you for your response.

Regards,

Sean

[ March 06, 2002, 03:19 AM: Message edited by: S Eldridge ]

[Ricardo]

When you initialsied the Fm Server Hard Disk did you perform a Low Level format? - worth a try!

Have you already tried running Fm Server on another machine?

What is the usage window displaying in FM Server 5.5?

I would try if you already haven't:

Re-move the start up script and log on as 'normal'

Asking Filemaker for another copy of FM Server 5.5.

In Fm pro 5.0/5 what are your Netowork protocol settings?

Try running Fm server 5.0 - if you have it.

If the problem occurs with this then you know it is not the server application.

What version of FM Pro are the DBs created in?

i know this may be trivial stuff but best way to solve it by process of elimination!

Ricardo.

[Ricardo]

When does the Fm Server crash? is it when a script is performed from on of the hosted DBs?

[Ricardo]

might be of some use!

http://www.filemaker.com/downloads/pdf/fms_best_practices.pdf

[[email protected]]

Hi,

I'll try to answer your points in turn.

I've tried running a low-level format, however, not recently since it seemed to make no difference.

The usage window does not show anythin atypical for our server compared to its use previously i.e. 1000-ish Transactions, 90%+ cache hits.

The problem occurs under Appletalk and TCP/IP.

I have spent time opening each of the 45 files on client machines using 'Open Remote...' and there was no difference, except I spent most of my days opening files!!!

I don't have FMServer 5.0 and I have not asked Filemaker for a replacement disc although I have been talking to them extensively.

The files were created under FMP4 and after the upgrade to FMP 5 I had 4 trouble-free weeks before kaboom!!!

Thanks again for your thoughts. I hope I have answered your queries.

Sean

[[email protected]]

thanks for the best practices idea, but I've always adhered to these and I think this is part of the reason that FMP have not told me that it isn't them and I should look at other things. Although they've nearly done as good as now.

As you will not be able to appreciate given I'm a new post-er to this Forum I am highly conversant with FM technology and I've been working around FM products for over 7 years and developing solutions for the past 5 . I've never come across anything like this and everyone I talk to seems utterly stumped!!

For the record the files I use have never been reused after a crash or a recovery. I have always imported data into cloned backups and as you will no doubt appreciate this takes some time with 45 files.

Please keep your thoughts coming I need any lifeline at the moment.

Sean

[ March 06, 2002, 04:01 AM: Message edited by: S Eldridge ]

[Ricardo]

is your Fm Server setup with a static Ip address?

Make sure TCP/IP is active in your TCP Control panel settings - just a thought as this is how ours is set-up.

Try creating a new DB in FM Pro 5.5. and hosting this. if there are no problems then it points in the direction that your current db's may be causing the problem!

What about HD Space and allocated memory?

Bin the Mac and get a PC/Linux box - far superior!!!!!!

[[email protected]]

Hi,

I have only ever required a single, static IP address and the problem occurs under Appletalk as well, unfortunately.

Since I only have a single license for FMServer I cannot run a single file under one server, whilst serving my other files on the normal server. My feeling is that there is something in the files which has caused the problem, but because it is not tangible to a non-FM programmer, it makes no sense.

I've got at least 3Gb free on any of the machines I've tested the problem on and masses of RAM (640Mb) (except the iMac), so I don't think that can be a problem.

Under OS10 it is not necessary to allocate memory, however, this made no difference under OS9.x, when I tried it.

Unfortunately I don't have access to any non-Mac machines, otherwise I would have tried them out, although I have considered purchasing one just to see the result!!

What is odd is that I had no real problems using FMP4.0 and Server 3 and nearly the moment that I upgrade (1 month) I get problems.

I wonder if the structure of FMP5 files is less sound generally or whether it's just the structure of my files!

As you can see I have tried so many different things that I just don't know where to look next, but your input is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Sean

[ March 06, 2002, 04:36 AM: Message edited by: S Eldridge ]

[Ricardo]

The only thing else i can think is that there are problems with the databases which you are hosting.

I don't see a problem with FM Pro 5.5 more that it is from when you have gone from FM Pro 4 to Fm pro 5.5.

In fact in my eyes FM pro 5.5 is more sound than any previous version!

I would definetley look in to this further. make sure that there arn't any problems with some of the scripts which you have wrote/ relationships etc when you wrote it in FM pro 4.

Try creating a new DB from FM Pro 5.5 and hosting it.

Good luck,

Adios, Ricardo.

[[email protected]]

Thank you for your input, Ricardo.