Web Publishing on FM Server

[gregm1]

Hi, I am trying out web publishing as a solution to the problem of slow performance for our remote users. I can get to the IWP homepage, but when I try a database it won't accept my credentials. I have enabled IWP access in the privilege set.

What else have I missed? Or might a restart of the server be required?

Thanks.

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Is this Apache or IIS?

Steven

[IdealData]

The IWP experience may not be very fulfilling for the remote users as they have already experienced the FM Client and there's a number jumps and hurdles along the way too, for example IWP does not provide printing, nor exporting of data.

Can you host your file(s) remotely on a hosting service? Or possibly give your users a Terminal Services solution.

[gregm1]

Our initial tests looked very promising, using the OS X personal web sharing. Printing could be a problem though, we have scripts that create PDF quotes. Data export is not required.

We run Mac servers here, and would prefer not to have to install Windows, so no terminal services.

How would remote hosting help?

[gregm1]

I'm using the built-in Apache installed with OS X 10.4 client. Not sure of the version just now.

[IdealData]

How would remote hosting help?

Purely for speed, as the hosting service will deliver much higher bandwidth than is available with most broadband services.

[gregm1]

OK, I see what you are saying, but then all users would have to connect to the remote server, correct? How would 50 users all accessing the same FM web server affect performance over a 4MB SDSL link? Plus, I'm not sure my MD would accept that this solution could be as secure as a firewalled LAN server. And we are just about to go for ISO27001, which means this would pose a higher risk for data security. I'd much rather make the access experience my eight remote users a little better over the existing VPN link.

[John May - Point In Space]

If you have a lot of local usage, it doesn't make sense to use a remote hosting service. 50 users over DSL would not perform all that great. What are the specs of the server you are using?

As to why you can't login to IWP, you should verify your databases have the IWP privilege assigned to the user you're attempting with.

- John

[gregm1]

What are the specs of the server you are using?

PowerMac G5 1.8GHz 1.5GB RAM

As to why you can't login to IWP, you should verify your databases have the IWP privilege assigned to the user you're attempting with.

Verified.

[John May - Point In Space]

Up the server to 4GB RAM and see if that helps.

Not sure about the login issue.

- John

[gregm1]

OK, thanks John. I've got a dual processor (not sure if that will help) 2GHz G5 with 4.5GB of RAM not being used, I'll try that.

[John May - Point In Space]

Definitely give it a shot. Installing from scratch should hopefully fix your login problem as well.

- John

[gregm1]

I upgraded the hardware to a dual G5 1.8GHz w/4.5GB of RAM. Also updated to Advanced Server 9.0.3.326. Couldn't do a clean install though.

I still cannot access the web published DBs. I see the initial IWP page, with the DBs listed, but when I try and open one, I get an error stating "database not available".

Any more suggestions?

[John May - Point In Space]

I can't say what the cause of that would be specifically. FileMaker still supports 9, so you could contact them accordingly.

- John