FMP5 Server - G4 Server Crashes

[lonestar]

A few threads have danced around this, but my situation may be a bit different: I have a brand-new G4/533 (384MB, OS9.1) on which I have set up a likewise new FMP5 server app. Even without any databases running, the server will crash 1-2 times a day as long as the FMP Server app is running. With databases open, the same 1-2 (sometimes more) crashes. I have gone to an OS9.1 base set of extensions; I have tried adding RAM (up to 200; that seemed to help for a while, but now the crashes have returned); I have turned VM off and set Energy Saver to "never;" I have run Norton and TTP, optimized and so on. I have even dragged out the dead chickens and waved 'em over the dang thing. In desperation, I even did a PRAM zap and reinstalled the OS. But no matter what I do, I can't get rid of this crash. I am out of clues on this.

Our network is 100Base-T; client load is low (almost always fewer than 4 users--but that doesn't really matter since the crash occurs even without clients connected). Most FMP Server settings are default.

Is it my imagination, or do I detect a (sniff, sniff) wisp of a consensus (as opposed to a full consensus) that OS9.1 ain't all that happy with FMP Server?

[LiveOak]

We try to stay away from new OS releases on servers (the bleeding edge). On a machine this new, even OS 9.0.4 is probably not an option. Make sure you have run the latest updater for server. The only thing I can suggest is to do a complete reload with a low level format first.

-bd

[Moon]

I have found one thing that has stopped virtually all my crashes in Mac OS 9.x. The culprit is the Recent Servers mechanism in the OS and the filx is simple.

In the Menu Options, set Recent Servers to zero.

In the System folder, trash the "Servers" file. Create an empty SimpleText file and save with the name "Servers" and put it in the System folder.

You lose the so-called convenience of recent servers, but gain a whale of a lot of stability.

Hope this works as well for you as it has for me. I am using OS 9.1 with no glitches ever since I found this solution on the web.

[lonestar]

Hmm... I don't have much choice about the OS version in this case, but the tip about recent servers is something I can try. Will do so and post back with the results. Thanks!

[techtech]

The quickest way is to move the entire Preferences folder to the desktop, then restart. The OS will reinstall the folder and begin writing prefs. Then one by one put the preferences back that you need or better yet, just reenter the SN Number of the server and the ip address of the machine.

[lonestar]

Moon, your tip seems to have been just THE thing! Haven't had a crash since making the change... tomorrow will be Day Five at 100% uptime! Thanks... you were a MAJOR help.