5.0/5.5 cross platform questions

[tcano]

I'm going to run this question on this board, b/c nobody's answered yet... thought I'd try my luck here.

We have a very small office (under 10 people), and have been using FMP as long as I can remember. We recently upgraded to 5 (right before 5.5 was released, go figure). Since we don't have an extra Mac lying around, the office manager hosts. Needless to say, the performance is less than stellar- lots of crashes, speed of host computer is horrible, etc. It finally occurred to me (after reading it in the FMP 5 manual) that we could use the never-touched Gateway PC to play host. I don't have the software for this yet- I'm still trying to convince my boss that this is our best bet. So here are my questions (sorry for the long intro)

1. Will there be a problem using a PC with 5.5 to host 7 Macs with 5.0? We can't afford to upgrade all the Macs, nor can we afford Server. If that's the only option for using the Gateway as host, can someone give me another suggestion?

2. About the backup feature... is there a way to do this without shutting down the dbase? I just don't know a lot about how the backup works (we don't use the auto backup right now- we just bring down the file, back it up, and restart). Any thoughts?

Thanks for any suggestions. I'd hate to waste $250 (not to mention look like an idiot!).

T

[DykstrL]

The reason no one replied to your thread is: you have eliminated the only option ("nor can we afford Server. If that's the only option for using the Gateway as host, can someone give me another suggestion?

")to your problems ("the performance is less than stellar- lots of crashes, speed of host computer is horrible, etc. ").

The Gateway machine would be a good candidate for a FileMaker Server, which would resolve the speed issue. If your boss is concerned about employee productivity, he'll get off the dime and pay for the server software. Run Windows NT 4.0 Workstation with Service Pack 6. This will also allow regular back ups without having to close the hosted files - AND the access speed will be much improved.

It's either that, or live with "less than stellar speeds".

[tcano]

Hi-

Thanks for your answer! There's no way we can afford Server, and with an office of this size, I don't see why we should need to. Much larger offices were able to function happily without Server for years. Why not now? If FileMaker Pro is designed to allow you to host a database from one system to several others, it should be able to perform this function without a thousand-dollar piece of software. If it is NOT designed for this purpose, then it shouldn't be billed as such. I'm sorry, but that stinks!

We're going to go ahead and use FMPro 5.5 on the Gateway. Like I said, half the problem is that the host computer is in constant use. If nothing else, at least it will free up the office manager's system a little bit.

Thanks again!

[Moon]

My two cents worth:

Filemaker supports up to 25 guests on a shared file but makes no claims to performance. Performance degrades with each connected user and in my experience any more than five connected really bogs down your network. Setting up a host computer that is not used for anything else is a good first step, but you are missing the boat not getting FM Server. It will pay for itself in productivity not lost, as well as easing your backup to a no-brainer. FileMaker provides a good list of things to improve performance and if you want to improve it, heed their advice.

[ August 16, 2001: Message edited by: Moon Mullins ]

[yafreax]

although the server deal is your Numero Uno problemo, no one has answered your other question so i will. . .

I have not yet experienced any problems going between 5.5 and 5.0 either direction . . .

Simple as that. . .

As for you not being able to afford a server. . . we have one computer with 5.0 that is accessed by probably 3 or 4 other 5.0's remotely at a time. .. no server, and we don't have problems. . . we do have problems when all 3 or 4 are accessing and a few people are accessing from the web as well, but even those problems are limited. . .

We also have a 4.0 machine that is accessed by roughly 7 or 8 computers at all times during the day and it NEVER crashes. . .

BUT all this to say that if the files are setup carefully and the network is set up optimally, then you MIGHT be okay. i'm not suggesting that you shouldn't get server. . . by all means it's the best option, but if you really really can't get server, just troubleshoot troubleshoot troubleshoot. . .

Jeremy

[MannyRSilva]

You'd be surprised to see very good performance just by finding a used PowerMac 6100 with a decent amount of RAM, and using that as the Server for your small office. You don't necessarily always needs the biggest, baddest server machine around! Try it.

[LiveOak]

The largest benefit to be gained is to use a dedicated machine (even without FM Server version) as a server. Your speed and stability problems are mostly the result of the host machine running other applications. Whey FM is in the background, it REALLY slows down. Anytime your host crashes their machine, there goes everyone else. Bet the host machine is web browsing also. Gee, the most stable applications on the planet are web browsers!!!

As to the backup, your best option is to quit FM as part of a Eneryg Saver scheduled shutdown and run a script with "Save a Copy as" script steps to perform the backup. You will have to make sure that all client machines are logged off to have this succeed. A normal copy of FM can't log clients off, another advantage of server.

Don't complain about cost of server. MOST database applications don't offer peer-to-peer hosting, you must use their server. Price out a 4D or Oracle system some time (or write a few VB scripts for Abcess...er Access).

-bd