1 database system, multiple servers?

[AndriesV]

Does anyone have experience with having a database system hosted on a server in say Europe and at the same having the set of files hosted in e.g. Asia. Global management of course would like to get global reports out of the combined data.... Is it possible to synchronize data between multiple servers? So all records are available and therefore reportable on both servers.

Two other related questions are: 1st, how does FM treat web-users; if 75 users connect through the web does the server 'see' this as 1 (FM unlimited) user or are really 75 out of the max. possible 250 (Windows) user connections in use?

The 2nd question: does FM have problems with Japanese or Chinese characters? If so we could be running into issues in Asia.

Thank you for any feedback

[LiveOak]

How easy or hard synchronization is depends upon how often the data on the servers changes. If it is changed by users, second to second, synchronization will be a rather large problem.

The major difference between local (or FM to FM) access and web access is that local access is SESSION based and web access is TRANSACTION based. With local access FM keeps session information on each user (a set of globals, found set, sort order, etc.). In web access everything is based upon the transaction. If you want FM to carry status information from one operation to another, you must provide the mechanism. The web connection looks like a single user to FM, there is NO web access directly to FM Server (which is multi-threaded) only to FM Unlimited (which is single threaded). In a FM RAIC (redundant array of inexpensive computers) each copy of FM Unlimited accessing FM Server looks like one user (session). Most organization will not exceed the 250 users in this configuration at $1000 per user for FM Unlimited!

FMI does offer FM in other languages. My guess is total operation is dependent upon the platform and operating system support for the platform you are using. Other forum members may have first hand experience they can offer.

-bd

[Kurt Knippel]

Synchronization is REALLY tricky. No one has really gotten it right. However as long as you do good planning you can accomplish it pretty handily.

Start by defining what you really NEED in terms of synchronization. Does each server actually NEED to have all the data? Can you use other methods (i.e. importing or relationships) to pull the necessary data into a temporary reporting system? How will you control who has access to the data and who has the privledges to change what.

If genuine field level synchronization is necessary look at SyncDek which is a Filemaker based synchronization system.

[AndriesV]

Thanks very much