One
computer (on your network) to "host" Appointment 1.0 files. ALL Appointment
1.0 files go on this host computer.
Dedicate this computer
to being your host server, ensure that it has an intelligent UPS supporting it, adequate
backup hardware, software, and procedures in place, and do not use it as an everyday
workstation. Ideally, it should not be doing any other tasks as performance will
suffer.
The same communication
protocol, either IPX or TCP/IP, should be selected for FileMaker on each computer
(done in FileMaker/Edit/Preferences).
Once the network
is in place and the computers can 'see' each other on the network, it is possible
to start the Appointment 1.0 program from any of the computers.
The first computer
to start Appointment 1.0 automatically becomes the host of the Appointment 1.0 files,
even if those files don't reside on it. It is necessary to start Appointment 1.0
on the host computer.
You can create an
"Alias" or "Shortcut" on each guest machine's desktop that points
to the "Appt10.FP5" hosted file to quickly launch Appointment 1.0. View
the file being shared by selecting "File/Open..." and selecting the "Host"
button to browse to the hosted file "Appt10.FP5."
Do not, in any way,
rename any of the Appointment 1.0 suite of files, delete or move a file away from
the group. Opening a file in the absence of the rest of the complete group will cause
file corruption!
03 - Networking
a larger Group
FileMaker
Pro Server Software - For even better performance, especially with more than
five or six users, we recommend the purchase of FileMaker Pro Server. This product
is designed to serve as many as 100 users simultaneously. FileMaker Pro Server runs
on the Windows NT and Mac OS platforms only.
Visit FileMaker
Inc.'s web
site at www.filemaker.com to purchase FileMaker Pro Server software, or to demo a
full working copy.
04 - File Sharing
File sharing must
NOT be turned on for the Appointment 1.0 files. The FileMaker Pro database engine
looks after multi-user file sharing. (Enabling file sharing in the Windows or Mac
operating system degrades performance.)
05 - Multi-platform
Networks
You can mix Windows
(95 and up) and Macs (all versions with the 040 chip or later) on the same network.
Any computer will communicate with the Appoint-ment 1.0 files so long as it can "see"
the host computer. For multi-platform networks you must use either TCP/IP or IPX
protocols.
06 - Optimizing
Performance
1. While both fast
servers and fast workstations are to be preferred, and since most of the work occurs
at the workstations, the balance tilts towards making the workstations the more powerful
machines.
2. Use the most
current version of FileMaker Pro, and if you are using the Server it is critical
to upgrade to the very latest version.
3. Allocate RAM
judiciously, both to the Server and to the application. For the application use 8192K
as a starter. This is set via: the "Get Info" box; an AppleScript on the
Mac; or Preferences on the Windows machine.
4. It is important
to dedicate whichever computer is acting as the file server to that function alone:
keep ALL other extraneous applications off this computer.
5. Network topologies
are important, including speed and whether the network uses various switching configurations.
6. Generally, but
not always, TCP/IP will be the faster protocol.
07 - Issues to
Watch Out For
1. Incorrect configuration
of RAM and/or memory cache - usually too much, not too little.
2. Use of the operating
system network capabilities to attempt to access files rather than using the FileMaker
Pro "Hosts" procedure. This includes such things as the Network Neighborhood,
"mapping" volumes, logging onto the server, mounting the server volume
through the Chooser, and running AS or ASIP on the Server.
3. Trying to use
multiple processors.
4. Running other
programs on the server, including: moving screen savers, file sharing, mail server
programs, group calendar software, etc.
5. Trying to run
FileMaker on Novell servers. Installing FMP files on Novell servers and trying to
have multiple users access them.
6. Backing up files
while they are still open - don't. Close the files and then initiate the backup.
7. Trying to install
a single copy of FileMaker on an application server and have multiple users access
it.
8. Never, never,
rename any of the solution files (unless specifically instructed to do so), or open
one of the files away (in another folder or otherwise in isolation) from the rest
of the solution files. Permanent damage to the files will result.
