[chiefgeek]

I’m no mySQL expert, but we use Navicat to admin our databases and it seems to work quite well.

http://www.navicat.com/

Perhaps it would be able to restore the file.

[chiefgeek]

We’re running two xserves using the APC 3000 and it works just fine. The model you are looking at will be perfect. I’ve installed three of those for customers with G5 Xserves and they work great. Plug in the USB, config in sys pref and go.

We’ve always used Asante switches due to their longtime Mac friendliness. I’ve got a GX5-2400 and an older GX4-224 and we can move image files around the network at 30-50MB / sec. We did have some trouble with the 2400 and our Cisco T1 router not autonegotiating, however. Best part was, neither one was reporting that fact. Asante was very helpful (when pushed) and we resolved it by plugging into the 224.

[chiefgeek]

What kind of network switch do you have and what speed? What kind of router and connection to the internet?

We had a similar problem after installing an Asante 24 port GigE switch that wasn’t getting along well with our Cisco T1 router. Moving the router to another switch that is linked to the main switch resolved our issue, which was a problem with auto-negotiation between the two boxes. It was affecting our throughtput on the intranet as well as the internet.

Have you tried running Helios LanTest? It can be quite useful. Look for unbalanced read / write throughput. You can install it on multiple client machines and run concurrently. You need to make sure you set the Target (cmd-T) to a shared directory to test network throughput.

We have the same Xserve and regularly have 5-8 machines reading and writing large image files on the server. The clients range from Win2k Server and Client to G4s running OS9 to G5s running OSX. We work on image files stored on the server without copying them to the clients and generally see throughput rates in LanTest of 30-50 MB / sec over the network.

HTH

[chiefgeek]

Sounds like its time for a new NIC.

Do the logs tell you anything?

[chiefgeek]

I didn’t read all the specifics of the setup, but based on our experience it should work fine.

We host multiple websites (some in one domain, some in another) on our G4 Xserve. I only host mail for our own site, so I can’t comment on it.

FWIW, Tiger is advertised to handle virtual hosts for mail.

[chiefgeek]

If what you are asking is, “can I change my hostname” the answer is yes.
You can use the “changeip” command from the CLI. Check the manpage for exact syntax, depending on your configuration. Keep the IP addr the same for both entries, just change the hostname.

I had to do this at a client and Apple had me demote the machine to a standalone server (we hadn’t done much, if any, configuration of user accounts) and then promote it again after the change, but I don’t think this is a requirement.

[chiefgeek]

You can go ahead and make up a FQDN as long as you are behind NAT (the server doesn’t have a public IP address). The hostname should be entered as “bigserver.mydomain.com” for things to work correctly.

[chiefgeek]

Installed updates on both of our servers without incident, although something definitely happened with Mail svc. B4 update we had one account whose mail could not be retrieved. After update, it could. Also, client security settings that were working before update required changes. I’m sure this was due in some way to my ham-handed implementation of OD.

[chiefgeek]

Nothing against OSX Server (we run two Xserves), but unless you need more than 10 users concurrently connected, the remote administration GUI or the other services provided by Server, I would stick with the G5 as a “server.”

I have configured several digital photo studios with G5s running as “servers” and workstations simultaneously. I usually use the handy tool, SharePoints, to configure the sharing so that you can set the “magic” Inherit Permissions from Parent setting for AFP shares (I’m sure there is a CLI way to do this, but I’m a GUI kind of guy).

[chiefgeek]

We have two G4 Xserves that exhibit exactly the same issues as described in the other posts. I have changed out RAM modules, run memtest, even reformatted one of the machines to the point of zero-ing the drives, reinstalling from scratch and doing the combo stand-alone 10.3.8 updater. Prior to doing this, the one machine was freezing and rebooting roughly every day.

We purchased the second unit because the first was giving us so much trouble and we couldn’t afford to be down while it was checked out. I took the first one to Apple’s NMA store while still under warranty. They ran diagnostics on it for a day or two and declared it fine as froghair. Brought it back to the lab and reinstalled. Same problems.

One of the machines runs AFP, FTP, Web, Mail and a 4D 6.8.5 Server. We thought it might be 4D, but alas, the other machine, which is running AFP, Web, Mail, SMB, DHCP and is OD Master does exactly the same thing periodically.

Initially, the machines were connected to an older APC SmartUPS, pretty large one, 1500, if I recall. They have always been isolated from direct wall power. At one point, we inadvertently connected way too many things to the same circuit without realizing it. While this *may* have caused voltage drops and/or erratic power levels in the feed to the UPS, I would imagine the UPS should have handled this. (Is this not the idea of a UPS?)

Over a year ago, we installed a fancy, rack-mounted APC with a NIC and sine-wave output, yadda yadda. Both machines are connected to it and configured with the APC CLI software that shuts them down in the event power drops below 10 minutes. Still the same trouble.

Like others, I’ve sifted through the tea leaves in the logs, crash reporter, etc, to no avail. I didn’t purchase the extended care for either machine (and after the techs found nothing wrong on the first one, I don’t really regret the decision). One of my consultants recommended buying a G5 Xserve and fighting with Apple about the other machines. While, in theory, this sounds like a fine idea, I would hold out zero hope for a resolution.

Before OSX and the Xserves, we ran ASIP for around three years and I don’t recall problems anywhere near the scale we are experiencing now. I just applied the 2005-003 update in the hope that it will help. The release notes describe some kind of “race” condition that could occur with AFP service due to some permission problem.

Anybody?????

[chiefgeek]

Looking for same thing here….

[chiefgeek]

Configuring internal DNS with PTR records (fwd/reverse) for the machines you wish to access internally by name is the way we did it at our place (athough I used the Server Admin interface, so I can’t be much help with BIND at the cmd prmt.)

I’m not sure it is 100% necessary, however. I can’t remember if we could access stuff internally using external DN before or after we configured BIND. Something about “loopback” enabled on the router rings a bell in the cavern atop my shoulders.

I think you will want to set up “external” pointers to your ISP DNS servers also, but enter the IP of the internal DNS first in the network pref. Also if you put your “domainname.com” in the Search Domains section, you will only need to type the name of a given machine without the “domainname.com” to access machines internally.

We actually use a shortened domain name internally to help keep things separate from the outside address. (dqi.net vs. deltaquest.net)

[chiefgeek]

Answered my own question. Configured the two machines last night and it works like a champ.

[chiefgeek]

I would figure on a nice long weekend.

Sure, if everything goes well, it might take less time, but when does everything go well. Heck, Retrospect alone could be a day long process as goofy as that software is. Plus, ideally you’d like to test it on a fairly sizable backup and restore.

I haven’t worked with FM server or Now before, but those are each a half day project, minimum.

I’ve found that mornings are never good for setup. You are constantly under the gun to finish before everybody arrives. Set it all up in a test mode first, then go live over a weekend and be available all day Monday if needed.

HTH

[chiefgeek]

Ditto; similar experience, only I recall it requiring the full long name for one account, but maybe I’m dreaming.

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