How to Setup our Clipper/Harbour multi-user apps over the network (LAN) in the current hardware & software scenario?

[SD]

Dear All:

Can members please guide me how we can manage/setup our Clipper/Harbour multi-user apps over the network (LAN) in the current hardware & software scenario? 

I have a setup of 30-40 users and looking for an alternative to existing Novell netware 5 network setup. The alternative gives an option to have a new computer with latest config. as SERVER in comparison to our old, aging Novell server (PIII) which is a risky affair as far as hardware and Novell OS support is concerned with little support. Since there could always be 20 concurrent users accessing the same dbf files and same modules, the SPEED is a vital factor. In Novell setup things are good enough.

Please note only one application I've so far upgraded to Harbour, and others are still Clipper built.

Since I would like to have a "test run/demo" of it, would prefer suggestions based on my existing infrastructure (hardware & OS: Core 2 Duo, i3 processor, Win XP, Win 7) and open source options. But other (commercial) better options might be mentioned to get an insight to it.

 

[Currently in our Novell netware 5 network setup, the Clipper application EXE(s) are kept in user's pc which runs on Win98, XP, Win7 (local/terminals - novell clients you can say) and the data & index files are kept centrally at one place in the server (novell server). The user connects to the shared drive of the novell server to access the common data & common index files]

I wish like HARBOUR, the great alternative (that too free) to Clipper which adds WINGS & LIFE to our Clipper applications, the discussion in this thread would provide a better alternative to my current setup, and may benefit other members also.

Thanks for keeping patience and going through this query.

With regards,

Swapan Das

[branko]

Linux server+SAMBA

[Massimo Belgrano]

The first choice is wich lan:
Windows Server 20??
a linux server
But require new server with many upgrade ram & cpu
is possible also buy a cloud service like in italy www.cloud.it

2013/4/5 SD <swapan...@gmail.com>

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Massimo Belgrano
Delta Informatica S.r.l. (http://www.deltain.it/mbelgrano) 

[SD]

On Friday, 5 April 2013 20:40:55 UTC+5:30, Massimo Belgrano wrote:

The first choice is wich lan:
Windows Server 20??

Does Clipper applications run with good speed over a Windows server network? My first choice would be anything with my existing setup or anything which can be acquired/used free like Harbour. We don't have Windows Server right now....... 

 

a linux server
But require new server with many upgrade ram & cpu

I've no idea about linux server. Does linux server OS is free without any strings attached? I understand you want to say have a new server, a linux server (with samba?) and the clients/users on the existing pcs with Os like Win 98(could be discarded from use if its necessary), Win XP, Win 7.

is possible also buy a cloud service like in italy www.cloud.it

Though cloud option not feasible due to cost factor (subscription+constant internet availability), bu thanks for this info. as I could update myself on this.
 

[SD]

On Friday, 5 April 2013 20:37:48 UTC+5:30, branko wrote:

Linux server+SAMBA

Thanks Branko for the suggestion. Let others also jump in with their valued suggestions.

[elch]

Hi Swapan,

if you simple whish something new, what to say against ...

... but let tell you that a P-III must not be the end for a classic NW Server.

I set up a 4.11 SFT ~ 4 years ago on 3GHz single core Intel Xeon machines, it

works well since 2 decades, but since them a bit faster. My payment was more

than hardware costs, so it should be ;)

A single NW4/5-server can take up to 4 GB Ram for dirty buffers, gigabit LAN

with (priceless cheap old) INTEL! server NICs, should make not any problem, drivers are there.

Needed NNClient i see [not tested myself] up to newest Windows versions.

Not for production use because there a server should be only a server, but in

my development environment i run such a stone age 4.11 NW Server with VMware

Player V4 'by the way' in a virtual machine. Sure, this is a somehow

difficult, tricky and not a trivial task to get it best in there, but IMHO

sure possible for NW5.

I layed the disk images for it on a SSD, so it full boot up in 30 seconds.

After long long tryouts i was even able to install a teamed pair of virtual

Intel Gigabit NIC - a wonder !

This should run on every modern machine, even independent of underlaying OS.

Generally imho NW will need brutal CPU rate, does not really benefit from

modern cpu technics, so you would have to look mostly for cpu

core speed (and highest performance disk!) - further maybe that the CPU supports like VMplayer this Intel-VTx technic.

The only thing which speaks against to stay a bit longer at NW: Linux clients.

They have a fundamental problem with record locking over IPX protocol. But

if a read careful, you only have windows clients.

And the other thing: you will hardly find remaining experts, who remember and

can help you in case of problems - even i myself never set up NW5. You will have to try it yourself, but the web is full of hints ...

Regards

Rolf

[SD]

Dear Rolf,

Thank you so much for understanding my issue and providing your feedback Its good to see that you given points in favour of Novell Netware Server.

Let me know if our Novell 5 Netware Server OS could be installed in an Intel processor based PC (with latest general config. configuration), and when put into a LAN works without any issues? 

I've used Core 2 Duo PC with 2GB RAM under Windows 7 Professional as Novell Client - there's no issue(s) as such. But Clipper applications runs slow during indexing, processing/accessing dbf files with respect to workstations running XP. But if the same Clipper application when gets converted to Harbour and runs on Windows 7 Novell Client, the issue gets resolved and there's no issue with respect to speed then. So, apparently it looks there's no issue with respect to workstations running under XP or Win 7 with latest config. PC. If the same works at the server end, nothing like that!

Regards,

Swapan

[Francesco Perillo]

I've been running a linux/samba server for years with no problems. Clients are now XP/7 (were also 95/98 in the past).

We now have gigabit lan on server and workstations and everything is really quick.

The only problem is that .dbf files are accessible to users but since 1987 we had no problems... anyway, we may move to netio to get some more speed and hide files from users.

Linux is free, no strings attached. No licenses. There are some "distributions" where you may buy licenses for support, like Red Hat Enterprise but you don't need them.

If your software needs massive data moves over the lan you may need to experiment with alternate lan cards since some on-board cards are not good enough.

--

[SD]

Thank you so much Fperillo for you valuable feedback............

On Sunday, 7 April 2013 14:35:30 UTC+5:30, fperillo wrote:

I've been running a linux/samba server for years with no problems. Clients are now XP/7 (were also 95/98 in the past).

I've  no idea about linux/samba as of now. Branko has also suggested linux/samba as server. There must be linux/samba tools to create valid users and rights at server?!

I assume Linux with samba can be installed on pcs with latest config., this can make the server future ready as far as hardware is concerned. And its good Linux/samba is free, and there could be more support available then the declining Novell Netware as far as the general market of resources is considered.

The only problem is that .dbf files are accessible to users but since 1987 we had no problems... anyway, we may move to netio to get some more speed and hide files from users.

Somehow in our Novell setup the setup is same, mapped novell drive to access the data & index folders! Yes dbfs are accessible to users (thanks God that users do not enter into the accessible novell server's network drive, and happy with clicking the apps. icons on their desktops!

NETIO, though saw this term in this group or some other place but don't remember it is what and for what?!

 

If your software needs massive data moves over the lan you may need to experiment with alternate lan cards since some on-board cards are not good enough.

I assume the switches we use in our LAN would be enough  to handle the distance and the volume (not that huge) of data between the workstations and the server. The existing novell server is a dedicated one, only used as FILE SERVER for the clipper applications. This is a dedicated network and all users are not connected to this novell network. So, load on this network and the server would be less as far as in current policy of the organisation.

[SD]

One more thing would like to add here........ 

In my network the users/workstations will be always on Windows platform as their familiarity and other works are dependent on Microsoft applications (MS-Office, office mail etc.). They are not concerned with the technical properties of the Server, whether its novell, windows or linux. They show concern only when the server is down due to hardware issues, and "suggest" to replace the server with a new one as they know the server is quite old now. They think its as easy as buying a new pc, without giving a thought to the compatibility issue we have in maintaining clipper applications with new hardware, software and Operating systems. 

Anyone in this group have experience of smooth running of such network setup (Clipper apps with dbfs) under Windows Server setup? 

[There's always a talk on introduction & implementation of SAP/ERP at national level so that all our branches, sites are connected online. Its not happening somehow and that's why an alternative is also not strongly looked upon as everyone is expecting ERP would come in near future. But disasters don't wait for such things, so I'm looking for an alternative to my present network setup at my site]

[elch]

Hi again, Swapan
 

I've  no idea about linux/samba as of now. Branko has also suggested linux/samba as server. There must be linux/samba tools to create valid users and rights at server?!

you perhaps know what a directory on a local Windows machine is, given free for access by other Windows machines in network ?

Nothing else is Samba, only based on a most reliable Linux OS, free of all annoying registration procedures ...

I assume Linux with samba can be installed on pcs with latest config.

Linux run on machines, Windows can even not dream about. From smallest ARM cpu based micro machines to gigantic mainframes.
An easy pre-test would perhaps to get a Knoppix DVD image out the web and boot from it.
A so called 'Live Linux', which doesn't install anything on HD, fully run from DVD in RAM.

 

Somehow in our Novell setup the setup is same, mapped novell drive to access the data & index folders! Yes dbfs are accessible to users (thanks God that users do not enter into the accessible novell server's network drive, and happy with clicking the apps. icons on their desktops!

Apart from <R>ead and <W>rite, Netware know an additional <A>dd trustee for directories, which is also responsible for deleting files.

And a <C>hange attribute responsible for renaming.

And a <S>earch attribute: user (app) must know the exact filename to get file access, a DIR command/ explorer will not list the files.

It can be granulary adjusted, who belonging to which group is allowed where he can do what - f.e. not all are allowed of indexing databases (delete old/ create new [index] files).

So fine it can't be tuned with Samba, or i overlooked something.

They think its as easy as buying a new pc, without giving a thought to the compatibility issue

Nearly as easy it _could_ be.

Make a one-to-one! copy of the old disk to a new disk.

As convinced Linuxer i would do that with 'dd' or better 'dd_rescue' command, but there exists tools for windows. Be careful don't to copy the new blank over the old one ;).

This would be an overall good thing you can do to your old server, as old HDs' are ever the most critcal point.

Put this into the new machine. IDE drives will work, SATA i suppose to make trouble cause of missing drivers, classic SCSI from Adaptec should work, special RAID controllers is a topic for itself.

WHAT TYPE has the old server ?

I never need to try such a move to a multicore CPUs based machine, but experienced this working on the fastest single core Xeons (available up to 3600/ 3800 MHz).

An easy and good pre-test before any further test maybe a try to start DOS :-) from the hopefully available floppy drive.

Network driver may need to be adjusted, if the NIC card can't move with you (or much better: get for 5$ a new old stock/ used one as duplicate)

Strategy behind: don't disassemble the old server, even not when a new one runs. Save it as is as 'fallback'.

Network cards: i spoke of the prooven Intel Pro 1000 Server! series - available also for PCI express, excellent driver support ...

###

Francesco, any other important points at Samba to take care of ? - as only full disable opportunistic locking to ensure data integrity ?

Regards

Rolf

[Francesco Perillo]

###

Francesco, any other important points at Samba to take care of ? - as only full disable opportunistic locking to ensure data integrity ?

Not that I'm aware of.

Anyway, I'd not use dd to copy drives since the original data is on a netware filesystem and I'm sure it is not good to have it in linux.

He can move files from a client machine, just drag&drop from old to new, or recursive xcopy.

I know that recent Netware is linux based but don't know his version.

[elch]

Hi,

 

Francesco, any other important points at Samba to take care of ? - as only full disable opportunistic locking to ensure data integrity ?

Not that I'm aware of.

Francesco, that's good to hear !

Anyway, I'd not use dd to copy drives since the original data is on a netware filesystem and I'm sure it is not good to have it in linux.
He can move files from a client machine, just drag&drop from old to new, or recursive xcopy.

I wrote about how to full replicate a Netware server (including SYS volume) to 'newer' hardware

- sure not about to copy Netware _data_ with dd to a Samba server, that makes no sense as AFAIR Linux can't access/ use directly a Netware partition.

 

I know that recent Netware is linux based but don't know his version.

You are right, same my thoughts that in a way this Netware is an Unix derivate (Linus wasn't old enough ;)

I mean to see this at typical named directories (ETC, SYSTEM ..) and some commands ...

Addendum to Swapan:

after DOS can errorfree boot from f.e. of a floppy on a new machine, it must see/ able to access HD drive C:

This is a quick and very base test to eventually go further with trying to build into the cloned HD.

Regards
Rolf

[SD]

Dear Rolf,

THANKS A TON! Nothing more could I ask for!! Hope your tips (along with Francesco) could be helpful for any1 who wish to have such a setup using Linux as server.

Your post does gives the confidence that Linux/samba could be a better alternative in present scenario.

If I get the scope to do this test drive in near future, would definitely be looking forward to you people for further assistance.

Its great to be part of this group!

Regards,

Swapan 

On Sunday, 7 April 2013 18:40:01 UTC+5:30, elch wrote:

Hi again, Swapan

[Thirawoot]

Please see http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:About

[SD]

Thanks Thirawoot for the info! 

[António]

Sexta-feira, 5 de Abril de 2013 13:43:08 UTC+1, SD escreveu:

Can members please guide me how we can manage/setup our Clipper/Harbour multi-user apps over the network (LAN) in the current hardware & software scenario? 

Hi SD,
May I share some experience:
A factory:
file server: a simple dual core machine 4Gb ram, running Linux CentOS 6 & Samba
clients:
- half a dozen machines in the offices, running XP and Win7, accessing DBFs over the network with Harbour compiled programs.
Programs stored on a shared Samba folder, but server also has them compiled for Linux, mainly for maintenance purposes (local reindexing is really fast).
- a few machines in the factory running DOS (booting flashdrives with Bart's Boot Disk) accessing the same DBF files. Each of those machines runs only a specific Clipper program: 1 x Inventory; 1 x shipping; 3 x production control, all acessing the same set of DBF files. Its the kind of hassle free solution for running a single program (press power button in the morning; press it again at the end of the day).

Linux and Samba can serve all types of clients, and is not that dificult to configure. Samba-SWAT and Webmin can help a lot
One important thing to note is disabling oplocks on windows machines.

My 2c.
Cheers,
António Vila-Chã
Viana do Castelo, Portugal

[SD]

Dear António Vila-Chã:

Thank you so much for sharing your real-life case in this regard. All these inputs really help the community to update themselves as how things are going for  xbase users in current world's IT scenario.

BTW, does your server (at factory) and office computers accessing the server's dbfs are in the same premises (factory compound only).

Currently I don't have the necessary resources and time to do a R&D with Linux sever - but could be helpful any day in future. And inputs like yours could also benefit any user in our this group in future.

Regards,

Swapan

[PS: Its great to know people from different parts of the world -using Clipper/Harbour environment. Would be interested to know Indian users!)

On Thursday, 9 May 2013 23:33:38 UTC+5:30, António wrote:

Sexta-feira, 5 de Abril de 2013 13:43:08 UTC+1, SD escreveu:

Can members please guide me how we can manage/setup our Clipper/Harbour multi-user apps over the network (LAN) in the current hardware & software scenario? 

Hi SD,
May I share some experience:
A factory:
file server: a simple dual core machine 4Gb ram, running Linux CentOS 6 & Samba

[António]

Hi Swapan,

Sexta-feira, 10 de Maio de 2013 5:55:54 UTC+1, SD escreveu:

BTW, does your server (at factory) and office computers accessing the server's dbfs are in the same premises (factory compound only).

Yes, it's an UTP ethernet LAN, all machines inside the same building 3 switches in total.

But I have another scenario ;).
Family runs a small supermarket busines on a small village. One old (80 years) shop with 1 counter only; plus another newer shop, with 3 counters +offices +warehouse. Distance between them is 800m, and they are in line of sight.
Server was installed in the newer shop in december 2004, and is still running Linux Fedora Core 2... It was a high end machine at that time, mirrored SCSI disks; dual processor etc.
It runs Samba, serving all clients (Win XP), those conecced via cable, and the one on the old shop conenctied via Wireless lan. Back in the first years, it was a DLink 2.4GHz wireless network that did the job. A couple of years ago, due to frequent interference, it was changed to 5Ghz wifi with directional anetennas. Data rate ranges from 60 to 80Mb, wich is very reasonable for the old shop to run my Harbour compiled sales program. All DBF/NTX reside in the server, the sales system is fully integrated.
And it works ;)

[SD]

Hello  António:

Great! Thanks a lot for sharing this "case study" of one of your client. 

Regards,

Swapan

On Friday, 10 May 2013 17:03:18 UTC+5:30, António wrote:

Hi Swapan,

[SD]

Dear All:

A Re-visit to this wonderful thread!

Things look a bit brighter for me, as there's a huge chance of finally trying hands on alternative to my Novell Server Setup.... - a system has been granted by the management to have a TEST DRIVE before it goes to the respective department!

Was going through the inputs. Great contributions here by the group members. Most of you suggested:

LINUX with Samba

Would request the members, to suggest me on the basis of the following:

-Currently wish to do the test drive on free resources/evaluation copy.

-The supplied server for testing would be i3

-All my clients would be Windows clients (XP, Win 7, Win 98 - Win 98 is not an absolute necessary)

-Can Clipper Applications be run without any issues?

-Have 1 harbour 3.0 compiled application - hope it will not face any issues.

-Currently Clipper/Harbour Application Exe(s) are kept at client machines and dbfs and index files are kept on a shared drive of Novell Server. No special special user-based authentication maintained, all are given admin right. [looking for initially similar simple setup - just a file sever kind]

Someone at my end says he can arrange for Linux Red Hat?! Now a bit confused, which Linux should be downloaded/acquired and from where? Then Samba too has to be downloaded separately, and its link?. 

A dumbo question, Samba is to be installed where - on client systems?!

LASTLY BUT NOT THE LEAST:

Does anyone would suggest for test drive on Windows Server - Windows Server 8 / 2012? Can a free evaluation be done?

Does Clipper applications will be able to run on such network?

Sorry to put on so many questions......

Thanks in advance....

Regards,

Swapan

[Francesco Perillo]

Go to www.opensuse.org and download the DVD ISO. Create a DVD.
Boot the PC with the DVD and follow installation - it is easy except if the disks already contain a recent MS s.o.
When you are asked for packages please check that samba is selected. If not asked don t worry go a head.
Setup the LAN card. When complete login and start yast2 (like contro label) program and update the system (like windows update).

I think there are hundreds of tutorials on the web.

--

[Angel Pais]

You can download and try this:

http://www.turnkeylinux.org/domain-controller

Very easy to install
Very easy to manage via web interface.

HTH

Angel

2013/9/5 Francesco Perillo <fper...@gmail.com>

[SD]

Thank you so much Francesco and Angel for attending to my latest post and suggesting the ways. Much appreciated......

BTW, any1 here who can throw some light on using WINDOWS SERVER 8 (or 2012)?

- can Clipper Applications run on similar setup, just replacing Novell Server with a new PC with Windows Server 8 (or 2012)?

- can Harbour Applications run on similar setup, just replacing Novell Server with a new PC with Windows Server 8 (or 2012)?

[please bear with my ignorance!]

[Massimo Belgrano]

2013/9/6 SD <swapan...@gmail.com>

Harbour Applications run on similar setup, just replacing Novell Server with a new PC with Windows Server

my Harbour Applications work on  Windows Server  and ten year ago work on Novell server

set printer to have required modification

afaik clipper app can't run on any 64 bit os and i think problem also for 32

[Klas Engwall]

Hi Swapan,

> - can Clipper Applications run on similar setup, just replacing Novell
> Server with a new PC with Windows Server 8 (or 2012)?

Adding to what Massimo said, as long as the Clipper application is
running on a 32-bit Windows client computer with a working NTVDM, it
doesn't matter what Windows version the server is. From the server's
point of view, it is just getting a file open request from the OS on the
client, and it is irrelevant who originated that request on the client.
Running the Clipper app *on* the server is a different matter, though.

Regards,
Klas

[SD]

Thanks Massimo once again with your inputs! Nice to know you too had Novell environment.

Dear Klas:

Its great to hear from you!

Hope I could made my query under-stable to all of you.

Actually my head-office inquired if we can assure them if replacing Novell Server with Windows Server 8 will work, no issues for legacy clipper 5.1 applications with exisitng dbfs and index files. 

But while googling didn't found any authentic post where its mentioned that Clipper applications over the network with Windows clients (XP 32 bit, Win 7 32 bit, Win98   - not absolute necessary) runs without any issue - NO SPEED LOSS or NO FILE LOCKING ISSUES when they are mapped to a server as Windows Server 8 where dbfs and index files are kept.

Windows Server 8 is a costly affair - so don't want to commit which can backfire!

Though I'm thinking for LINUX, but I think the best here in Windows Server 8/2012 case would be first migrate those clipper apps to harbour to be rest assured - or I'm missing something here..and ITS NO ISSUE AT ALL EVEN FOR CLIPPER APPS UNDER SUCH SETUP?!

Regards,

Swapan

[Klas Engwall]

Hi Swapan,

> Actually my head-office inquired if we can assure them if replacing
> Novell Server with Windows Server 8 will work, no issues for legacy
> clipper 5.1 applications with exisitng dbfs and index files.
>
> But while googling didn't found any authentic post where its mentioned
> that Clipper applications over the network with Windows clients (XP 32
> bit, Win 7 32 bit, Win98 - not absolute necessary) runs without any
> issue - NO SPEED LOSS or NO FILE LOCKING ISSUES when they are mapped to
> a server as Windows Server 8 where dbfs and index files are kept.
>
> Windows Server 8 is a costly affair - so don't want to commit which can
> backfire!
>
> Though I'm thinking for LINUX, but I think the best here in Windows
> Server 8/2012 case would be first migrate those clipper apps to harbour
> to be rest assured - or I'm missing something here..and ITS NO ISSUE AT
> ALL EVEN FOR CLIPPER APPS UNDER SUCH SETUP?!

Of course there are issues :-). Whether we are talking about Clipper
apps or Harbour apps or any other apps using dbfs or similar files. As I
said in my previous post, the server does not know, or care, who is
issuing the requests from the client side. It only receives requests to
open files, move file pointers etc. That is related to the network
redirector, not to the application using the redirector.

But they are really the same old issues as in the last fifteen years,
with the oplocks, CachedOpenLimit and the other registry settings. And
the SMB2 issue was added along the way too. So for file sharing database
systems to work properly (Microsoft calls them "old database systems" in
their KB articles) the registry hacks to streamline the server for that
kind of use must be applied. They have been discussed several times in
this newsgroup, and they are described in many places on the web.

That said, I have no direct experience with WinServer 8 specifically. I
moved several years ago to NAS disks running some NIX variety with Samba
on top. I have had no problems with that. And they are cheap.

This thread seems to circle back to Samba like clockwork :-)

Regards,
Klas

[Francesco Perillo]

Windows 8 server, linux with samba or whatever operating system you want to test/use I strongly suggest that you must have an administrator fluent with that S.O. to setup backups and handle all the initial configuration - and came from time to time to have a look and finally solve problems when they (will) happen.

DBFs have pros and cons. One con is that they must be accessible in a shared disk - it happened once in the far past the a user dragged the data directory inside another dir... everything stopped working...

This problem may be solved using netio or porting to other databases but you will lose some language power...

A pro is when users of my programs in the past copied the program + data on a notebook to go abroad, several times in a year, so that they could have a copy of the data, use the program, create statistics and new documents - they had to input in the main system when back to office but it worked.... Update was just a batch that copied a couple of directories. Porting to a sql database was deemed difficult...

Since 2 years they go abroad with the notebook but use a VPN (also via a satellite connection) to login to a virtual machine inside the main office lan and then they work on live data - reports and documents are sent to them or directly to clients via mail. No need to have a local copy of data on the notebook, no risk of having it taken by competitors if notebook stolen... now a porting to sql is more easy (or at least netio with some rpc calls to speed up long queries)...

[Jayadev U]

Dear Swapan,

 

I have Harbour/xHarbour applications installed on  Win 2008 R2 64 bit server and client machines being 32 bit XP, 64 bit Win 8 etc…  The entire setup has been working for the last 6 months without any hitch.

 

FYI All programs are compiled in 32 bit.  The users and I have not noticed any drop in speed or any other issues in the above environment.

 

Go ahead and do it.

 

Warm regards,

 

Jayadev

--

[SD]

On Saturday, 7 September 2013 02:03:49 UTC+5:30, Klas Engwall wrote:

Hi Swapan,

Of course there are issues :-). 

But they are really the same old issues as in the last fifteen years,
with the oplocks, CachedOpenLimit and the other registry settings. And
the SMB2 issue was added along the way too. So for file sharing database
systems to work properly (Microsoft calls them "old database systems" in
their KB articles) the registry hacks to streamline the server for that
kind of use must be applied. They have been discussed several times in
this newsgroup, and they are described in many places on the web.

That said, I have no direct experience with WinServer 8 specifically. I
moved several years ago to NAS disks running some NIX variety with Samba
on top. I have had no problems with that. And they are cheap.

This thread seems to circle back to Samba like clockwork :-)

Regards,
Klas

Yes thanks for the inputs, and such things were coming to my mind also as read somewhere at Alaska's site about SMB2...
Currently this would be our test-drive only - an alternative to our aging novell server. Thought to be aware of all the the alternatives at disposal...

[SD]

On Saturday, 7 September 2013 02:49:04 UTC+5:30, fperillo wrote:

Windows 8 server, linux with samba or whatever operating system you want to test/use I strongly suggest that you must have an administrator fluent with that S.O. to setup backups and handle all the initial configuration - and came from time to time to have a look and finally solve problems when they (will) happen.

Yes can understand your concern (the caution and advice to have the basics of sys admin) 

DBFs have pros and cons. One con is that they must be accessible in a shared disk - it happened once in the far past the a user dragged the data directory inside another dir... everything stopped working...

Yes we have similar kind of simple setup in our novell setup with "exposed" data to users. Thankfully the legacy applications users are not "advanced" users of pc, and do not explore anything out of curiosity. There are many users in our site who are so-called "advanced" or "power" users but legacy apps. are not in their scope - and thus we are having much peace!

This problem may be solved using netio or porting to other databases but you will lose some language power...

Yes heard of them...but not hands on them..

 

A pro is when users of my programs in the past copied the program + data on a notebook to go abroad, several times in a year, so that they could have a copy of the data, use the program, create statistics and new documents - they had to input in the main system when back to office but it worked.... Update was just a batch that copied a couple of directories. Porting to a sql database was deemed difficult...

Since 2 years they go abroad with the notebook but use a VPN (also via a satellite connection) to login to a virtual machine inside the main office lan and then they work on live data - reports and documents are sent to them or directly to clients via mail. No need to have a local copy of data on the notebook, no risk of having it taken by competitors if notebook stolen... now a porting to sql is more easy (or at least netio with some rpc calls to speed up long queries)...

Dbfs have advantage! Copy-paste could be enough!!

[SD]

On Saturday, 7 September 2013 06:39:50 UTC+5:30, ujayadev_at_gmail.com wrote:

Dear Swapan,

I have Harbour/xHarbour applications installed on  Win 2008 R2 64 bit server and client machines being 32 bit XP, 64 bit Win 8 etc…  The entire setup has been working for the last 6 months without any hitch.

FYI All programs are compiled in 32 bit.  The users and I have not noticed any drop in speed or any other issues in the above environment.

Go ahead and do it.

Dear Jayadev,

Thanks a lot for your such inputs derived from real-life case - very encouraging!  

Regards,
Swapan