Filemaker ISPs

I work with a school that uses FM 8.5 Server to host a database, which
is used by teachers via IWP to enter evaluations for students.  These
are entered 4x a year, but at those times their internet service (a
standard Comcast cable service) gets VERY slow, with 8 - 10 teachers
being logged on at once.

Two questions.
1)  Are there standard ways of speeding the page loads for teachers?
There are pretty complex authentication formulas, and some portal
sorting necessary for the layouts, but nothing REALLY bad that I'm
aware of that would create severe slowdowns.

2) Would it make sense for them to host their databases on an ISP that
offers Filemaker support, instead of Filemaker Server on their own
network?  Would that have speed advantages?  They've looked into
upgrading their Comcast account to a more commercial grade, but that's
very expensive.

TIA,

On Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:12:41 -0700 (PDT), pastover@gmail.com wrote:

>I work with a school that uses FM 8.5 Server to host a database, which
>is used by teachers via IWP to enter evaluations for students.  These
>are entered 4x a year, but at those times their internet service (a
>standard Comcast cable service) gets VERY slow, with 8 - 10 teachers
>being logged on at once.
>
>Two questions.
>1)  Are there standard ways of speeding the page loads for teachers?
>There are pretty complex authentication formulas, and some portal
>sorting necessary for the layouts, but nothing REALLY bad that I'm
>aware of that would create severe slowdowns.
>
>2) Would it make sense for them to host their databases on an ISP that
>offers Filemaker support, instead of Filemaker Server on their own
>network?  Would that have speed advantages?  They've looked into
>upgrading their Comcast account to a more commercial grade, but that's
>very expensive.
>
>TIA,
>
>Lanse Stover

high there Lanse,

Most likely the issue is with your Comcast service.  There's nothing
wrong with the service, per se.  It's just that most ISPs are geared
for primarily a one-way flow of data -- down to you as opposed to up
from you.  You have what is called an asynchronous connection.  This
means that the download speed -- the speed you receive data -- is much
faster than your upload speed -- the speed you send data.

I have Comcast too and my download speed is typically between
4000-6000 kbps while my upload speed is only around 1500 kbps.  Keep
in mind, when users connect to your database, your upload speed
becomes their download speed.  The more users who try squeezing in,
the slower it is for everyone.

It doesn't matter which ISP you use, the issue is the type and speed
of the connection itself.  Comcast gets knocked a lot but I've always
had good service with them.  (Although I stay away from their DNS
servers.)  I suggest you contact your sales rep and ask them about
setting you up with a synchronous connection.  That would make your
upload and download speeds equivalent -- typically 5000 kbps or
better.  That would almost undoubtedly solve your problem.

hope this helps

-- 
FW

FileMaker Pro 8.5 on Windows XP Pro SP2
FileMaker Server 8.0 on Windows 2003 Server

On Mar 12, 1:23 am, Helpful Harry <helpful_ha...@nom.de.plume.com>
wrote:
> In article
> <9dbb7491-6145-4e4e-879b-c560557b8...@59g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>,
>
>
>
> pasto...@gmail.com wrote:
> > I work with a school that uses FM 8.5 Server to host a database,
which
> > is used by teachers via IWP to enter evaluations for students.  These
> > are entered 4x a year, but at those times their internet service (a
> > standard Comcast cable service) gets VERY slow, with 8 - 10 teachers
> > being logged on at once.
>
> > Two questions.
> > 1)  Are there standard ways of speeding the page loads for teachers?
> > There are pretty complex authentication formulas, and some portal
> > sorting necessary for the layouts, but nothing REALLY bad that I'm
> > aware of that would create severe slowdowns.
>
> > 2) Would it make sense for them to host their databases on an ISP
that
> > offers Filemaker support, instead of Filemaker Server on their own
> > network?  Would that have speed advantages?  They've looked into
> > upgrading their Comcast account to a more commercial grade, but
that's
> > very expensive.
>
> > TIA,
>
> > Lanse Stover
>
> I don't quite understand the set-up here.
>
> If the file is hosted locally and the teachers are all on the same
> network, then you're not actually using the Internet connection at all
> and the problem must be with the school's own network (perhaps a slow
> switch / router box.
>
> The only way the Internet connection could be affecting it is if the
> file is hosted elsewhere or perhaps the teachers are logging in from
> off-site.
>
> Hosting the file locally is the best solution since the Internet is
> always a bottleneck.
>
> Helpful Harry                  
> Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships  ;o)

Thanks for the replies...

To clarify:  the setup is that teachers log into the system remotely,
from their home, through Instant Web Publishing.  Some report page
loads taking 30 seconds, others don't.  It may depend on their own
modem speed of course, but I suspect they all have broadband of some
sort.

I usually manage the database remotely also, with FM 8.5 Advanced, and
it seems about 3 or 4 times slower than working on the local network
at the school, especially loading pages with numerous calculated/
summary fields.  The system is hosted on a Mac Xserve, running OS
10.4.

On Mar 11, 7:12 pm, pasto...@gmail.com wrote:
> I work with a school that uses FM 8.5 Server to host a database, which
> is used by teachers via IWP to enter evaluations for students.  These
> are entered 4x a year, but at those times their internet service (a
> standard Comcast cable service) gets VERY slow, with 8 - 10 teachers
> being logged on at once.
>
> 2) Would it make sense for them to host their databases on an ISP that
> offers Filemaker support, instead of Filemaker Server on their own
> network?  Would that have speed advantages?  They've looked into
> upgrading their Comcast account to a more commercial grade, but that's
> very expensive.
>
> TIA,
>
> Lanse Stover


Most hosting services are pretty inexpensive.  Try one out for a few
months.  I personally use macusa.net and also have heard good things

In article
<9dbb7491-6145-4e4e-879b-c560557b8d53@59g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>,
pastover@gmail.com wrote:

> I work with a school that uses FM 8.5 Server to host a database, which
> is used by teachers via IWP to enter evaluations for students.  These
> are entered 4x a year, but at those times their internet service (a
> standard Comcast cable service) gets VERY slow, with 8 - 10 teachers
> being logged on at once.
> 
> Two questions.
> 1)  Are there standard ways of speeding the page loads for teachers?
> There are pretty complex authentication formulas, and some portal
> sorting necessary for the layouts, but nothing REALLY bad that I'm
> aware of that would create severe slowdowns.
> 
> 2) Would it make sense for them to host their databases on an ISP that
> offers Filemaker support, instead of Filemaker Server on their own
> network?  Would that have speed advantages?  They've looked into
> upgrading their Comcast account to a more commercial grade, but that's
> very expensive.
> 
> TIA,
> 
> Lanse Stover

I don't quite understand the set-up here.

If the file is hosted locally and the teachers are all on the same
network, then you're not actually using the Internet connection at all
and the problem must be with the school's own network (perhaps a slow
switch / router box.

The only way the Internet connection could be affecting it is if the
file is hosted elsewhere or perhaps the teachers are logging in from
off-site.

Hosting the file locally is the best solution since the Internet is
always a bottleneck.




Helpful Harry