> However, this may have lead us to the problem... we did not mention
> but we are trying to run the (services API) backup from a Win2K
> machine and the database itself is on an Intel Mac. The Mac is running
> Classic server.

Does any other operation with Mac server via Jaybird work fine?

> We've tested this by pointing the backup to another Windows machine
> (running Super server) and the backup worked fine.
>
> We haven't seen anything to say that the services manager is not
> available in the Classic server - is this what the problem is?

As far as I know, backup service is available in Classic in v 1.5
already. Maybe this is issue with Mac port?

You could try

gbak -service -user sysdba -pass abcdef 192.168.0.123:MyDatabase
MyDatabase.fbk

using gbak from Firebird 2.0.

Roman