Thanks for the reply Martijn, but I need some more specifics.

You stated:

>It doesn't. When you connect, you tell the server where to
>find your database file.

connect with what? how? Is there another admin tool I need to be
using?

I'm running FB 1.5 as a service on winxp-pro. What tool do I use to
specify where the DB files are located?

What command line tool would another user use, to bring my db I sent
them online? and how?

-Steve


--- In firebird-support@yahoogroups.com, "Martijn Tonies"
<m.tonies@u...> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> > my apologies for this, but I'm new to firebird in general, and

need

> > some basic questions answered that I can't seem to find in the

docs

> > or anywhere.
> >
> > Explain to me the difference between a .gdb, and a .fdb
> > please.
>
> Different extension.
>
> > I'm using ems's IBManager to manage, create my new firebase
> > databases.
> > It has a "Bring Online" option for the database files.
>
> True.
>
> > What I currently don't understand is the relationship between the
> > server and the database files, more specifically: how the
> > server "knows" the db files are there, and makes them accessible.
>
> It doesn't. When you connect, you tell the server where to
> find your database file.
>
> With Firebird 1.5, you can also link an alias to a file

specification

> via the aliasses.conf server side text-file.
>
> > When I hit bring online, in EMS IBManager, what essentially is

that

> > doing?
>
> You can "shutdown" a database, which means that it's marked
> as "accessible by SYSDBA and 'database owner' only". Bringing
> a database online is the opposite.
>
> > If I distribute my firbird database to someone else, how would

they

> > bring their copy "online" if all they had was a copy of the

firebird

> > server, and no GUI like EMS IBManager?
>
> Firebird comes with a set of command line tools that you can
> use to do backups, database checking and that sort of stuff.
>
> With regards,
>
> Martijn Tonies
> Database Workbench - developer tool for InterBase, Firebird, MySQL

& MS SQL

> Server.
> Upscene Productions
> http://www.upscene.com