At 10:26 AM 9/10/2007, you wrote:

>On one of our databases using Firebird 2.0.1.12855
>with a database size 250GB we get the below error:
>
> internal gds software consistency check (pointer page vanished from
>DPM_next (249), file: dpm.cpp line: 1609)
>
>How can this happen and how can it be fixed?

The limit for a table's size has been blown, possibly assisted by
continuing to run the database with Firebird ODS < 11? or using an
IB 7.x database under Firebird 2? Anyway, it's pretty serious.

Info here:
http://www.ib-aid.com/option,com_content/task,view/id,60/Itemid,62/

If you can connect at all (not very likely) a complete (immediate)
backup and restore under 2.0.1 or higher might get your database into
a state where you have a higher limit (Firebird ODS 11+ databases
have a much higher limit than IB or lower Firebird
ODS); otherwise...surgery. Hopefully you have enough disk space
available to preserve the database in its current state and operate
on a copy....

In the unlikely event that you can connect to the database, DON'T
(except to back up, if that is possible/feasible).

./heLen