Hi Ann,

thanks for your reply.

>> > # ENABLED FOR FEWS
>> > RemoteFileOpenAbility = 1
>>
>> That looks like a smoking gun to me. If you enjoy having corrupt
>> databases, by all means, leave that setting as it is.

I'm now wondering, having re-read the warning above this setting in the
firebird.conf file, if it is really affecting us.

>> Superserver and embedded (I think) open database files for exclusive
>> access.

Given that embedded is running SuperServer (or so I have read) and
should lock the file at the OS level when connected to the database.

It the above is what is happening, we should [really] see any other
connections, from "another" server's embedded engine, getting a
connection to the database. It's Windows 2003 Server so it *should* lock
the database files.

However, we are in the process of turning off this setting because we
don't have the databases on NFS mounts, only on locally attached drives.
We "beat up" the vendor about this and they have agreed to allow us to
turn the setting off. They ship it enabled because "some customers use
NFS mounts for their databases". Duh!

We now have 4 databases corrupting themselves, each and every one with a
BLOB in the index chain today! :-( So turning this option off will allow
us to see if it is the cause or not. I'm hoping that it is.

<SNIP>

>> ... the known bugs were fixed in 2.1.

These databases are 2.1.x, I know that because Firebird 2.0 won't open
them whereas 2.1 will. The ODS is 11.1. Thankfully, I have a Linux box
with 2.1 and was able to grab a copy of the corrupted files before they
were rebuilt. Been working through the database internals using a Hex
dump of the file all week. Grand fun!

>> Your situation sounds different so my best guess is
>> that your RemoteFileOpenAbility has shot you.

Well, we are now turning it off so with a bit of luck, all should be
well.

Thanks for your help and for the Expert Firebird articles, very useful!



Cheers,
Norman.

Norman Dunbar
Dunbar IT Consultants Ltd
Orchard House
10a Greenacre Park Mews
Rawdon
Leeds
LS19 6RT

Tel: 0779 3292 984
Tel: 0773 4531 439


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