Steve

> Should I take this to the Atkins Firebird Support newsgroup?

That's the place this thread coudl bellong. But this is a TCP/IP problem,
not a Firebird problem.

What you need to tell us is:

1) Ping RECORDS
Did it work?
Yes -> Now you know that your workstation knows how to find the server. Goto
2)
No -> Check hosts files on Server and Workstation

Is not enough for the workstation to know where the server is. The server
must know how to return the packets for the workstation. If you have
something wrong in the server (gateway, for example) the workstation will
send the packets to the server, but the server will not be abble to respond
back.

That's why I told you to use the same hosts files everywhere.

2) Telnet
Telnet
Open RECORDS 3050
Did you get a black screen in response?
Yes -> Now you knoe that the server/workstation is not blocking port 3050.
Goto 3)
No -> You have something blocking port 3050 on the server or on workstation.
Check firewall.

3) Get a tool to connect
Report the problem to fb-support, showing the info from stages 1 to 3.

I hope this helps.

Artur