EssentialPIM

chrisvi wrote:Thats a solution for my problem, not a perfect one but a possible solution.
I have the data base on a nas in the network where everyone in the network have acces too whit version 2 this is not possible anymore.

We lately found it is possible, but, it is risky. Please read below an abstract from Firebird config file:

# ----------------------------
# Remove protection against opening databases on NFS mounted volumes
#
# ***WARNING*** ***WARNING*** ***WARNING*** ***WARNING***
#
# This option removes an important safety feature of Firebird and can
# cause irrecoverable database corruption. Do not use this option unless
# you understand the risks and are prepared to accept the loss of the
# contents of your database.
# Unless this configuration option is changed from 0 to 1, Firebird can
# open a database only if the database is stored on a drive physically
# attached to the local computer – the computer running that copy of
# Firebird. Requests for connections to databases stored on NFS mounted
# drives are redirected to a Firebird server running on the computer that
# "owns" the disk.
# This restriction prevents two different copies of Firebird from opening
# the same database without coordinating their activities. Uncoordinated
# access by multiple copies of Firebird will corrupt a database. On a local
# system, the system-level file locking prevents uncoordinated access to
# the database file.
# NFS does not provide a reliable way to detect multiple users of a file on
# an NFS mounted disk. If a second copy of Firebird connects to a database on
# an NFS mounted disk, it will corrupt the database.
# Under some circumstances, running a Firebird server on the computer that
# owns NFS mounted volumes is inconvenient or impossible. Applications that
# use the "embedded" variant of Firebird and never share access to a database
# can use this option to permit direct access to databases on NFS mounted
# volumes.
# DO NOT ENABLE THIS OPTION UNLESS YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
#
# Type: boolean
#
#RemoteFileOpenAbility = 0

Mayby i dont read it correct but
Stil i have to have the computer online where firebird is instal on.
With the old version i have the database on my nas and every computer can use that data base as long as the router and nas are online.

chrisvi wrote:Mayby i dont read it correct but
Stil i have to have the computer online where firebird is instal on.
With the old version i have the database on my nas and every computer can use that data base as long as the router and nas are online.

Yes, seems like you did not understand my previous post in this thread. You can enable feature so that you can open Networked databases from NAS which of course does not have any firebird running. But it has risks, which were described.

Oke thanks
Buth or i dont read good or i am.....
Where can i change this option ?
In fire bird ? and if so where

that's from firebird.conf file from
C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_1_5

i did change it to RemoteFileOpenAbility = 1 and still it will not be opend on the nas.
Its just wil be copy to c:

chrisvi wrote:i did change it to RemoteFileOpenAbility = 1 and still it will not be opend on the nas.
Its just wil be copy to c:

Noted. As I told, can not comment on Firebird features.

I am also interested in using the ePIM DB on a NAS (the office has no central file server). We have several PC's in the office and wish to access the ePIM DB which contains customer contact info. However, the "warning" seems to be suggesting that if two or more clients access the ePIM DB then it will become corrupted.

Can ePIM Network be accessed on a NTFS NAS by several different client PC's? If so, how?

Thanks

New2ePIM wrote:I am also interested in using the ePIM DB on a NAS (the office has no central file server). We have several PC's in the office and wish to access the ePIM DB which contains customer contact info. However, the "warning" seems to be suggesting that if two or more clients access the ePIM DB then it will become corrupted.

Can ePIM Network be accessed on a NTFS NAS by several different client PC's? If so, how?

Thanks

The way described above is the only way. Otherwise you need any machine that is running 24 hours and which will be your server.

Thanks but the way described does not actually seem to be a way at all. It essentially seems to be saying (unless I am reading it wrong) that if you change that setting then the DB will be corrupted the next time 2 or more people access the ePIM DB. What's the point of having an ePIM DB on a network that can only be accessed by one person at a time?? I appreciate we could purchase a server and host it there but that seems excessive just to install ePIM on it.

Is there a version of ePIM that can be shared/accessed on a NAS by several clients at the same time please (even if it's an older version 1.x)?

You do not need to buy a server. For EPIM ANY windows machine can be a server. E.g. secretary computer.

We do not keep older version of EPIM. Although 1.x version did not need a server, it of course lacked most of functionality a current Network version offers.

Thanks however in this case we do not consider that a viable solution either as we would have to setup peer to peer sharing for the office plus we would then have to look at implementing additional disaster recovery for that PC too. Thanks anyway, pity you don't have a v1.x available

ah-ha it seems you do host the old version still http://www.essentialpim.com/download/es ... pro195.exe

The help file says
"EssentialPIM Pro can work in a network environment. EPIM database (*.epim) file should be situated on a shared network folder. This file can be opened and worked on simultaneously from several locations by different EssentialPIM Pro instances. "

So am I right in thinking this will work on a NAS and can be accessed by several people at the same time? I don't need anything fancy we just want to share the Calendar and Contacts. If it does, is it still possible to purchase licenses for this version?

Thanks

I still do not understand why 2.x solution will not work for you. You do not need to setup peer sharing, as you do not need any shared folders. Also a disaster recovery will be needed if you use the 1.x version.
But yes, the version you have found should work, users will be able to simultaneously open the same database from NAS. But no additional rights like private items are available. You can purchase current Network version and send us a message, we will generate a key for 1.x version for you. Please however, note, no support will be available for this old version.

Hi Max,

Awesome, looks like the 1.x is what we need then.

Maybe I have this wrong but let me explain why I think 2.x will not work for us.
As I understand it based on the information above 2.x uses Firebird and one of the limitations of Firebird is that it can only connect to a DB on the same local drive (there is a workaround but it will just cause DB corruption). That means Firebird cannot work with a NAS since you cannot install firebird on a NAS.
If we use a local PC to host the DB and Firebird, then we will need to give everyone else access to that PC so they can open up the DB. That means we need to create peer to peer sharing so the other PC's in the office can "see" the DB to open with their local ePIM clients. At that point we have essentially turned that PC into a file server which everyone will be accessing during the day even when someone else is sitting in front of it and using it. It also means we need to educate everyone that if that PC is off then the ePIM will not work. So whoever the first person is into the office will need to switch that PC on and the last person to leave will need to switch it off (however depending on the BIOS we could configure this automatically). In addition we will now need a backup solution for that PC too to ensure the ePIM DB is backed up somewhere (the NAS already has one). Since 2.x uses Firebird then you get the added benefits of different privilege levels however in our situation we do not need that as we use it for storing customer information and appointments that we want everyone to have access to. So the Firebird advantages are nice but we don't need them. What we need is something that works on a NAS and does not need a File Server (or a PC that acts as a file server)

So in summary as I understand it, 2.x cannot work in a NAS environment because Firebird cannot access network shares. We could host it on a local PC but that essentially turns that PC into a file server which defeats the purpose of having a NAS.

Have I misunderstood something or am I right in saying that 2.x cannot work on a NAS?

Thanks