Need help working with dababase file on small network group.

[blackguyza]

We are operating small two network groups at school and educators are currently using the network for updating learners marks on national departmental database called EdusolSAMS and today we were experiencing problems saving our work to the database.

The size of the database is currently 30MB. We tried both networks but experienced the same problem. One guy suggested that our network bandwidth might be small for the database file.

Please help.

 

[nephelyn]

One guy suggested that our network bandwidth might be small for the database file.

Please help.

Dont know what he is talking about but you will have to give us more detail than this. ie What DB, access, sql server etc, What problems, what is the error message?

 

[remybfg10k]

Yes, which dababase exactly?

 

[blackguyza]

Microsoft Database - mdb

 

[remybfg10k]

What type of network do you have? 10/100/1000 mpbs etc

I don't see how 30mb can affect network bandwidth, unless your connecting through dial-up in a wan type configuration?

 

[blackguyza]

I cannot recall the exact error message but it a similar message that would appear when the host computer is turned off.

 

[blackguyza]

It's a LAN network, I am not sure about the speed.

 

[remybfg10k]

can you ping the hostname of the host computer?

if its lan then it is not a network bandwidth issue, not 30mb at least

 

[blackguyza]

Never tried to ping the host computer but I can access files from the host computer with ease. That is, the shared directory files.

 

[remybfg10k]

and rebooting the host computer doesn't help?

 

[remybfg10k]

i'm logging off now, best bet would be to try this:

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=2270244&postcount=1

 

[blackguyza]

I forgot to mention that working on the host computer result on the problem of failing to save work to the database and often when other computers are accessing the database file.

 

[blackguyza]

Rebooting only help to unfreeze computers but the problem continue again as soon as work is being saved. We have been using the same database file on the same networks since the beginning of the year, the problem only started this week.

 

[blackguyza]

Can it be a virus?

 

[blackguyza]

Thanx guys for your time.

 

[Jabberwocky]

try to compact&repair the database
make sure you share the folder with full access

 

[blackguyza]

How to compact and repair the database?

 

[risingtide]

But make sure you have a backup first before you do that. The repair operation might just trash the db good and solid.

Why do they use Access (.mdb) as a database base? AFAIR there were always issues with it when the user count reached some huge number around 4 or 5.

 

[Asha'man X]

I know of this program, the school I'm at now just got it a while back, I installed it myself. However, it's not being used over a network, so I can't help further unfortunately.

I know that it was written by Deloitte as part of their social responsibilities, so maybe someone there can help.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

I have used access db's very successfully with 30 concurrent connections. I would also suggest the compact and repair, obviously after backing up first. Make sure everyone is out of the database first so as not to lose any work in progress. If everyone is out including the master PC, the lockfile should dissappear. If not, then that could be the problem. Try manually deleting the lockfile (after backing up) then performing the compact and repair...