Database Corruption: Can this be caused by splitting a DB

[kate10123]

Hi guys,

I have a database that I designed in access 2007. I split the database and kept the backend on a shared network drive. I created 10 copies of the frontend to deploy to 10 users.

This worked fine to begin with but now some users are getting backup copies being created on opening the database and indications of an 'inconsistent state'.

Is this corruption likely a result of storing it on a shared network drive? What are the ways around this so that a group of users can access and contribute to a database?

Any advice appreciated.

 

[DCrake]

Are the front ends on each users machines? or are they all on a shared server?

 

[kate10123]

All stored on the shared server.

 

[DCrake]

I suggest you deploy a single copy of the front end to user who will save this on their own pc/laptop which will point to the server data (back end) this will work better.

What is happening at the moment is that not only is the application travelling accross the network, so is Access. The front ends will have connection paths on the same drive but are being accessed from a local machine.

Server setup
Backend mdb J:\Databases\YourBackEnd.mdb
FrontEnd mdb J:\Applications\YourFrontEnd.mdb
Linked Tables J:\Databases\YourBackEnd.mdb

However the user is opening the front end from the C:drive so the flow of data is going C:Local > Applications > Databases > C:Local

Suggested Method
Backend mdb J:\Databases\YourBackEnd.mdb
FrontEnd mdb C:\Applications\YourFrontEnd.mdb
Linked Tables J:\Databases\YourBackEnd.mdb

Flow C:\Applications > J:\Databases > C:\Applications



David

 

[kate10123]

Thanks for this, I never thought about the fact that Access is run from the C drive. Your explanation shows how the data could become corrupted having to go through so many connections.

Just one question about your solution to my problem,

I have all the frontends on the network drive at the moment, can I just cut and paste these individually to each specific PC as opposed to starting a whole database again?

or will the corruption still exist?

 

[Pat Hartman]

You don't need 10 CUSTOM copies of the front end. You can just take a single good copy and email it to the users for them to save to their C: Drives. I wouldn't trust the server versions.

They were running into trouble because the database is set to compact on close and either their permissions or network security was preventing that from happening successfully. They shouldn't have the same problem when the fe is located on their personal C: drive.

 

[kate10123]

Thanks for that.

One user has mentioned that when the database is inactive for longer than 10 minutes and they go to use it again, an error message appears in the form of ERROR ##. Is it possible that the reason for this is also because it is stored on the networked drive?

In simple terms, is it normal for a database frontend to 'time out' if on a network drive? (I thought it might be like a normal server issue, sometimes servers disconnect if they are not accessed for a period of time)

 

[DCrake]

You IT team should be able to tell you if user profiles are affected by inactivity. Also check user settings in their control panel as to what happens after non use, such as screensavers, sleep settings / hibernation power off etc.

 

[neileg]

Are you using wireless connections? Access doesn't like any kind of networking disconnections and these are more likely with wireless.

 

[mattbrem]

Just out of curiosity, do you know if your file server is running with oplocks enabled?

I had a similiar problem with a split database I was developing. After pulling my hair out for weeks I found out my corrpution issues stemmed from our novell server enabling opportunistic locking. MS access does not lock oplocks. Up to date service packs and such have fixed this, but not every network is completely up to date.

 

[tazz]

i have a ? i have a good firewall and dose a good job in protecting but the only thing i see a problum with is that my network still allows acsess threw it now my router has its firewall active and my firewall on my computer whitch is conected to my freinds computer im staying in my van in the back yard and have full acses to the internet how is it that some 1 gets into my computer doing a chat with my brother this guy is able to get on my brothers name at the same time and type in the same box im on skype now still happens we got rid of yahoo messy and msn and imesh because of this and he still finds us now is it because he is close by conecting to my laptop as i have my wireless disabled he is stll sending updates as it says for skype whitch requests u to get update threw there settings on skype messenger not with a auto pop up download skype update whitch i refuzed and went to skype messenger and it seaid it was up to date well i looked and i dinyed the update ok and my skype was corupted but my firewall caught it also and denied acsess because i dinyed the request to update i reinstalled skype and it was ok from there so hows this guy getting to me as my firewall is on and my freinds router firewall is on and no wifi enabled ty