New FRED Log in Page

While we are working to improve FRED (especially on the Citrix side), you may find that the normal way that you log in may not work occasionally. If that happens I invite you to try our new log in page on the web https://cweb.ieminc.org/. I have also created a  quick little video (http://screencast.com/t/T9B5rYhBIbX) to guide you through the initial log on. Try this out and see if it doesn't work when the original method does not. This method has creater security and will likely become our primary method of logging in in the future. If the normal method works for you, you can continue to use it.

Is FRED OK

Is FRED o.k.?  There have seemed to be more and more issues as of late.

I can understand your concern. It seems like it has gone offline a lot lately. To put this in perspective, I want to give a little background.

Although FRED has a single name, it is really several separate systems and applications working together together. The Main applications on the server side are FileMaker Pro and Citrix. FileMaker Pro is the database application that we use to create the many databases that make our solution(word for a group of databases that work together for a purpose).  Citrix is the application that connects users to the solution. Both of these applications live on Windows Servers here in Placerville. Then, of course, they are served to everybody via our ISP (Internet Service Provider) through the Internet through your ISP then finally to your computer.

So When FRED is offline, it could be work is being done on any portions of the system. When we take FRED offline it is usually to makes changes to FileMaker Pro Databases or the Citrix servers.

Lately, we have working on expanding the number of Citrix Servers and creating a web interface for logging into FRED. This normal development process accounts for several of offline instances lately.

There have also been a few instances where and error has crept into the functioning the databases that required a restart of the FileMaker servers.

We are keeping a close eye on all aspects of FRED. The statistics within FileMaker are looking good. Should this turn around, we have a back up server in place that we can quickly bring online. We will be switching this new refreshed server into service at the beginning of the new year then refreshing the other one to make sure we always have the hardware and system software inplace to keep the server operating at top efficiency.  The bandwidth usage is well within limits. We are bringing more Citrix servers online. We are testing a new website to facilitate the log in process. We are planning projects to increase the efficiency of FRED even as we add new functionality.

So bottom line, Is FRED OK? I say yes. and we are making sure that he has all the resources to stay that way.