Hi Sean, While I don't pretend to understand Firebird at the atomic level. I am just trying to cope with database slowdowns. We find the only bullet proof methodology to solve database slowdowns is a backup restore. So we are searching for a method to be able to resolve database slowdowns, while keeping the database online.
I am not concerned with whether theoretically firebird should or should not require a backup/restore. It seems that in practice under large database conditions to be a requirement. Our networks guy is going to spend some time seeing if he can give evidence of this requirement. Of course we will try any method to attempt to resolve this. In the past we have not found sweeping the database to help, but we will continue to do everything we can to resolve this for our customers sake. Kind Regards, Robert