Skip to content Accesskey=4Skip to sub-navigation Accesskey=3View our Accessibility Options MIT Information Services and Technology Home About IS&T Contact IS&T Site Map Search Advanced Search
Getting StartedGetting Services by Topic or Alphabetically Getting Help

Guidelines and Procedures

ITAG standards
tools

FileMaker

Resources

DCAD

Architecture

Database Operations

Usability Team

ATIC Lab

Training and Help

Training

User Groups


Search the Developer's Resource:


FileMaker - Server Configurations

ITAG Standard #9: Server software must support one of the standard server platforms.

Your FileMaker Server host machine

FileMaker Server runs on Windows or Mac OSX. Unfortunately, FileMaker Server is not compatible with Linux. Technical specifications for FileMaker Server can be found on the FileMaker, Inc., web site.

Though it is possible to run FileMaker Server on a desktop OS (excluding Vista), it is strongly recommended that FileMaker Server run on a Server operating system. IS&T does not provide help desk support for server operating systems, but does offer hosting services to those departments without the internal expertise to manage a server.

FileMaker Server Settings

Through the Server Admin console, you may place additional constraints specific to your particular needs and environment. It is advisable to provide only as much access and availability as your needs require. Therefore, you may want to limit the following:

  • Number of allowable connections from FileMaker clients
  • Number of files to host
  • Disconnection of idle clients after a specified amount of time

You should password-protect the Server Admin console to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your system's settings. In v9, this can be set during use of the Deployment Assistant at the time of installation, or anytime afterwards on the Admin Console tab of General Settings:

fms account

Perhaps most importantly, you should enable SSL encryption between Server and client connections. You must stop and restart FileMaker Server for this to take effect:

 

fms account

 

You may also want to refer to this handy checklist of security guidelines.

Maintenance

FileMaker Server activity can be monitored through the (Windows) Event Viewer or the (Mac) logs located at HD:Library:FileMaker Server:Data:Logs.

Be sure to configure the FileMaker Server backup scheduler for frequent backups to another (non-hosted) location on the server hard drive. These backup copies are then suitable for backup via TSM. Do not backup live, hosted files via TSM.

If you are hosting many or large database files on a Windows server, it may be wise to install OS patches manually when they are released. If you subscribe to WAUS (MIT's Windows update service), you may set your configuration to download patches but not automatically install. Instead, you will see an alert advising you that patches are ready to be installed. Patch installation frequently involves a system reboot, and there may not be sufficient time for FileMaker Server to close all open database files before the service is stopped for shutdown. With the notification approach, you may manually close all database files and stop FileMaker Server so that it shuts down gracefully. Then you may apply the OS patch and reboot. For more information on the WAUS Notify configuration, see Option 2 on the WAUS subscription page.

Additional Considerations

The FileMaker Server hosting application:

  • Runs as a Mac daemon or as a Windows service
  • Supports up to 250 concurrent FileMaker Pro clients and 125 open database files
  • Multi-threaded application, supports 1, 2 or 4 CPU configurations
  • Supports multi-homing (multiple network cards and multiple IP addresses) on the Server box
  • Provides External Authentication support via OpenDirectory (Mac) and ActiveDirectory (Windows)

 
MIT Home | Getting Started | Getting Services | Getting Help | About IS&T | Accessibility
Ask a technology question or send a comment about this web page.