Guide to Updating Plug-ins

Chapter 9
Using FileMaker Server in Red Hat Linux
This chapter provides instructions for:
1 administering FileMaker Server running in Red Hat Linux
1 configuring FileMaker Server settings for maximum performance
Getting onscreen help with command and
preference syntax
The QuickRef.pdf file installed in /usr/doc/fmserver5-5 lists syntax
and options for each administration command and preference
setting. In addition, preference settings are described and default
values are listed in comments in the configuration file (/etc/
fmserver.conf).
Administering FileMaker Server
You can use the shell prompt in Red Hat Linux to administer
FileMaker Server manually.
Administrative tasks include:
1 starting and stopping FileMaker Server
1 hosting FileMaker Pro files
1 closing files hosted by FileMaker Server
1 pausing and resuming files (to periodically flush the cache or back
up databases)
1 listing hosted files
1 reloading the configuration file to apply changes to runtime
preference settings. See “Applying configuration changes” on
page 9-4 for a list of all preference settings and how changes must be
applied.
Tip You can also use the administrative commands described here in
scripts to automate administrative tasks. For information about
scripting, see your operating system documentation or consult a
third-party book on scripting.
The following table describes the administrative commands in
FileMaker Server. Text enclosed in the [ ] characters indicates that
the item is optional. path indicates a filename or directory.
Command syntax Description
fmserverd start [-s]
[-c path]
Start the FileMaker Server service, read the FileMaker
Server configuration file in /etc/fmserver.conf, and
open files in the /var/fmserver directory (and
subdirectories one level down).
Use the -s option to skip automatically opening files in
the /var/fmserver directory (and subdirectories one
level down).
Use the -c path option to have FileMaker Server read
the configuration file (fmserver.conf) in the alternate
path specified.
fmserverd stop
[-m “message text”]
[-t #minutes] [-f]
Stop the FileMaker Server service after notifying guests
that they must disconnect from hosted databases within
2 minutes.
Use the -m “message text” option to send a custom
message to guests.
Use the -t #minutes option to set a custom duration
before FileMaker Server stops.
Use the -f option to force the FileMaker Server service
to disconnect guests immediately, but close databases
safely so data integrity is maintained.