Setting up a progressive backup folder

Enable progressive backups of your hosted databases and specify the path to a folder used for progressive backup files. Progressive backups take place every five minutes.

Important  

  • The progressive backup folder cannot be a parent or a sub-folder of the default database folder, the backup folder, the additional database folder, or the Scripts folder. FileMaker Server attempts to open databases in the default database folder when FileMaker Server starts if the Automatically open databases that are in the database folders setting is enabled on the Configuration > General Settings tab.

  • Before changing folder settings, ensure all permissions and requirements are met for the selected folder. See Tips for valid folders.

To set up the progressive backup folder:

  1. Click the Configuration > Folderstab.

  2. Set Progressive Backup to Enabled.

  3. For Progressive Backup Folder Path, click Change.

  4. Enter the full path of the new progressive backup folder. The maximum length of the path is 255 characters.

    • Windows: Ensure the path starts with filewin:/ and end with a slash (/).

      For example, filewin:/[drive letter]:/[folder name]/

    • macOS: Ensure the path starts with filemac:/ and end with a slash (/).

      For example, filemac:/[volume name]/[folder name]/

    • Linux: Ensure the path starts with filelinux:/ and end with a slash (/).

      For example, filelinux:/[volume name]/[folder name]/

  5. Click Save.

Notes  

  • Specify a progressive backup folder on a different hard drive from the one where the hosted databases reside. Since the progressive changes may be written to the progressive backup folder at nearly the same time that changes are written to the hosted databases, using two different hard drives may improve server performance.

  • Creating the initial set of backup files in the progressive backup folder may impact server performance. Once you have specified the progressive backup settings, avoid making changes to them. Any changes to the progressive backup settings require FileMaker Server to create a full backup of all hosted databases.

  • In rare cases, the progressive backup might fail if the machine's clock where FileMaker Server is installed changes by more than the save interval. FileMaker Server uses Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) for progressive backups; therefore, any time zone or daylight savings time changes do not impact the progressive backup.

  • If you receive the error "the path is not valid", see the "The path for my additional database folder or backup folders is not valid" section in General problems.