recommendations

Please reference Claris' website for help installing, setting up, and troubleshooting FileMaker and FileMaker Server.  We can provide some basic assistance with their software, but they are best equipped to handle any issues that are not directly related to Marvin.

FileMaker Server tips

• The computer should meet the minimum system specifications on Claris' website.
• The computer should be dedicated to FileMaker Server and nothing else.  No one should use it for anything, not even checking emails.
• The computer should be plugged into a battery backup device, not just a surge protector, to prevent data loss due to both power surges and brief outages.
• The computer should be hard-wired to a high-speed internet line — never use WiFi.  It should also be directly connected to a wall port, instead of being routed through an office phone, for instance, which limits the available bandwidth.
• To prevent data loss and corruption, prohibit all indexing services (e.g., Spotlight), anti-virus scanners (e.g., Norton), and OS-level backup utilities (e.g., Time Machine) from accessing the FileMaker Server folder by either excluding the folder or disabling the service.
• A network administrator may need to specify a static IP address for the computer, and they'll likely need to set up port forwarding for 80, 443, 5003, and 16000.
• Regardless of whether the server has a static or dynamic IP address, we recommend No-IP's Enhanced Dynamic DNS service (licensed separately).  Enhanced Dynamic DNS allows you to create an easy-to-remember hostname to access your server (e.g., "marvin.racermotors.net" instead of "10.1.15.51"), and it also includes an SSL certificate.