Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a FileMaker Server needs a license. You can bring your own, or, as a Claris partner, we can set you up with exactly the license you need. If you're not sure what that is, tell us how many people will use your solution and we'll work it out with you.

Claris sells FileMaker Server licenses for a minimum of five users, so five is the smallest production license even for a very small team. Tell us how many people will use your solution and we'll help you choose between an annual and a perpetual license.

FileMaker 16 through 18 runs on Windows Server. FileMaker 19 through 26 runs on either Windows or Ubuntu — it's your choice, and your license and how you use the server are the same on both. See the hosting plans for details.

Yes. We check compatibility, schedule a test cutover, and validate your data before going live. If you're moving from another host, our staff will help, with no pressure.

You should have received a welcome email (often several) with instructions for getting into the client area and your FileMaker Server Admin Console. The knowledge base has a series of getting-started articles — browse the knowledge base.

The username and password in your welcome email are for the Admin Console and the client area — not for your database. To open your database, it needs its own accounts and privilege sets set up inside FileMaker. If you uploaded a database before adding user accounts, close and remove it from the server, add the accounts, and upload it again.

Plugins on your own copy of FileMaker Pro work as usual. Server-side plugins can be installed on your dedicated server, and our Proactive management add-on covers installing third-party plugins for you.

We have 15 data centers worldwide, and the location you choose does affect speed — the farther the server is from your team or customers, the slower the connection. Pick the one closest to the people using your solution. The full list is on the FileMaker hosting page.

Slowness has many possible causes, and most are worth checking yourself before opening a ticket. The most common is the network between you and the server, such as your internet provider. Less often, the database itself has a problem. If you've checked your connection and it's still slow, open a ticket and we'll take a look.

Every server has a purpose-built firewall, brute-force and DoS monitoring, and malware scanning, and connections to FileMaker Server use SSL encryption. Our servers sit in secure data centers with limited access. Even so, your database is only as secure as your passwords, so use a strong username and password on every database.

We take care of the server itself — setup, security, daily backups and weekly snapshots, and point-version FileMaker updates at no extra charge — in professional data centers, so you can spend your time on your solution instead of your hardware.

Shared hosting fits most single business sites and costs the least. A dedicated server makes sense for several sites, a busy web application, or anything that needs resources to itself. We'll tell you plainly which fits — see web hosting.

The knowledge base has articles on registering, transferring and managing domains hosted with us. Read the domain articles.

Email accounts, forwarders and more are managed from your hosting control panel. Read the email articles for step-by-step help.

There are several possible causes, and the knowledge base walks through them. Read the troubleshooting article, and open a ticket if it doesn't solve it.

The control panel's file manager is fine for a few files. For hundreds or thousands, use an FTP client — many are free, and most take under fifteen minutes to set up.

The knowledge base has articles on MySQL and database management and on keeping your site secure.

Everything lives in the client area: change services, update payment details, review past invoices and emails, open support tickets, or send a question to billing.

Use the “Recover Password” link at the bottom of any login page. A new password is sent to the email address on your billing account. If you no longer have access to that email, contact us and we'll help you recover the account after a few identity questions.

Log into the client area and choose “Update your details.” Save your changes when you're done.

Most products are activated as soon as we receive confirmation of payment. If your order included a domain registration, allow up to 24 hours for the domain to propagate — it usually takes a couple of hours.

Contact billing from your client area to find out why. Most accounts can be unsuspended right away once the cause is resolved.

You can cancel at any time in the client area. Log in, open “My Services,” select the service, click “View Details,” and choose the cancel option under “Management Options.” You’ll be asked whether to cancel immediately or at the end of your current billing cycle.

Cancelling is done only in the client area, because it confirms that you agree your data will be deleted. Your data is deleted at the time you choose, so please download it first. If you cancel before the end of a period you’ve already paid for, there is no refund.