Run FileMaker Server for Linux in Docker Desktop for Mac or Windows. Everything you need to automatically build a ready-to-run Docker image. Works for versions >= 19.4 (Ubuntu).

Windows: there are still some issues (see below).

We are constantly improving the scripts and try to get rid of the remaining issues. If you want to stay up-to-date, make sure to watch the repo and maybe follow us on Twitter: @fmgarage

All our FileMaker-based projects and products are prefixed with an F and the T is for tools, technology, tipps&tricks, techniques or open templates for the community. These files are basically examples and demonstrations where you can copy stuff from and include it your individual apps and solutions.

Browse all our FT repos: https://github.com/fmgarage?q=ft-

If you are looking for other ways to run a FileMaker Server for Linux, check out our regarding repos: https://github.com/fmgarage?q=ft-fms-

• Installation on macOS

• Installation on Windows 10

• Tools

• Administration

Download and install the latest version of Docker Desktop and make sure docker is running.

Clone or download the repo and move it to your documents folder. You may rename it to something like

Download a copy of the FileMaker Server installer for Linux from your Claris account page, unpack the zip file and move the .deb package file to the build folder:

You can also put a link into the config.txt instead, the installer will be downloaded then.

You can adjust the settings in the Assisted Install.txt file, but you don’t need to. The server admin console login will be admin/admin then, which can be changed later.

If you have a certificate that you might want to use for this server, simply copy the files (key, cert and intermediate) into the build directory, the installer will automatically look for the appropriate file endings (.pem, .crt and .ca-bundle). If you don' t provide any, you can install them later or select the default self-signed certificate on first admin console launch.

FileMaker Server requires port 5003 to start, so make sure to quit any FileMaker Pro client before proceeding.

Open Terminal.app, drag the install.sh from the build folder into the terminal window, hit return and give your server instance a name. Or just let it be tagged with an ID.

After the installation process is finished, check the Dashboard in Docker Desktop, there should be a running container named fms-[name-tag].

Open the admin console by clicking the Open in Browser button in the container actions or try with https://localhost/admin-console/signin.

Mind that:

• Chrome does not work without a valid certificate

• Safari lets you bypass the certificate warning

• Edge lets you bypass the certificate warning, but opened from Docker Dashboard, the URL comes as an http link, and you need to append https://.

Clicking the CLI button will open a terminal window where you can use the fmsadmin command to control your server.

Install the Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL first. To do so, follow these instructions: https://docs.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/wsl/install-win10 ("Manual Installation Steps").

Download and install Ubuntu from the Windows Store. The Ubuntu and Ubuntu 20.04 apps are identical, just make sure it is the one offered by Canonical Group Limited. When installed, update packages:

Most likely, it will be necessary to restart Ubuntu after the update, which in this case is done by leaving the linux environment with

and then starting Ubuntu again.

Now, to provide the necessary systemd service to the Ubuntu host, run this script: https://github.com/damionGans/ubuntu-wsl2-systemd-script

Again, restart Ubuntu by exiting and starting again.

Download and install the latest version of Docker Desktop and make sure docker is running.

In the Docker Desktop settings: Under General, activate WSL2 based engine and under Resources › WSL Integration activate WSL2 support for your Ubuntu installation. It may be necessary to restart both Docker Desktop and Ubuntu (or even reboot Windows) to get the integration into a working state. You can test and see if docker ps from the Ubuntu terminal throws any error.

Clone or download and unzip the repo.

Since it is recommended not to mount volumes from the Windows filesystem into a WSL2 Docker container but rather directly from the WSL filesystem, copy the installer into your Linux home directory:

Download a copy of the FileMaker Server installer for Linux from your Claris account page, unpack the zip file and move the .deb package file to the build folder:

You can also put a link into the config.txt instead, the installer will be downloaded then.

You can adjust the settings in the Assisted Install.txt file, but you don’t need to. The server admin console login will be admin/admin then, which can be changed later.

If you have a certificate that you might want to use for this server, simply copy the files (key, cert and intermediate) into the build directory, the installer will automatically look for the appropriate file endings (.pem, .crt and .ca-bundle). If you don' t provide any, you can install them later or select the default self-signed certificate on first admin console launch.

It may be necessary to grant an access rule for Docker Desktop in the Windows firewall when prompted.

Run the installer :

When the installation process is finished, your server will be startet automatically.

Open the admin console by clicking the Open in Browser button in the container actions — if that fails, try with https://localhost/admin-console/signin.

Mind that:

• Chrome does not work without a valid certificate

• Edge lets you bypass the certificate warning, but opened from Docker Dashboard, the URL comes as an http link, and you need to append https://.

Clicking the CLI button will open a terminal window where you can use the fmsadmin command to control your server.

Folders (for databases, backups…​) are created on container start but not reconnected if you reboot and start Docker Desktop again. Existing files will not be overwritten, but new volumes must be created and attached to the local folders. This happens in the start_server script, where the wsl directory is checked before starting the container. It is considered a workaround to this issue: docker/for-win/issues/10060

If Docker Desktop for Windows fails to restart, rebooting Windows may be the fastest way solve this.

To handle some issues and restrictions, there are scripts for controlling your server instances in the tools/ subdirectory:

setup_instance.sh

Lets you set an instance name or ID and creates bind volumes. Also looks for fms-data directories.

remove_instance.sh

Removes volumes and container, but not the fms-data directory. Delete instance directory manually.

start_server.sh

Start this server instance.

stop_server.sh

Stops server, you will be prompted to close any open databases.

global_cleanup.sh

This removes any dangling volumes (attached to no container) and also removes the docker network fms-net, when no container named fms-* is left. It is necessary especially on Windows, where bind volumes get recreated after every reboot, and the old ones persist.

Stopping and Restarting the Server

Accessing files

\\wsl$\your_linux_distro\

Managing Instances

Snapshots