Ubuntu FMS on FMP Client Machine

Using VirtualBox - Data directory on host nfs-share

Install your "portable" FileMaker Server on your developer machine in a lightweight VM, keep Data on your filesystem.
Or install FMS19 additional to your locally installed FMS16/17/18 (macOS)

nfs Share on macOS:

create folder fmsdata in /Users/Shared/
add it to nfs-exports:

$ sudo pico /etc/exports

add line:

/System/Volumes/Data/Users/Shared/fmsdata -mapall=root localhost

to access the nfs share via localhost (nat to VM):

$ sudo pico /etc/nfs.conf

add line:

nfs.server.mount.require_resv_port = 0

grant Full Disk Access to nfsd:
System Preferences —> Security & Privacy —> Privacy —> Full Disk Access —> cmd + shift + G —> /sbin/nfsd —> Enter

restart nfs deamon:

$ sudo nfsd restart

read more here:
https://www.devguide.at/docker/docker-nfs-implementation-fuer-bessere-performance-in-macos-11-bigsur/

nfs Share on Windows:

for this to work on "non Server" Windows (10), you need to install a nfs server
https://www.hanewin.net/nfs-e.htm

C:\Program Files\nfsd\nfsctl.exe —> Edit —> Preferences —> Exports —> Edit exports file
(also accessible through Control Panel —> haneWIN NFS Server)

add line:

C:\fmsdata -name:fmsdata -mapall:{win user sid}:S-1-5-114 -range 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 

(get your users SID in cmd: wmic useraccount where name='username' get sid)

Windows —> Start —> haneWIN Software —> start NFS Server

copy the FMS Installer and maybe needed selfsigning Root certificate to …/fmsdata/Install/

Blog about selfsigning Root-cert:
https://blog.beezwax.net/2017/12/03/creating-your-own-ssl-certificates-for-filemaker/#more-4439

for „green locks“, add a /etc/hosts entry pointing 127.0.0.1 to the fqdn of your FMS (as in certificate)
or if you run your internal dns, add a CNAME pointing your FMSs fqdn to your host machine

Install VM

VirtualBox:
~ 4 GB Ram (for WebD), ~8 GB disk (VDI dynamic)
Networkadapter: NAT
Port redirections (examples):
• FMP 50030 5003
•  SSH 2022 22
•  WebD 8443 443

Default IPs on VBox (Adapter 1):
• VM: 10.0.2.15
• Host: 10.0.2.2

Install ubuntu-18.04.5 server

in install dialog:
• set language, keyboard layout, user and password, leave everything else default
• add add openSSH package

login via ssh (macOS terminal / windows puTTY):

$ ssh -p 2022 {user}@127.0.0.1

$ sudo apt install nfs-common

check if you can see nfs shares:
$ showmount -e 10.0.2.2

create mountpoint:

$ sudo mkdir /media/fmsdata

add share to fstab:

$ sudo nano /etc/fstab

add line:

(macOS host)

10.0.2.2:/System/Volumes/Data/Users/Shared/fmsdata /media/fmsdata nfs rw,sync,hard,intr 0 0

(windows host)

10.0.2.2:/fmsdata /media/fmsdata nfs rw,sync,hard,intr 0 0
$ sudo reboot

login via ssh (macOS terminal / windows puTTY):

$ ssh -p 2022 {user}@127.0.0.1

check if nfs mounts are present

$ cd /media/fmsdata

$ ls

$ cd Install

create folders for fms/Data:

$ sudo mkdir -p /opt/FileMaker/FileMaker\ Server

link /media/fmsdata as Data to FMS install directory:

$ sudo ln -s /media/fmsdata /opt/FileMaker/FileMaker\ Server/Data

install fms:

$ sudo apt upgrade
$ sudo apt install ./filemaker-server_19.4.1.41_amd64.deb

go through the installer, set fmsuser a.s.o

if needed add self issued Root certificat from the share if format is pem, convert to crt:

$ sudo openssl x509 -in yourRootCert.pem -inform PEM -out yourRoutCert.crt

make store for Extra certs:

$ sudo mkdir /usr/share/ca-certificates/extra
$ sudo cp YourRootCert.crt /usr/share/ca-certificates/extra/
$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure ca-certificates

accept new certs, activate your added cert

$ sudo update-ca-certificates

$ sudo service fmshelper start

login via browser:

https://127.0.0.1:8443/admin-console

import certificate

import license

set server name to fqdn

stop database server

$ sudo service fmshelper stop
$ sudo service fmshelper start

your FMS is up. The system uses about 5 GB of data, I assigned 8GB.

In FMP add host: your.fms.box:50030

Access WebD: https://your.fms.box:8443/fmi/webd

Access Admin-Console: https://your.fms.box:8443/admin-console

With ssl port forwarding, upload filemaker file to host from FMP does not work. But as the Data-directory resides in the hosts filesystem, just copy it to macOS: /Users/Shared/fmsdata/Databases/ windows: C:\fmsdata\Databases

I’ve tested this on windows and it seems to work, but I’m not sure about performance and reliability, test thoroughly first. Otherwise it might be better to keep the files inside the VM. 

Pamela Okoro
Ubuntu
Written by Pamela Okoro on
I am new to Filemaker I just bought it two days ago. How do I find the Ubuntu filemaker-server_19.3.1.47_amd64.deb. I been looking everywhere I can not seem to find it.
Author
Written by on
Hi Pamela, If you bought FileMaker Server with clients, you've been given a url for download, you should find the different flavors of FMS there. best Otmar