Monitoring Tools for FileMaker Server

Dimitris Kokoutsidis 25 mins0

Dimitris Kokoutsidis, Oct 22, 2024, CyberFM

Monitoring tools are essential for maintaining the stability, performance, and security of your FileMaker Server. These tools enable developers and administrators to automate tasks, gain insights into server activity, and address issues before they escalate. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the top monitoring tools available for FileMaker Server, including OttoFMS, Devin, AllGood Systems, Nutshell Console, and Zabbix. Each tool offers unique features that cater to different needs, whether you’re managing a single server or a complex multi-server environment.

1. OttoFMS: Comprehensive Monitoring & Automation Tool

OttoFMS is a robust, all-in-one solution for automating deployments, backups, and monitoring for FileMaker Server. It is widely regarded as one of the best FileMaker data migration tools available, but it offers much more than just migration. OttoFMS provides a dynamic, intuitive web console that simplifies complex server management tasks and enhances productivity. It is ideal for FileMaker developers, Claris consultants, and multi-tenant solution providers.

Key Features

  • Automated Data Migrations & Deployments: OttoFMS offers seamless migration from development to production environments, reducing what used to take hours into just a few minutes. The tool’s web console enables the scheduling of deployments and migrations at any time, automating repetitive tasks.
  • Server Health Monitoring: OttoFMS includes powerful server monitoring capabilities, providing insights into server performance, task execution, and system health. Users can monitor CPU usage, memory, and disk space through its web console.
  • Webhook Integration & Secure API: OttoFMS makes it easy to receive and process webhooks from other systems. It also allows for secure data integrations by issuing API keys for FileMaker files and Admin API access, simplifying system-wide management.
  • Offsite Backups: One of the standout features of OttoFMS is its ability to create and store backups on S3-compatible services. For only $20 per terabyte, you can ensure data redundancy and recovery.
  • Multi-Tenant Deployment: OttoFMS is particularly useful for managing multi-tenant FileMaker solutions, allowing developers to create, test, and deploy versions of solutions across different customer environments in a single step.
  • Remote Server Management: OttoFMS can connect your on-premise FileMaker Server to Ottomatic, an advanced FileMaker hosting platform, for even more features and offsite backup storage. Through this integration, users can manage multiple servers from a single, theme-able console.

Why Use OttoFMS?

OttoFMS is ideal for teams or individual developers looking to automate and streamline their server management processes. The tool saves time by automating data migrations, scheduling deployments, and running backups, all while providing a central hub for managing multiple servers. It is particularly beneficial for those who handle multi-tenant deployments, as it offers advanced tools to upgrade multiple customers in a single operation.

Back to Menu

2. Devin: DevOps & CI/CD for FileMaker Developers

Devin is a DevOps platform specifically tailored for FileMaker developers. It brings modern software development practices—such as version control, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), and testing automation—directly into the FileMaker ecosystem. By automating deployments and data migrations, Devin allows developers to focus on building high-quality solutions without getting bogged down by manual processes.

Key Features

  • Version Control & Branching: Devin introduces version control directly into FileMaker development workflows. Developers can create branches of FileMaker files for isolated development, testing, and debugging. This prevents conflicts when multiple developers are working on the same project and allows for faster, safer deployments.
  • Automated CI/CD Pipelines: Devin allows teams to implement CI/CD pipelines, ensuring that testing and deployments happen smoothly and without human error. These pipelines can automatically detect issues and alert developers to potential problems before they affect production.
  • Server & File Monitoring: With Devin, you can monitor your FileMaker Server’s health, file access, and resource consumption. This unified dashboard provides real-time monitoring and alerts, making it easier to manage multiple servers from one location.
  • Branching & Version Management: Devin supports branching for development, allowing teams to work on isolated features or bug fixes without impacting the production environment. Once ready, versions can be merged and deployed smoothly.
  • Performance Improvements: By automating deployments and migrations, Devin significantly reduces the time it takes to deploy new versions of FileMaker solutions. According to research, teams can see up to a 60% increase in testing and 40% improvement in deployment times when using Devin.

Why Use Devin?

Devin is perfect for FileMaker development teams looking to adopt DevOps practices. Its focus on version control, branching, and automation allows teams to reduce errors, streamline their workflows, and increase deployment efficiency. Whether you’re managing small projects or enterprise-grade solutions, Devin enhances your development lifecycle with modern tools tailored for FileMaker.

Back to Menu

3. AllGood Systems: Monitor Cron Jobs & SSL Certificates

AllGood Systems provides a simple yet effective monitoring service for websites, cron jobs, and scheduled tasks. Built for developers who need to monitor background tasks and SSL certificate renewals, AllGood Systems sends alerts when tasks fail to run or when SSL certificates are nearing expiration. While not FileMaker-specific, it can be a valuable tool for ensuring that your FileMaker Server’s scheduled scripts and SSL certificates remain active and functional.

Key Features

  • Cron Job Monitoring: AllGood Systems notifies you when cron jobs or scheduled tasks (such as FileMaker Server’s scheduled scripts) fail to run, ensuring that your automated processes are functioning as intended.
  • SSL Certificate Alerts: The platform sends notifications before SSL certificates expire, helping you avoid service interruptions due to expired certificates.
  • Private HTTP Endpoints: With AllGood Systems, you can create private HTTP endpoints to monitor specific actions or events, such as when a file is accessed or when certain conditions are met.
  • Lightweight Dashboard: The simple, lightweight dashboard allows for easy monitoring of multiple websites and services, giving you an at-a-glance view of the system’s health.

Why Use AllGood Systems?

AllGood Systems is ideal for developers and system administrators looking for a simple solution to monitor background tasks and SSL certificate expirations. It’s easy to set up and provides essential alerts, helping you stay on top of your system’s health without constant manual checks.

Back to Menu

4. Nutshell Console: Advanced Server Analytics and Log Management

Nutshell Console is a powerful monitoring tool designed specifically for FileMaker Server. Initially built for FileMaker Server 17, Nutshell Console continues to offer deep insights into server performance, making it easier to diagnose issues and improve responsiveness. With real-time log monitoring, customizable alerts, and a user-friendly dashboard, Nutshell Console is ideal for teams that need in-depth server analytics.

Key Features

  • Real-Time Log Monitoring: Nutshell Console allows administrators to view FileMaker Server logs in real-time, making it easy to troubleshoot issues as they occur. The tool provides detailed visualizations and search capabilities, allowing admins to pinpoint errors and anomalies quickly.
  • Script Performance Monitoring: The platform tracks the performance of server-side scripts and scheduled tasks, providing insights into bottlenecks and areas for optimization.
  • Customizable Alerts: Administrators can set up alerts based on specific server events, such as resource spikes or script failures. These alerts can be delivered via email or integrated with other notification systems.
  • Remote Server Management: Nutshell Console Pro allows administrators to manage multiple servers remotely, providing control over server configurations, logs, and backups through a REST API.
  • Extended Server Controls: Nutshell Console enables admins to control log collection intervals, adjust server settings, and restart services—all from within the console’s interface.

Why Use Nutshell Console?

Nutshell Console is perfect for teams that need granular control over server performance and logs. It provides detailed, real-time insights into server health and script performance, making it a powerful tool for diagnosing and resolving issues quickly. If you’re managing multiple FileMaker Servers, the Pro version offers even more functionality through remote management and a REST API.

Back to Menu

5. Zabbix: Open-Source Monitoring for Advanced Users

Zabbix is an open-source monitoring tool that provides enterprise-grade functionality for FileMaker Servers. While Zabbix requires a Linux server to run, its flexibility and powerful feature set make it a popular choice for teams that need fine-grained control over server monitoring and automation.

Key Features

  • Comprehensive Monitoring: Zabbix allows users to monitor nearly every aspect of their FileMaker Server, from resource usage (CPU, memory, disk) to specific server processes like the Data API and web publishing engine. Users can set custom metrics and alerts based on the server’s performance.
  • Automated Actions: Zabbix can be configured to take automated actions if a problem occurs, such as restarting a failed service or notifying an administrator. Escalation rules ensure that issues are resolved quickly.
  • Custom Dashboards: Build custom dashboards to display the metrics that matter most to your team. Zabbix offers highly customizable visualizations and reporting tools, allowing you to track the health of your FileMaker Servers in real-time.
  • Linux-Based Appliance: Zabbix requires a Linux server for setup, but users who are unfamiliar with Linux can deploy it via a pre-built virtual appliance or Docker container. These appliances make it easy to get started with minimal setup.
  • FileMaker-Specific Monitoring: Zabbix has been successfully used to monitor all versions of FileMaker Server, with many items monitored independently of the FileMaker Admin API. This makes it a versatile solution for various deployment setups.

Why Use Zabbix?

Zabbix is the tool of choice for teams that need extensive, customizable monitoring and automation capabilities. While it requires more technical expertise to set up, its flexibility and powerful feature set make it a valuable tool for teams managing large or complex FileMaker Server environments.

Back to Menu

6. The Missing Admin Tool by Claus Lavendt

Claus Lavendt’s Missing Admin Tool is an open-source solution designed to address the shortcomings of FileMaker Server’s built-in administrative tools. While FileMaker’s Web Admin Console is useful, it lacks certain critical features, particularly for admins managing large or complex deployments. Lavendt’s tool consolidates multiple interfaces—such as the Admin API, command line tools, and log management—into a single platform, offering administrators a more comprehensive management experience.

What is the Missing Admin Tool?

The Missing Admin Tool combines various FileMaker management interfaces into a single FileMaker solution file, enabling administrators to perform tasks such as viewing logs, managing files and clients, and handling SSL certificates from a unified dashboard. It simplifies routine tasks and automates previously manual processes, such as SSL certificate installation and backups.

Key Features

  • Admin API Integration: The tool integrates directly with FileMaker’s Admin API, allowing you to manage backups, file settings, clients, and server configurations through a user-friendly interface.
  • File & Client Management: View and manage hosted files and connected clients, disconnect users, or perform maintenance on individual databases with ease.
  • Advanced Log Viewer: Filter and search logs by time, event type, user, or severity, helping you quickly diagnose issues.
  • SSL Certificate Management: The tool automates SSL certificate installation using Let’s Encrypt, simplifying the process of securing your server.
  • Custom API Calls: Advanced users can add custom Admin API commands to extend the tool’s functionality, making it highly adaptable to specific server needs.

Installation & Setup

To install the Missing Admin Tool, download it from The BrainBasket and configure it with your FileMaker Server’s credentials. The tool provides easy access to all the core management features and allows you to manage multiple servers by duplicating the FileMaker solution file and configuring each instance with a different server.

Why Use the Missing Admin Tool?

The Missing Admin Tool is essential for administrators who need more control over their FileMaker Server management. It fills critical gaps left by the Web Admin Console and simplifies routine tasks like managing files, clients, logs, and SSL certificates. Its open-source nature also makes it highly customizable, providing flexibility for users managing complex server setups.

Back to Menu


7. LogMonitor by 24U Software

LogMonitor is an open-source tool designed to address the need for more efficient and relevant server notifications. While traditional server monitoring systems often overwhelm administrators with excessive alerts, LogMonitor provides a more focused solution by only notifying you when your attention is truly needed. It ensures that administrators stay informed about critical issues without being flooded with irrelevant updates, making server management far more efficient.

What is LogMonitor?

LogMonitor is a flexible, open-source tool that monitors your server logs, including FileMaker Server, and sends notifications only when significant issues occur. By allowing you to define custom log file patterns and alerts, LogMonitor gives you full control over which events trigger notifications. It also supports push notifications for urgent issues and email notifications for non-critical events. This way, you receive timely alerts without unnecessary noise.

Key Features

  • Custom Log Monitoring: LogMonitor allows you to define multiple log files and patterns to watch for. This means you can use it to monitor not just FileMaker Server but any application that logs important events to a text file.
  • FileMaker Server Monitoring: LogMonitor brings back the ability to monitor FileMaker Server warnings, a feature that was removed in version 17. In addition to errors, it can track scripting errors and other important events that need attention.
  • Push Notifications: Get push notifications for critical issues via Pushover, enabling you to act quickly when needed. You can set different notification preferences for each log pattern to ensure that only urgent issues reach your phone.
  • Digest Notifications: Instead of spamming you with notifications for every log entry, LogMonitor aggregates issues and sends a single, prioritized digest of all problems detected since the last check.
  • Open Source & Flexible: Released under the GNU LGPLv3 license, LogMonitor is fully open source. Users are encouraged to contribute to its development and customize it to suit their specific needs.

Installation & Setup

To install LogMonitor, download the distribution archive and configure it with your server details. The tool is compatible with macOS and Windows and requires Python 3.6 or later. Once installed, LogMonitor can monitor multiple log files and notify you via email or push notifications when specific patterns are detected.

Why Use LogMonitor?

LogMonitor is ideal for administrators who want to manage server notifications more efficiently. It fills the gap left by standard monitoring tools that either provide too much information or fail to track critical issues. By delivering focused, relevant alerts, LogMonitor ensures that you’re notified only when it matters, improving your ability to respond quickly and effectively to server issues. Its open-source nature and customizable design make it suitable for a wide range of server environments.

Back to Menu

Key Takeaway

FileMaker Server is a powerful platform, but it requires reliable monitoring and management tools to ensure optimal performance. Whether you’re looking for automation with OttoFMS, a comprehensive DevOps solution with Devin, or an advanced open-source option like Zabbix, there’s a tool for every need. Claus Lavendt’s Missing Admin Tool further bridges the gap, offering essential features that the native FileMaker Server tools lack. With the right combination of these tools, you can automate deployments, monitor server health, manage clients and logs, and ensure your FileMaker Server operates smoothly, securely, and efficiently.

Dimitris Kokoutsidis

Related Articles