Configuring Microsoft SQL Server Databases

M-Files supports the use of Microsoft SQL Server on Microsoft Windows. With a cloud-based M-Files environment that you manage yourself, you can also use Microsoft Azure SQL Database Managed Instance as the vault database engine.

Microsoft SQL Server can be located on the same machine as the M-Files Server, or it can be installed on another server. If SQL Server is installed on another server, M-Files Server and SQL Server must be linked with a fast network connection. For instructions on the efficient operation of SQL Server, refer to Microsoft SQL Server documentation.

Make sure that the SQL Server machine has a sufficient amount of memory. The number and speed of processors and hard drives also have a significant impact on the efficiency.

Before you take Microsoft SQL Server into use as the database engine, see Microsoft SQL Server Requirements and Database engine and data storage.

Important: If your SQL Server does not use the default port, 1433, you must give the server name in the format <server name>,<port>.

M-Files Server stores data in the vault in the associated database. Certain secondary data that do not require a backup, such as search indexes, are left outside the database.

Instructions for specialized setups

Refer to these documents in specialized Microsoft SQL Server environments:

File data location

File data can be saved in the Microsoft SQL Server database or other location, such as a network drive.

Select one of these options:

  • Store file data in the vault database
  • Store file data in a file-system folder: With this option, you can specify the location for saving the files to a network drive or to another location. You can set a specific account for processing the file data to keep the file data secure.
    Important: If you want to use a network drive for storing file data, you must use the format //<server>/<path> to specify the file data location.
    Note:

    The vault remains online and fully operational for the majority of the duration of changing the file data location. Only when the new file data location is taken into use, is the vault offline for the duration of taking the new location into use. If you cancel the operation of changing the file data location, you can always resume it by selecting the same location as you previously selected for file data.

For more instructions, see Changing the Location of the Vault File Data for Microsoft SQL Server.