Using the Server Utility

The server utility is a small program that enables you to do certain things with the database server without having to start MemberTies at all.  It enables you to restart the server if necessary, delete a database, package a database for easy transport, and perform various other maintenance functions.

The server utility has a separate executable file located in the MemberTies program directory called "mtsrv.exe". (There should also be an icon for it in the Start Menu along with the MemberTies icon.)

Note: The server utility window is a way to look at the server that is running in the background. It is not the server itself.  You can open and close the utility without affecting whether the server is running or not.  The only way to shutdown the server is to click "Stop Server". Closing the window will have no effect.

When you launch the utility, it will immediately display the current status of the server.

The server utility includes several sections containing various options.

Server Status

The options in this section control the starting/stopping of the server itself:

Start Server - Reads configuration files and starts the server. Note that this will not "restart" the server if it is already running.

Stop Server - Shuts down the running server and aborts all existing connections.  You should be sure nobody is logged in before doing this.

Refresh - Redisplays the server status with the current uptime values.

Tools

The options in this section allow you to perform various tasks:

Start MemberTies - Starts the main program.  This button is here for convenience only. It has the same effect as starting the software using the normal desktop or Start menu icon.

Maintain Tables - Opens the table maintenance window. You will be prompted for a login username and password, and will have to choose a database to maintain when selecting this option. Once logged in, see Maintaining Tables for more information.

Remove Database - Enables you to delete a database. You will be prompted for a login username and password, and will have to choose a database to delete when selecting this option. See Deleting a Database for more information.

Package Database - Enables you to create a "zip file" style package containing a database. This is designed to simplify the process of sending a database from one user to another, or for storage purposes.  All database files are packaged into a single file that can be extracted using the Extract Database option. See Packaging a Database for more details.

Extract Database - Extracts (or displays the contents of) a database that was previously packaged using the Package Database option. See Packaging a Database for more details.

Local Server Settings

The options in this section control the way the server starts and runs. Ordinarily you should never need to change any settings here.  If you choose to make changes, be very careful and take note of what the current settings are.  An incorrect setting will prevent the server from starting and MemberTies will be unable to access any databases.

Root Database Directory - The parent directory containing all of your database sub-directories. By default, this will be c:\program files\MemberTies\database.

Root Server Directory - The parent directory containing the server files. By default, this will be c:\program files\MemberTies\server.

Server IP Address - The address to which the server is bound. By default this is "localhost."

Server Engine - The name of the MySQL server engine in use. This defaults to mtmysqld.exe.

Server Port - The port on which the server is listening for connections. By default this is port 3310.