DVMAX Server Settings

Owned by John Bellos (Unlicensed)
Apr 05, 2016
5 min read

Versions: DVMAX 7.5 and Higher

Most of the Settings on the DVMAX Server should be left at the factory defaults, but there are a number of areas of interest with the new DVMAX Server application that are useful for both support and users alike.
Please note that this document assumes DVMAX Server is already installed and running with a datafile.

Navigating the DVMAX Server User Interface


The DVMAX Server User Interface will have multiple tabs across the top: Monitor, Users, Processes, Maintenace, Application Server, SQL Server, and HTTP Server.
If you have launched DVMAX and do not see the User Interface with these options, click on the Window drop down menu at the top and choose Administration.


Monitor Tab

The Monitor view is the default screen that shows up. It’s purpose is to present a summary of the system, and show CPU activity.

Quickly Identifies:

  • Total / Used Memory
  • Total / Used Hard Drive Space
  • IP of Server
  • OS of Server
  • Processor Type
  • Processor Usage (both by 4D Server AND other processes)
  • 4D version (note: to see the DVMAX version, you can go to “About DVMAX” on the Server.)
  • Be mindful that the monitor of CPU usage is for the ENTIRE Computer. Seeing a high CPU usage does not mean that it is all coming from DVMAX Server.  At the bottom of the Monitor tab is a breakdown of CPU usage by 4D (DVMAX) and then the Total (All processes on the computer).

Lastly, the CPU Monitor can be changed to show other traffic.  Below the Graph, click on the label CPU Usage to change what the monitor is tracking.


Users & Processes Tabs

The Users tab will show each user connected to the DVMAX Server via DVMAX Client.

Useful for quickly identifying:

  • 4D User name (Who they’re logged in as)
  • Machine name (Name of Computer)
  • Session Name (Windows or Mac user profile logged in)
  • IP Address
  • When the logged in initially
  • Total Activity

From here, you can manage the users in 3 ways, via the button choices at the bottom

Send Message: This will display a message on that specific user’s screen.

Watch Processes: This will launch a filtered view of only that users processes on the Processes Tab. Usefule when the Total Activity is unusually high.

Drop User: This will terminate the session, causing the connected user to be aborted from the server. This will free a license if the connected user is really an orphaned connection.



Maintenance Tab

Note: Performing many of the options on this tab may halt or abort all user actions until the action performed is completed. Depending on the maintenance performed, this could take minutes to hours - plan accordingly.

Verify Records and Indexes: This action can be performed while the system is in use, but may cause some performance/slowness issues while running. This maintenance feature scans for any data or index anomalies and builds a report with the result.

Compact Data: This action will cause DVMAX to be unavailable for the duration of the compaction. Compacting the data is recommended on a yearly basis to help with defragmentation of the data and improve overall performance. The process can take several minutes to hours depending on the size of your data and speed of your hard drive.
Compacting the data is fairly simple to execute:
- Click Compact Data.
- Choose to Disconnect all Users and Quit if you're ready to proceed.
- DVMAX will start compacting the database, showing several dialogs as it steps through each table.
- The compaction will complete when the dialogs cease and the Server application restarts itself.
- If you decide to not monitor DVMAX during the compaction, check the Application Server tab and check the Uptime. If the Uptime changes to something more recent, you'll know the Server has rebooted while you were away.

Restart Server: This action will Quit and Re-launch the DVMAX Server program for you in one action.

Backup Preferences: Clicking the Preferences button will open the Backup Preferences dialog, allowing you to configure an automatic schedule for DVMAX Backup. If this is your first time setting it up, DVMAX will halt all user actions until the Backup performs it's first time successfully.

We recommend the following configuration:

  • Click the Preferences button to open the Backup Setup.
  • Change Automatic Backup to Daily.
  • Set the time (military format) for when your practice is least busiest or closed.
  • Click the Configuration tab.
  • In the Attachments area, click 'Add File...'
  • Point to the location of your datafile folder and select the .4DIndx, 4DSyncData, .4DSyncHeader, and .Match files as attachments.
  • For the Backup Destination, click the '...' button to the right.
  • Set the Backup Destination to your DVMAXBackupsFolder, typically located in:
C:/DVMAXDatabaseFiles/DVMAXBackupFolder on Windows
Macintosh HD:Documents:DVMAXDatabaseFiles:DVMAXBackupFolder on Macintosh
  • Check the Use Log File box. A dialog will ask you where to save the Journal File. Save it in the same folder as your data, typically located in:
C:/DVMAXDatabaseFiles/DVMAXDataFolder on Windows
Macintosh HD:Documents:DVMAXDatabaseFiles:DVMAXDataFolder on Macintosh
  • Click the Backup & Restore tab.
  • Set the If Backup Fails choice to Retry at the Next Scheduled Date and Time, or any other option of your liking. If you set it to retry differently, make sure you check the box to Cancel the operation after a certain number of attempts to avoid endless backup attempts and failures.
  • Click OK to save the Backup settings - DVMAX will then perform it's first backup


Application, SQL, and HTTP Server Tabs

Each of the three Server tabs are used by DVMAX for different reasons. All of them are on by default and should be left on as each of them are used for different features/functions in DVMAX.

Application Server: Allows DVMAX Client applications to connect and communicate with the DVMAX Server.
Reject new connections would prevent users from making a connection to DVMAX - sometimes useful when performing maintenance operations.
The IP and Port used by the application server is also listed here. The default port is 19813 and should not be changed.

SQL Server: Allows SQL connections and queries to be performed directly with the DVMAX Server. The SQL Server is primarily used for the Remote Processing / Sync feature, but it used in other areas as well.
The IP and Port used by the SQL server is also listed here. Note the default port is 19812 and should not be changed.

HTTP Server: Allows web based programs to run with DVMAX. Currently this is needed for: Referral Logins, Client Register, iPhone/iPad App, Web Appts, Custom Reports, Boarding, and more.
Several of the HTTP modules are available by default. You can find many of the topics covered in your DVMAX Manual or by searching our online Knowledgebase.


Cache / Memory Settings


After installing DVMAX Server, it is important to review the cache/memory settings to ensure that DVMAX is utilizing as much of your RAM/Memory as possible for it's Cache. The more DVMAX can store in memory while the program is in use, the faster DVMAX will be when client connections make requests from the database.

Go to the File menu and choose Database Settings.
Click on the Database / House icon.
Click on the Memory tab.
Change the Maximum Size to a higher valiue, depending on your system.
If you're running Windows 32-Bit Server, set the Maximum size below 1000 mb. (We recommend 700 MB)
If you're running Windows 64-Bit Server, set the Maximum size to 3-4 GB, if you have the free memory.
If you're running Macintosh Server, set the Maximum size below 2 GB. (We recommend 1500 MB)
The other values listed on this page should be left at their defaults. Changing any other values could have an adverse affect on your system.