INSTALLATION GUIDE

Serv-U File Server

Version 15.4

Last Updated: Thursday, May 25, 2023

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Table of Contents
Install the SolarWinds Serv-U File Server 4
Upgrade Serv-U File Server 11
Back up files on a Windows server 11
Back up files on a Linux server 12
Upgrade 12
Upgrading Serv-U Gateway 12
Creating, exporting, and importing the Server Identity 13
Create a server identity 13
Export a server identity 14
Import a server identity 14
Set up a new multi-tier Serv-U Server across multiple machines 15
Licensing Serv-U 17

Installation Guide: Serv-U File Server page 3

 Install the SolarWinds Serv-U File Server

Install the SolarWinds Serv-U File Server

Serv-U installation files and licenses are now available in the Customer Portal. Refer to Serv-U
licenses now available in Customer Portal for steps to access this information.

For instructions for installing Serv-U on a Linux server, see the Install Serv-U on Linux
knowledge base article.

If you are installing Serv-U File Server for the first time, follow the instructions on the installation
screens to choose the installation directory and to configure desktop shortcuts for quickly accessing
the server.

During a fresh installation of Serv-U 15.3.2 or later, the Server Identity attribute used in the
encryption of client data is automatically created. If a server definition is detected, a pop-up
message is displayed to say you need to either create a new server identity or import an
existing server identity. Exporting an existing server identity enables you to migrate a server
instance or create multiple instances in a multi-tier server set up (for example, for load
balancing). For further information see Creating, exporting, and importing the server identity.

1. Run the installation file from the download folder, and follow the prompts.
2. Select the language of the installation.

Serv-U File Server supports installation in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian,
Serbian, Swedish, Russian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. At this
point you are selecting only the default language for the Management Console. When
users connect to Serv-U File Server, they can select any language from the list of
supported languages.

Installation Guide: Serv-U File Server page 4

 Install the SolarWinds Serv-U File Server

3. Review the license agreement, and if you agree, accept it and click Next.

Installation Guide: Serv-U File Server page 5

 Install the SolarWinds Serv-U File Server

4. Select whether to add the Serv-U icon to your desktop, and whether to install Serv-U as a system
service, and click Next.

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 Install the SolarWinds Serv-U File Server

5. Click Install.

The installation now begins.

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 Install the SolarWinds Serv-U File Server

If the installation program detects a firewall, a Universal Plug and Play capable router, or similar,
a screen such as the following is displayed. Check the appropriate checkbox or checkboxes to
allow Serv-U to continue.

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 Install the SolarWinds Serv-U File Server

6. Uncheck the Start the Serv-U Management Console checkbox if you do not want to launch Serv-
U immediately, and click Finish.
You can launch it later by double-clicking the Serv-U File Server icon in the system tray, or by
right-clicking the Serv-U File Server icon and selecting Start Management Console.

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 Install the SolarWinds Serv-U File Server

The Management Console is displayed.

You will be prompted to set up your first domain using the Domain Wizard. See Create a Serv-U
domain.

If you selected to install Serv-U File Server as a system service in Step 4, Serv-U File Server is
automatically started when the server is started, before any users log in to the system. This is
useful if Serv-U File Server is running on a dedicated server that does not regularly have an
interactive user session logged in to it.
If Serv-U File Server is not installed as a system service, it has to be manually started after you
log in to the server.

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 Upgrade Serv-U File Server

Upgrade Serv-U File Server

Before you upgrade or migrate the Serv-U File Server, you should back up the server definition (that is,
the Serv-U configuration files and directories listed below). Only Serv-U Local Administrators or full
privileged System Administrators can export these files.

Copying the files from the source server can be done while the Serv-U server is live with no data
integrity issues. However, when you restore the configuration files to a new server (or rebuild an
existing server), the Serv-U service must be stopped while the files are imported. To stop the
Serv-U service, right click on the Serv-U Tray and select Serv-U.

For more information about backing up, restoring, or migrating Serv-U, see Back up or move
Serv-U settings.

Back up files on a Windows server

Directories Files
C:\ProgramData\RhinoSoft\Serv-U Serv-U.Archive
Serv-UID.txt

C:\ProgramData\RhinoSoft\Serv- Serv-U.FileShares
U\Shares
Serv-U.FileShares-shm

Serv-U.FileShares-wal

C:\ProgramData\RhinoSoft\Serv- username.Archive
U\Users\domain-name

C:\Program Files\RhinoSoft\Serv- Any files with the .crt, .pem and .key extensions
U
These files are stored by default in your installation directory,
but you should check the Domain Limits & Settings >
Encryption (for each domain) tabs and Server Limits & Settings
> Encryption tab in the Management Console to see if these
files are being stored elsewhere.

It is a best practice to store these all in one directory for the server or in one directory per
domain so they are convenient for backing up.

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 Back up files on a Linux server

Back up files on a Linux server

If you are running Serv-U under Linux, the above files will be found in the /usr/local/Serv-u
directory.

Upgrade
When installing Serv-U 15.3.2 or later over an existing version of Serv-U, you will be asked if you
want to create or import an existing Server Identifier. If you are upgrading a single instance of
your server, you should create a server identifier. If you are upgrading a multi-tier set of Serv-U
instances, see set up a new multi-tier Serv-U Server across multiple machines.

1. Back up your old Serv-U settings as described above. If you have version 15.3.2 or later, you
should also export the Server Identifier.
2. Download the latest licensed version of Serv-U from the Customer Portal, and save it to a
temporary directory.
3. Stop the Serv-U services. Put the services in Disabled mode, and reboot the server.

Rebooting the server ensures that any calls or dependencies the Serv-U services had on
other resources do not affect the upgrade.

4. Open the file, and run the program as administrator.

5. When prompted, overwrite the existing version.
The latest version will be installed on top of the current version of Serv-U.
6. Apply any hotfixes for the current version if available.

If you experience issues with the Management Console after upgrading, clear your
browser cache.

Upgrading Serv-U Gateway

The following files should be backed up before upgrading Serv-U Gateway.

Directories Files
C:\ProgramData\RhinoSoft\Serv-u Gateway or Serv-U-Gateway-ID.txt

C:\ProgramFiles\RhinoSoft\Serv-u Gateway Accept-Public-IP-CIDRs.txt

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 Creating, exporting, and importing the Server Identity

Creating, exporting, and importing the Server

Identity
Create a server identity
If you install a copy of Serv-U 15.3.2 or later for the first time and do not see the following message
then a server identifier has been automatically created.

You can confirm this if in doubt by navigating to Global > Server Details > Server Identity.

You should see the following:

If you are required to create a new Server Identifier (rather than import an existing identifier):

1. Navigate to Global > Server Details > Server Identity.

2. Click Create.
The Server Identity is generated.

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 Export a server identity

Export a server identity

Once you have set up the Serv-U 15.3.2 or later File Server, you can export and save the Server Identity
to use for further instances of this server - for example, if you are creating a multi-tier file server for
load balancing or if you need to move the server to another machine.

Only the Serv-U Local Administrator or full privileged System Administrators can export a
server Identity.

1. Navigate to Global > Server Details > Server Identity.

2. Click Export to launch the Export Server Identity pop-up.
3. Click Browse and navigate to the directory into which you want to copy the Server Identity.
4. Enter the file name for the Server Identity and click Select.
5. Enter a password and confirm, and then click Export.

The complexity requirements for the password are displayed when you click in the
password field.

6. Store the export file and password in a safe, secured location.

Import a server identity

Only the Serv-U Local Administrator or full privileged System Administrators can import a
Server Identity.

If you need to import an existing server identity - for example, if you have moved the location of the
server:

If you are replicating an existing server identity for use with multiple instances in a multi-tier
server set-up, see the following section.

1. Navigate to Global > Server Details > Server Identity.

2. Click Import to launch the Import Server Identity pop-up.
3. Click Browse and navigate to the location containing the Server Identity.
4. Click Import.

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 Set up a new multi-tier Serv-U Server across multiple machines

Set up a new multi-tier Serv-U Server across multiple

machines
If you need to set up multiple instances of your server across host machines - for example, for load
balancing, this can be done as follows:

Only the Serv-U Local Administrator or full privileged System Administrators can export and
import a server Identity.

1. Install Serv-U MFT 15.3.2 on a clean host machine.

A Server Identity is automatically created.
2. Configure the server as required. This creates the server definition that will be used by all the
subsequent instances of this server.
3. Export the Server identity. To do this:
a. Navigate to Global > Server Details > Server Identity.
b. Click Export to launch the Export Server Identity pop-up.
c. Click Browse and navigate to the directory into which you want to copy the Server Identity.
d. Enter the file name for the Server Identity and click Select.
e. Enter a password and confirm, then click Export.
f. The complexity requirements for the password are displayed when you click in the
password field.
g. Store the export file and password in a safe, secured location.

4. Close this instance of Serv-U. and create a movable copy of the server definition. This
comprises a number of files located in the Serv-U program data directory including Serv-
U.Archive. And will be used to replicate all other Serv-U instances that compose the entire
Server.
5. For each subsequent machine on which you want to install an instance of the server, Install
Serv-U on the machine.
6. Stop the installed Serv-U instance and copy the definition, created in Step 2 above, into the Serv-
U program data directory.

If required, enter the listener IP addresses and other host-specific Serv-U settings for this
specific machine.

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 Set up a new multi-tier Serv-U Server across multiple machines

7. Start the Serv-U instance and import the Server Identity, created in Step 3 above. To do this:
a. Navigate to Global > Server Details > Server Identity.
b. Click Import to launch the Import Server Identity pop-up.
c. Click Browse and navigate to the location containing the Server Identity.
d. Click Import.
e. If required, configure the ODBC data source and/or the Serv-U instance to connect to the
database.

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 Licensing Serv-U

Licensing Serv-U
When you have installed Serv-U, you can enter your Serv-U registration ID, which will determine which
version of Serv-U you have.

To register Serv-U:

1. Navigate to Global > Server Details.

2. Select the License Information tab.
3. Click Enter License ID.
4. Enter your Serv-U registration ID, and click Save.

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