Requirements
- Firebird server. The server runs on this computer. In the TCP/IP mode it can also run on another computer. Each operation needs the matching Firebird version:
- Firebird 5.x for Vacuum Firebird 5.x. The GTR Firebird setup installs Firebird 5.0.
- Firebird 2.5 for Vacuum Firebird 2.5. The GTR Firebird setup does not install Firebird 2.5.
- Firebird 2.5 and 5.x for Migrate from Firebird 2.5 to 5.x.
- A Firebird client library (
fbclient.dll) on this computer. The tool uses the Firebird 5 client fromFB50_CLIENTin.envif the file exists, otherwise the Firebird 2.5 client fromFB25_CLIENT. The Firebird 5 client also works with Firebird 2.5 servers. - The database file, or in the TCP/IP mode its path on the server. Firebird database files usually end with
.fdb. - The Firebird user name and password. See Credentials.
Installation
Run the GTR Firebird setup on every computer with a GTR program and on the database server. This also applies if the database is on another computer, because the setup also installs the client library that the GTR programs load.
The setup detects whether Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit and installs the matching Firebird server and tool. There is no choice to make. In both cases the server goes to C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_50.
The GTR Firebird setup installs the tool to C:\ProgramData\GTR mbH\Firebird-Management. This folder holds:
firebird-gui.exe, the GUI applicationfirebird_manage.exe, the command line application.env, the settings file of both programsfirebird25_embed.zip, the Firebird 2.5 engine for a migration without a Firebird 2.5 server
The setup adds three entries to the Start menu:
- Manage Firebird Databases starts the GUI application.
- Firebird Management Manual opens this manual.
- Firebird Management Handbuch opens the German version.
After the migration, uninstall Firebird 2.5. See Removing Firebird 2.5.
Network port
The GTR programs access the Firebird 5 database through port 3055. The setup opens this port in the Windows firewall with the rule Firebird 5.0 DB Server.
- Keep this rule in place.
- Also open the port in every firewall between the computers and the database server.
- Do not make the port reachable from the internet.
Credentials
Firebird 5.0 from the GTR setup has no default password. A fresh installation sets the SYSDBA password:
- Interactive installation: the setup suggests a generated password. You can replace it with your own password of 20 to 255 characters. The last setup page shows the credentials. Save to File… stores them on the desktop or in the Documents folder.
- Silent installation: the setup generates the password. It saves the credentials to
Firebird_Credentials_<timestamp>.txton the desktop.
In both cases the setup writes the password to the FB50_PASSWD entry in .env. The tool uses this entry for the Firebird 5 server on this computer. In the TCP/IP mode, it fills in Password with it for this computer only.
Store the credentials file in a safe place and delete it from the desktop.
An update of the GTR Firebird setup keeps .env, the users and their passwords. An uninstall also keeps .env.
Firebird 2.5 servers use the user SYSDBA with the factory password masterkey unless an administrator changed it. The .env file uses these values for Firebird 2.5.
First start
- Open the Start menu and click Manage Firebird Databases.
- The Setup tab shows the Firebird versions configured in
.env. - Check that Firebird 5.x shows a green line with the version and path, for example
Found: Firebird 5.0.4.1812 (C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_50\fbclient.dll). - If you need Firebird 2.5, check the Firebird 2.5 line as well.
- If a required line is not green, click Auto-Detect Firebird. See Buttons.
- Go to the Operations tab. See Operations tab.
The Open Manual button at the bottom right of the window opens the manual as a PDF. A German Windows gets the German version, every other Windows the English version. The button is visible on every tab.