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Back up or move Serv-U settings

This article covers backing up configuration files, Serv-U settings, gateway files, the file share database, the file share repository. and archive files before a migration or upgrade of Serv-U.

First published date

10/10/2018 9:03 PM

Last published date

7/27/2026 5:27 PM

Overview

Please refer to the steps below when backing up, restoring, and migrating Serv-U. This can be very helpful if you want to retain your existing configuration before making any changes such as upgrading Serv-U or migrating to another server. Backups are also useful if you want to uninstall Serv-U and retain the configuration.

Product section

Serv-U Managed File Transfer & Serv-U FTP Server

Resolution

Back up Serv-U settings

Since the release of Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008, Serv-U has stored critical settings files in the "ProgramData" folder. 

Prior to these changes, Serv-U saved settings files in the "ProgramFiles" folder.

The Serv-U settings files that must be backed up are:

  • Serv-U.Archive file
  • Users folder
  • Shares folder
  • Serv-UID.txt file
  • Server Identity

NOTE: If  you are using a database to store user/s record:

  • If you are using a new database, create a backup from the old database and restore to the new database.
  • If you are using the same database, connect the old the database to the new Serv-U server instance.
  • If you are using LDAP Authentication with MFA Enabled/Enforced, make sure the successful backup for the old MFA database for LDAP is present in "C:\ProgramData\RhinoSoft\Serv-U\Users\MFAAccounts.LDAPUsers". 
  • If you are using Windows Authentication with MFA Enabled/Enforced, make sure the successful backup for the old MFA database for Windows is present in "C:\ProgramData\RhinoSoft\Serv-U\Users\MFAAccounts.WindowsUsers".

Files are stored in:

  • Windows 7 and later, Server 2008 and later: C:\ProgramData\RhinoSoft\Serv-U (This folder is hidden in Windows by default.)
  • Windows 2000/XP, Server 2000/2003: C:\Program Files\RhinoSoft\Serv-U
  • Linux: /usr/local/Serv-U

If you are using FTPS or SFTP, you will need to back up additional key and cert files along with the basic configuration files listed above. These are:

  • Any file ending with .crt
  • Any file ending with .pem
  • Any file ending with .key

The Serv-UID.txt file contains your license key information. This file is created when you enter your license ID in the Serv-U Management Console, and it is stored in your installation directory. However, the other files might be located elsewhere on your system. The best way to verify whether you are using these files is to check the Domain Limits & Settings | Encryption (for each domain) and Server Limits & Settings | Encryption tab to see where those files are stored. (It is a best practice to store these either in one directory for the server, or one directory per domain so they are easy to back up.)

Back up Serv-U Gateway files

Before upgrading your Serv-U Gateway, certain data must be backed up. The data you must back up is stored in either of the following default data directories:

  • Windows 7 and later, Server 2008 and later: C:\ProgramData\RhinoSoft\Serv-U Gateway
  • Windows 2000/XP, Server 2000/2003: C:\Program Files\RhinoSoft\Serv-U Gateway
  • Linux: /usr/local/Serv-U Gateway

The following files must be backed up:

  • Serv-U-Gateway-ID.txt
  • Accept-Public-IP-CIDRs.txt

The Accept-Public-IP-CIDRs.txt file is in the Serv-U Gateway installation directory, which may or may not be the same as the data directory. In the case of Windows 7 and later or Windows Server 2008 and later, the installation directory is different from the data directory.

Back up the file share database

To migrate the file share database to a new or upgraded Serv-U instance, copy one of the following folders from the old server to the new server (depending on your operating system version).

Before copying the folder, stop your Serv-U instance.

  • Windows 7 and later, Server 2008 and later: C:\ProgramData\RhinoSoft\Serv-U\Shares
  • Windows 2000/XP, Server 2000/2003: C:\Program Files\RhinoSoft\Serv-U\Shares

Back up the contents of the file share repository

To migrate the contents of the file sharing repository to a new or upgraded Serv-U instance:

  1. In the Serv-U Management Console, click Domain > Limits & Settings > File Sharing.
  2. Note the location of the File Sharing Repository, and back up the contents of that folder.
  3. After the migration of Serv-U is complete, create the new file sharing repository at the same location on the new system.

Restore or Migrate the Serv-U configuration files

  1. Copy the Serv-U.Archive file, Users folder, Shares folder (if any) and Serv-UID.txt file inside C:/ProgramData/Rhinosoft/Serv-U (current server) to the new server.

    Note: It is also possible that the files are found in the installation folder: C:/ProgramData/RhinoSoft/Serv-U. This can also be in D: or E: depending on where Serv-U is installed. Also, make sure to copy the certificate files and folders from the old server to the new server and make sure they are in the same folder path.
    If you are using LDAP Authentication with MFA Enabled/Enforced, make sure the old MFA database for LDAP is restored into "C:\ProgramData\RhinoSoft\Serv-U\Users\MFAAccounts.LDAPUsers".
    If you are using Windows Authentication with MFA Enabled/Enforced, make sure the old MFA database for Windows is restored into "C:\ProgramData\RhinoSoft\Serv-U\Users\MFAAccounts.WindowsUsers". 

 

  1. Stop the Serv-U service from the current server.
  2. Go to C:/ProgramData/Rhinosoft/Serv-U inside the new server. Delete all the contents inside this folder.
  3. Copy the Serv-U.Archive file, Users folder, Shares folder (if any) and Serv-UID.txt file from the old server, and paste into this location inside the new server: C:/ProgramData/RhinoSoft/Serv-U

    Note: If Serv-U is installed on another drive (D:/ or E:/) in the new server, restore the Archive and Users file into D:/ or E:/ProgramData/RhinoSoft/Serv-U folder. The C:/ProgramData/RhinoSoft/Serv-U folder in the new server will be left blank. Also if the new server will still undergo testing, and the old production Serv-U server should still be functional, DO NOT copy the Serv-UID.txt file into the new server. A temporary license should be used in the new server.
     
  4. Start the Serv-U service in the new server.
  5. Import the backed up Server Identity.
  6. Update the IP address of the domain listeners to the new server IP:
    1. Go to Domains > Domain Details > Listeners tab.
    2. Edit each listener (port) and change the IP address to the new server IP.
  7. If there is a Gateway involved, update the Gateway IP address as well: 
    1. Go to Server Details > Serv-U Gateway tab.
    2. Edit the Gateway entry and enter the correct IP address.
  8. If the license is showing as TRIAL or expired, log in to your Customer Portal page  (https://customerportal.solarwinds.com) and retrieve your Serv-U MFT license.
  9. Apply the license in Serv-U:
    1. Go to Global > Server Details > License Information.
    2. Go to the lower left corner of the page and click the Enter License ID button.
    3. Paste your license, and save.