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Start and stop BIM Server manually

Marton Kiss
Graphisoft
Graphisoft
Related versions: v18 and newer
There are two options to start or stop the BIM Server manually (the results are the same in case of both options):
  • Using the BIM Server tray icon.
  • Directly starting or stopping the BIM Server's services.

Start and stop BIM Server using the BIM Server tray icon

From version 19 there is an application named BIMcloud Monitor which helps monitoring and managing the BIM Server's services. When this application is running the BIM Server tray icon appears in the Menu bar/Taskbar which grants quick access to manage the BIM Server's services. To control the BIM Server's services click/right click on the BIM Server tray icon in the Menu bar/Taskbar. In the pop-up panel it is possible to start/stop/restart all services at once or one by one.
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Start and stop BIM Server services directly

By default the BIM Server is set to start with the computer when it boots. If for any purpose you would like to stop or restart the BIM Server's services directly without restarting the computer, follow the description below.

Windows

Overview of BIM Server services

Version Components Services
BIM Server 21 BIM Server Manager 21 Graphisoft BIMcloud Manager 21.0
BIM Server Module 21 Graphisoft BIMcloud Server 21.0
BIM Server 20 BIM Server Manager 20 Graphisoft BIMcloud Manager 20.0
BIM Server Module 20 Graphisoft BIMcloud Server 20.0
BIM Server 19 BIM Server Manager 19 Graphisoft BIMcloud Manager 19.0
BIM Server Module 19 Graphisoft BIMcloud Server 19.0
BIM Server 18 BIM Server Manager 18 Graphisoft BIMcloud Manager 18.0
BIM Server Module 18 Graphisoft BIMcloud Server 18.0

Start, stop, restart services

In order to control the services open 'Services':
  • Type either in the run prompt or in the Windows interface's (Start Menu's) search field: services.msc
  • The same settings can be accessed through the Computer Management (Services and Applications/Services)
There you will find a list of all services. The BIM Server runs if the previously mentioned services are running. Each service can also be started, stopped and restarted here.
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To control whether the BIM Server is automatically started with the computer
  1. Select the service on the list
  2. Right click and select Properties
  3. Startup type - change it to Manual
  4. Repeat this with both services
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If the services are set to start manually, you will need to start them each time the computer is rebooted. The best is keeping these settings on automatic, but in some situations the manual setting may be useful:
  • If Projects and Libraries (Project and Attachment folder) are stored on external storage, which might be unavailable when the computer boots.
  • For troubleshooting purposes.

macOS

Overview of BIM Server services (daemons)

On macOS the services are represented as so called Daemons. For each Daemon the configuration is stored in .plist  (Property List) format under the System drive/Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder. The following LaunchDaemons belong to the BIM Server:
Version Components LaunchDaemons
BIM Server 21 BIM Server Manager 21 com.graphisoft.PortalServerService-v21.0.plist
BIM Server Module 21 com.graphisoft.TeamworkApplicationServerMonitor-v21.0.plist
BIM Server 20 BIM Server Manager 20 com.graphisoft.PortalServerService-v20.0.plist
BIM Server Module 20 com.graphisoft.TeamworkApplicationServerMonitor-v20.0.plist
BIM Server 19 BIM Server Manager 19 com.graphisoft.PortalServerService-v19.0.plist
BIM Server Module 19 com.graphisoft.TeamworkApplicationServerMonitor-v19.0.plist
BIM Server 18 BIM Server Manager 18 com.graphisoft.PortalServerService-v18.0.plist
BIM Server Module 18 com.graphisoft.TeamworkApplicationServerMonitor-v18.0.plist
 

How to list all running GRAPHISOFT services (daemons)

In order to list all running daemons, a terminal command named launchctl needs to be used with list parameter. The following example will list all GRAPHISOFT related daemons:
  1. Start Terminal. It can be found in /Applications/Utilities/ folder.
  2. Type the following command: sudo launchctl list | grep com.graphisoft
  3. Enter.
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 Using the sudo command in Terminal asks you to enter your administrator password. You will not see the password as you type it, this is normal. If you enter the wrong password, Terminal asks you to try again. How to start the BIM Server In order to start a daemon, a terminal command named launchctl needs to be used with load parameter. The following example will start the 19 version daemons (change the version number in the .plist file name in case of other versions):
  1. Start Terminal. It can be found in /Applications/Utilities/ folder.
  2. Type the following command to start the BIM Server Manager 19: sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.graphisoft.PortalServerService-v19.0.plist
  3. Enter.
  4. Type the following command to start the BIM Server Module 19: sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.graphisoft.TeamworkApplicationServerMonitor-v19.0.plist
  5. Enter.
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 Note: for a complete start both daemons need to be launched which belong to the affected version. How to stop the BIM Server In order to stop a daemon, a terminal command named launchctl needs to be used with unload parameter. The following example will stop the 19 version daemons (change the version number in the .plist file name in case of other versions):
  1. Start Terminal. It can be found in /Applications/Utilities/ folder.
  2. Type the following command to stop the BIM Server Manager 19: sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.graphisoft.PortalServerService-v19.0.plist
  3. Enter.
  4. Type the following command to stop the BIM Server Module 19: sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.graphisoft.TeamworkApplicationServerMonitor-v19.0.plist
  5. Enter.
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 Note: for a complete stop both services need to be stopped which belong to the affected version. To restart the server, first stop it and then start it again.
To control whether the BIM Server is automatically started with the computer
  • Navigate to the folder of the LaunchDaemons (System drive/Library/LaunchDaemons) in Finder.
  • Drag and drop the .plist files to your desktop (otherwise you will not be able to save the modifications).
  • Open the .plist files in a Property List Editor or in any text editor.
  • Change the RunAtLoad to No (Property List Editor) or change the RunAtLoad key to false as on the pictures below.
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  • Drag and drop the files back to the original location (authentication will be required).
The best is keeping the settings on automatic, but in some situations the manual setting can be useful:
  • if the Projects and Libraries (Project and Attachment folder) are stored on external storage, which might be unavailable when the computer boots
  • for troubleshooting purposes

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