This guide outlines the standard process for moving your FluidFlow installation from one server to another.
Follow these steps to ensure that the license, all user data and preferences, and licenses are transferred successfully.
The standard steps for transferring a FluidFlow3 installation from one server to another are:
1. Install FluidFlow3 on the new server.
2. Copy FF3USERS.DB from the existing installation to the new installation.
3. Copy the \Preferences folder and all its sub-folders from the existing installation to the new installation.
4. Copy the \DATA folder and all its sub-folders from the existing installation to the new installation.
5. Transfer the License from the existing installation to the new installation.
NOTE: Depending on the version of FluidFlow3 on the existing machine (and the version you intend to install on the new machine), the location of the files and folders on both, and the license transfer will differ.
1 – Install FluidFlow on the New Server
We recommend getting the latest version of FluidFlow3 from our website: https://portal.fluidflowinfo.com. (Please contact [email protected], or your local distributor, if you do not know your Username and Password for downloading the latest version.)
When you run the FluidFlow3 installation program (FF3SETUP.EXE) select ‘Network Server’ from the ‘Installation Kind’ when prompted to:
A PSFF.INI text file will be automatically created in the FluidFlow3 installation folder (by default, this is C:\Program Files (x86)\Flite\FluidFlow3) on your server. This file lets the application know the location of the DATA, Preferences, and License folders. For example:
[Options] DataFolder=\\YourServer\C$\Users\Public\Documents\Flite\FluidFlow3\Data PreferencesFolder=\\YourServer\C$\Users\Public\Documents\Flite\FluidFlow3\Preferences NetworkAccessFolder=\\YourServer\C$\Users\Public\Documents\Flite\FluidFlow3
IMPORTANT: This is where an issue might arise as FluidFlow3 assumes the C drive will be shared when you do a network installation. We would recommend that you do notshare the C drive itself, but share the “[Public Documents]\Flite\FluidFlow3” folder instead, and update the PSFF.INI accordingly.
Please see FluidFlow Network Installation Instructions or contact [email protected] for details if this is unclear.
When you first run FluidFlow3 on the server, it will automatically be activated for 2 weeks, for a single user, with all modules. See the “Transfer” section below for moving your existing license.
2 – Copy FF3USERS.DB to the New Installation
This file stores the FluidFlow usernames and passwords. The location of the file will vary depending on the version of FluidFlow on your existing installation, or if you are using a PSFF.INI:
If a PSFF.INI has been created in the application folder, the NetworkAccessFolder entry should hold the location of the FF3USERS.DB file.
If using FluidFlow v3.31 or lower, and there is no PSFF.INI | NetworkAccessFolder entry, the FF3USERS.DB file will be in the application folder (typically, C:\Program Files (x86)\Flite\FluidFlow3).
If using FluidFlow v3.32 or higher, and there is no PSFF.INI | NetworkAccessFolder entry, the FF3USERS.DB file will be in the “Public Documents” folder (typically, C:\Users\Public\Documents\Flite\FluidFlow3). You can determine the “base” Public Documents folder by putting %PUBLIC% in the Windows Explorer address bar and searching from there.
When you find this file, copy it to your new installation to the location specified in the new installation’s PSFF.INI’s NetworkAccessFolder entry.
3 – Copy the Preferences Folder to the New Installation
Each user has their own “Preferences” folder, which contains their individual calculation and flowsheet settings. The location of this folder will vary depending on the version of FluidFlow3 on your existing installation, or if you are using a PSFF.INI:
If a PSFF.INI has been created in the application folder, the PreferencesFolder entry should hold the location of the “Preferences”.
If using FluidFlow v3.31 or lower, and there is no PSFF.INI | PreferencesFolder entry, the folder will be under the application folder (typically, C:\Program Files (x86)\Flite\FluidFlow3\Preferences).
If using FluidFlow v3.32 or higher, and there is no PSFF.INI | PreferencesFolder entry, the folder will be in the “Public Documents” folder (typically, C:\Users\Public\Documents\Flite\FluidFlow3\Preferences). You can determine the “base” Public Documents folder by putting %PUBLIC% in the Windows Explorer address bar and searching from there.
When you find this folder, copy it and *all* sub-folders to your new installation to the location specified in the new installation’s PSFF.INI’s PreferencesFolder entry.
4 – Copy the DATA Folder to the New Installation
The location of this folder, which contains all the fluid and equipment DATA used by the application, will vary depending on the version of FluidFlow3 on your existing installation, or if you are using a PSFF.INI:
If a PSFF.INI has been created in the application folder, the DataFolder entry should hold the location of the Equipment Data
If using FluidFlow v3.31 or lower, and there is no PSFF.INI | DataFolder entry, the folder will be under the application folder (typically, C:\Program Files (x86)\Flite\FluidFlow3\Data).
If using FluidFlow v3.32 or higher, and there is no PSFF.INI | DataFolder entry, the folder will be in the “Public Documents” folder (typically, C:\Users\Public\Documents\Flite\FluidFlow3\Data). You can determine the “base” Public Documents folder by putting %PUBLIC% in the Windows Explorer address bar and searching from there.
When you find this folder, copy it and *all* sub-folders to your new installation to the location specified in the new installation’s PSFF.INI’s DataFolder entry.
NOTE: If you are transferring from an older FluidFlow3 installation (that is, before version 3.5x) please delete all the .FDB files in the new installation’s DATA folder (if they exist there) before copying the older installation’s files to it. The .FDB files will be re-created from the older DATA files the first time FluidFlow3 is started on the new installation. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions regarding this.
5 – Transferring the License
The FluidFlow3 License Manager (FluidFlow3LM.EXE) is used to transfer your existing license to your new installation. Depending on the version of your existing installation, you may not have this application. It can be downloaded from: FluidFlow3LM.zip. Unzip this to the same folder as the FluidFlow3 application (PSFF.EXE) on your existing installation
On the new installation:
-Start FluidFlow3.
- Select the ‘Help | Activate FluidFlow…’ menu item.
- Make a note of the Product Id.
- Stop FluidFlow3.
On the existing installation:
- Start FluidFlow3 License Manager.
- Select the “Export” tab page.
- Enter the Product Id you made a note of from above.
- Select the modules that you want to transfer.
- Click the “Export” button.
- When prompted, enter a filename, e.g., C:\TEMP\Transfer.LIC, to export to.
- Copy the Transfer.LIC file to your new server.
On the new installation:
- Start FluidFlow3 License Manager.
- Select the “Import” tab page.
- Click the “Import” button.
- When prompted, select the license file, e.g., C:\TEMP\Transfer.LIC, to import from.
- Restart FluidFlow3.
💡 Tip: For best performance and security, always ensure both servers are running the latest supported release of FluidFlow. This protects your investment, ensures calculation accuracy, and includes license replacement under our SUM Policy.