FMS-Manager Module #
Talk to your FileMaker Server — the first natural language administration layer for Claris FileMaker Server.
FMS-Manager is a revolutionary administration layer that lets FileMaker Server administrators manage their infrastructure by simply talking to it. Instead of navigating admin panels, memorizing API syntax, or scheduling manual checks, administrators type — or say — what they need, in any language, and FMS-Manager handles the rest.
Overview #
FMS-Manager connects directly to the Claris FileMaker Server Admin REST API — all 95+ endpoints across 14 functional categories — and makes every one of them accessible through a conversational interface. There is no command syntax to learn. Beyond the built-in chat interface, FMS-Manager also exposes a REST API and a Model Context Protocol (MCP) service, so it integrates directly with AI agents — Claude, Devin, Cline, ChatGPT, and any MCP-compatible assistant that can act on your behalf.
“The FileMaker Server Admin API exposes tremendous power. The problem is that using it requires technical knowledge that most administrators should not have to carry in their heads”, says Francesc Sans, founder of nBNC Software. “FMS-Manager closes that gap. You describe what you want. The system figures out how to do it safely, confirms when needed, and gives you a plain-language answer.”
Key Features #
Natural Language Administration #
- No syntax to learn — just type or say what you need
- Multi-language support — works in any language
- All 95+ Admin API endpoints accessible through conversation (as per FileMaker Server 2025 version)
- Context-aware responses with plain language explanations
Built-in Intelligence #
- Error pattern recognition — searches curated knowledge base of FileMaker Server errors
- Documentation integration — leverages official FileMaker Admin Guide
- Learning system — successful resolutions feed back into the knowledge base
- Contextual troubleshooting — doc-backed, contextual answers
Cloud Knowledge Service #
FMS-Manager includes a cloud knowledge service that accelerates your system’s intelligence through collective learning. This service is always free — simply subscribe to join the knowledge sharing network and agree to the participation terms:
With Subscription:
- Share your resolved issues and solutions (anonymized) with the cloud service
- Gain access to a shared knowledge base that grows continuously from the entire subscriber community
- Benefit from patterns, fixes, and insights discovered across diverse FileMaker environments
- Your knowledge base enriches automatically as the community contributes
Without Subscription:
- Remain on the starter basic dataset included with the product
- Your knowledge base grows only from your own isolated experience
- No access to community-contributed solutions or patterns
The choice is yours: accelerate through collective intelligence, or grow organically at your own pace. Either way, your data stays secure — shared contributions are fully anonymized and stripped of any identifying server or database information.
Safety & Security #
- Read vs. act distinction — different safety levels for different operations
- Staging vs. production awareness — explicitly tag each server as “staging” or “production”; any operation on production environments triggers explicit security coverage, making it highly improbable to damage data accidentally or maliciously
- Explicit confirmations required for destructive operations
- Production server protection — requires typing server name for critical actions
- Comprehensive audit logging — every operation logged before execution
Fleet Management #
- Multi-server environments — register multiple FileMaker Server instances
- Unified interface — address any server by name within the same conversation
- Encrypted credentials — secure storage of server connection details
- Server-tagged metrics — every command and alert linked to specific servers
Automated Monitoring #
- Continuous health checks across the entire server fleet
- Historical metrics storage in PostgreSQL with integrations to popular monitoring standards (Prometheus metrics export, Grafana dashboards, InfluxDB suppor)
- Configurable alerts for server state, database closures, backup failures
- SSL certificate expiry monitoring with configurable warning periods
- License capacity monitoring with threshold-based alerts
- Performance tracking — API response time degradation detection
What You Can Do (Examples of Natural Language Commands) #
Database Management #
| 💬 What databases are currently open on the production server? |
| 💬 Close the Contacts database — I need to do maintenance |
| 💬 Open the Invoices database on staging |
| 💬 Upload the new version of the CRM file and open it |
Connected Clients #
| 💬 Who is currently connected to the production server? |
| 💬 How many clients are on the Contacts database right now? |
| 💬 Disconnect Marco from the Invoices database — he left for the day |
| 💬 Send a message to all connected users: server will restart in 10 minutes |
Backups and Schedules #
| 💬 When was the last backup of the Contacts database? Did it succeed? |
| 💬 Create a daily backup schedule for the Invoices database at 02:00 |
| 💬 Run the weekly backup now, I can’t wait until tonight |
| 💬 Show me all configured schedules and flag any that are disabled or failed |
Security and Certificates #
| 💬 What is the state of the SSL certificate on production? When does it expire? |
| 💬 Renew the Let’s Encrypt certificate on the staging server |
| 💬 Show me the current security configuration |
| 💬 What external authentication providers are configured? |
Server Health and Analytics #
| 💬 Give me a full health overview of the production server |
| 💬 How has the client count on production trended over the last two weeks? |
| 💬 Which databases have had the most connection errors this week? |
| 💬 Compare the client count on client-A and client-B |
Integration Options #
Built-in Chat Interface #
- Direct web-based conversation interface
- Real-time responses with confirmation prompts
- Full conversation history and audit trail
REST API #
- Programmatic access to all natural language capabilities
- Standard HTTP endpoints for integration with existing systems
- JSON-based request/response format
Model Context Protocol (MCP) #
- Direct integration with AI agents — Claude, Devin, Cline, ChatGPT, and any MCP-compatible assistant that can act on your behalf, not just coding tools but autonomous agents
- Native AI assistant integration for FileMaker administration
- Extensible protocol for custom AI workflows
- A valuable stepping stone — every interaction refines your FileMaker-AI integration strategy for future work
Notification System #
FMS-Manager includes a pluggable notification router that integrates with your existing workflows:
- Telegram — instant mobile notifications
- Email — SMTP-based alerts for corporate environments
- Slack / Microsoft Teams — webhook delivery to channels
- n8n workflows — custom automation and escalation
- Custom channels — extensible driver system
Technical Specifications #
Architecture #
- AI-powered natural language processing
- PostgreSQL for historical metrics storage
- n8n automation backbone for notifications
- RESTful API with comprehensive documentation
- MCP server for AI agent integration
Requirements #
- FileMaker Server with Admin API access
- PostgreSQL database for metrics storage
- Network connectivity to FileMaker Servers
- Modern web browser for chat interface
Security Features #
- Encrypted credential storage
- Role-based access control
- Comprehensive audit logging
- Production server safeguards
- SSL/TLS communication
Deployment #
FMS-Manager is designed for both single-server and enterprise fleet deployments. The system includes:
- Automated installer with dependency management
- Configuration wizard for server registration
- Health check and monitoring setup
- Backup and recovery procedures
Call for field testers #
nBNC Software is opening a limited field testing programme ahead of the commercial launch. The company is looking for volunteers from both target segments:
Individual administrators running FileMaker Server in a personal, studio, or small business environment — a single server or a small group of local servers.
Fleet administrators managing FileMaker Server deployments across multiple sites, clients, or organisations — MSPs, enterprise IT teams, and Claris partners.
Field testers will receive early access to the product, direct communication with the development team, and will be credited in the release notes. Participation requires a working FileMaker Server instance (any supported version) and a commitment to provide structured feedback over approximately eight weeks.
To apply for the field testing programme, contact nBNC Software at: tecnic@ntwk.es
Pricing tiers #
FMS-Manager is offered in two tiers:
Free — Standalone
For individual developers and small studios running FileMaker Server locally. This tier is free of charge and supports local deployments in accordance with FileMaker Server licensing conditions. Includes full natural language administration, intelligent troubleshooting, automated health monitoring, and the notification router with all standard channels.
Commercial — Fleet
For administrators managing fleets of remote servers or deployments across multiple sites. Supports unlimited remote sites with unlimited servers per site, plus a more complete feature set including fleet-wide cross-server reporting, the web-based server management panel, per-server alert routing rules, and priority support.
Pricing details for the Fleet tier will be announced at general availability.