FileMaker Server Licensing at MIT

 DLC's will now, in some cases, need to purchase their own FileMaker User licenses that come with Server licenses. Read on for more details.

MIT Licensed Servers and IS&T Managed Hosting

• MIT's FileMaker Server licenses are now reserved for IS&T's managed FileMaker hosting service, and FileMaker Server is no longer directly available on the IS&T software grid.  IS&T offers cost-effective managed FileMaker hosting for departments, labs, and centers. We strongly recommend using IS&T-managed servers for your FileMaker hosting needs at MIT, particularly for those without server administration skills or resources. Refer to IS&T-Managed FileMaker Hosting for details on what is designed to be a very cost-effective service offering.

• Beginning with FileMaker 17,  MIT's user licenses are enabled for WebDirect and FileMaker Go for iOS usage by known and qualified MIT license users.  NOTE: MIT's FileMaker Server licenses do not include FileMaker Go and WebDirect connectivity for anonymous users.

Non-MIT Licensed Servers and Local Hosting

If your DLC wants to run its own FileMaker Server environment, or if your Department intends to use FileMaker Server for access by anonymous FileMaker Go and WebDirect users on an IS&T managed server or on your own server, you will need to purchase a FileMaker Server license either from FileMaker Inc. or a reseller. See FileMaker Server Licensing Options below for more information.  

Connectivity Needs: FileMaker Pro 17 User License Includes WebDirect and FileMaker Go Connections Only for Known Users

Starting with version  17, MIT's server licenses are again enabled for use by FileMaker Go as well as WebDirect clients as long as all connections are made by known and qualified license holders (MIT faculty, staff, students).  See the  IS&T software grid for more details on reporting license key holder names.  MIT's current FileMaker Pro license holders will enjoy all the functions of those offered as part of the FileMaker Licensing for Teams model.   While this does not allow for anonymous users of FileMaker via WebDirect, it does offer WebDirect access by known users. As has always been the case, there are no limits on access to a FileMaker Server imposed on users using custom web publishing nor on users accessing your hosted FileMaker file using a standalone licensed copy of FileMaker Pro. 

Quick Guide: Do I Need to Purchase my own FileMaker User Connections and FileMaker Server?

Your FileMaker hosting environment and WebDirect/FileMaker Go connectivity needs will determine whether you need to purchase your own FileMaker Server license:

FileMaker Server Licensing Options

If you are in a position of needing to purchase your own FileMaker Server license, the pricing models can be quite confusing and this is a changing landscape.  Please consult the FileMaker Store if you have questions about the current licensing options and remember that you probably qualify for the educational discount.

Annual vs. Perpetual Licensing

Perpetual licensing is an outright purchase of the software, while annual licensing is a yearly lease. Generally speaking, it takes 6-7 years for perpetual licensing to pay for itself, so given the speed at which technology evolves, annual licensing is almost always the better option.

Purchasing

Licensing and pricing models are a moving target.  If you have questions about whether you should be purchasing your own licenses, please send mail to filemaker-support@mit.edu regarding your needs.  FileMaker products may be purchased directly from the FileMaker store. If you need to go this route, send an email to filemaker-support@mit.edu for contact information for MIT's FileMaker sales rep. In all cases, education pricing is available from FileMaker Inc.  You may also want to investigate purchasing your FileMaker Server license through a reseller.

To get an idea of cost, go to the FileMaker store, click on Education & Non Profit at top, and fill out the form. 

Additional Resources

• Options for building a database application at MIT
• For any questions related to FileMaker at MIT, please contact filemaker-support@mit.edu.