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FileWave Automation Scripts

This article contains the scripts used by the Downloads page. The scripts are here for documentation purposes.

FileWave provides supported upgrade scripts to help you safely upgrade FileWave components on Debian-based systems. These scripts automate required checks, ensure compatibility, and guide you through the correct upgrade path for your environment.

The scripts have been used internally and by customers for many releases. This page explains what they do, how they behave, and what to expect during an upgrade.

What the Upgrade Scripts Do

At a high level, each upgrade script:

    Detects the currently installed FileWave version (if present)

    Validates system requirements and available disk space

    Applies the requested FileWave upgrade

    Applies recommended Debian OS updates when appropriate

    Handles required service restarts and pre-upgrade checks

    Writes a detailed log file to /var/log

    Schedules a system reboot when required

    The scripts are designed to be safe to re-run and will stop early if an unsupported upgrade or downgrade is detected.

    Interactive and Unattended Use

    The scripts support both interactive and unattended operation:

      When run interactively, progress is displayed on screen and the script may pause briefly before rebooting.

       

        You may press Enter to reboot immediately.

        You may press Ctrl-C to cancel the reboot.

         

        When run unattended, the script proceeds automatically and reboots without waiting for user input.

        The scripts work correctly when run:

          Over SSH

          From a local console

          Inside a screen session

          Using wget | bash

          Running upgrades inside a screen session is strongly recommended.

          FileWave Server: Important Upgrade Behavior (16.3.0 and Later)

          Starting with FileWave Server 16.3.0, significant changes were introduced, including:

            An upgrade of the underlying operating system from Debian 12 to Debian 13

            New PostgreSQL components used by FileWave Server

            Because of these changes, the FileWave Server upgrade script includes additional safety logic.

            Staged Upgrade Requirement (Older Versions)

            If your system is running a very old FileWave Server version (prior to 16.0.0):

              The script will first upgrade the server to FileWave Server 16.2.3

              The upgrade will then stop and reboot

              You must verify that FileWave Server 16.2.3 is working correctly

              After verification, re-run the upgrade script to proceed to 16.3.0 or newer

              This staged approach is required to ensure database compatibility and prevent data loss.

              Why This Is Necessary

                Older FileWave Server versions used older PostgreSQL components

                FileWave Server 16.0–16.2 introduced newer PostgreSQL components while retaining compatibility for upgrades

                FileWave Server 16.3.0 and later remove older PostgreSQL libraries and introduce newer database components

                Attempting to skip directly from very old versions to 16.3.0 is not supported

                The upgrade script automatically enforces this safe upgrade path and clearly explains what is happening when a staged upgrade is required.

                Operating System Upgrades

                  FileWave Server versions prior to 16.3.0 run on Debian 12

                  FileWave Server 16.3.0 and later upgrade the system to Debian 13 as part of the process

                  The script will only perform a Debian OS upgrade when required by the target FileWave version.

                  Logging and Troubleshooting

                  Each script writes a detailed log file that can be used for troubleshooting or when opening a support case:

                    FileWave Server:

                    /var/log/filewave_server_update.log

                    FileWave IVS:

                    /var/log/filewave_ivs_update.log

                    FileWave Booster:

                    /var/log/filewave_booster_update.log

                    If you contact FileWave Support, include the relevant log file along with a brief description of what you were upgrading to.

                    Best Practices

                      Always ensure you have a current backup before upgrading

                      Run upgrades during a maintenance window

                      Use a screen session for long upgrades

                      Allow the system to reboot when prompted

                      Follow any on-screen instructions if a staged upgrade is required

                      Scripts

                      FileWave Server Upgrade

                      fwxserver_upgrade.sh - This script is used by the Download page fro FileWave Server upgrades on Debian. Some details;

                      To run this script, use the following 1-liner:

                      wget -qO- https://kb.filewave.com/attachments/411 | sudo bash -s -- -v <version> -r <revision> [-b for beta] -y

                      Example for version 15.5.0 with revision 1 in production:

                      wget -qO-  https://kb.filewave.com/attachments/411 | sudo bash -s -- -v 15.5.0 -r 1 -p -y

                      Optional: safer usage inside a 'screen' session to protect against SSH disconnects (single-line example):

                      sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive bash -c 'apt-get update -y && apt-get install -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" screen && screen -S fw_upgrade bash -c "wget -qO- https://kb.filewave.com/attachments/411 | bash -s -- -v 16.3.0 -r 1 -p -y"'

                      FileWave Booster Upgrade

                      fwbooster_upgrade.sh - This script is used by the Download page fro FileWave Booster upgrades on Debian. Some details;

                      To run this script, use the following 1-liner:

                      wget -qO- https://kb.filewave.com/attachments/412 | sudo bash -s -- -v <version> -r <revision> [-b for beta] -y

                      Example for version 15.5.0 with revision 1 in production:

                      wget -qO-  https://kb.filewave.com/attachments/412 | sudo bash -s -- -v 15.5.0 -r 1 -p -y

                      Optional: safer usage inside a 'screen' session to protect against SSH disconnects (single-line example):

                      sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive bash -c 'apt-get update -y && apt-get install -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" screen && screen -S fw_upgrade bash -c "wget -qO- https://kb.filewave.com/attachments/412 | bash -s -- -v 16.3.0 -r 1 -p -y"'

                      FileWave IVS Upgrade

                      ivs_upgrade.sh - This script is used by the Download page for IVS upgrades on Debian. Some details;

                      To run this script, use the following 1-liner:

                      wget -qO- https://kb.filewave.com/attachments/408 | sudo bash -s -- -v <version> -r <revision> [-b for beta] -y

                      Example for version 15.5.0 with revision 1 in production:

                      wget -qO-  https://kb.filewave.com/attachments/408 | sudo bash -s -- -v 15.5.0 -r 1 -p -y

                      Optional: safer usage inside a 'screen' session to protect against SSH disconnects (single-line example):

                      sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive bash -c 'apt-get update -y && apt-get install -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" screen && screen -S fw_upgrade bash -c "wget -qO- https://kb.filewave.com/attachments/408 | bash -s -- -v 16.3.0 -r 1 -p -y"'

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