Knowledge Base

Planning, General and Port Requirements

Sun, 17 May 2026 09:11:06 GMT

Planning Your Installation A CTERA Portal installation comprises a cluster of one or more VMs (servers). Each server can host any combination of the following services: Main database. Only one server can host the main database. The server that hosts the main database is called the primary server. Secondary replication server. A passive database service to replicate the primary server. During server installation, you can turn on the replication service and select the primary server from which to ...

Searching for Content

Thu, 14 May 2026 14:06:17 GMT

You can search for folders and files in a folder. In the Search this folder box, type part or all of the folder or file name you want to search for. If searching for a deleted folder or file, search results are displayed when deleted folders or files are visible. For more details, see Managing Deleted Items. Note The search string can be a single character but the more characters, the more specific the search. The characters *, ?, and $ are not used as wildcard characters. The search is perf ...

Using Postgre SQL Continuous Archiving

Thu, 14 May 2026 08:14:06 GMT

CTERA Portal uses PostgreSQL's built-in continuous archiving mechanism, known as Point-In-Time Recovery (PITR). After backing up the database for the first time, the base backup, Incremental backups of the database are performed using Write Ahead Log (WAL) files, which include all the database transactions and changes. Running a base backup and incremental backups is non-disruptive: the database continues running, without losing any data. The following diagram illustrates continuous archiving an ...

Using Postgre SQL Continuous Archiving

Thu, 14 May 2026 08:13:34 GMT

Change the Maximum Number of Days Backups are Retained

Thu, 14 May 2026 08:12:01 GMT

When initially configuring PostreSQL continuous archiving, the maximum number of days to keep the backups was set using portal.sh configure-db-recovery , where backup-history-days is the number of days you want to retain a base backup archive before a new one is created. You can change this setting at a later date.Step-by-step guideTo change the maximum number of days to keep the backups:Log in to the CTERA Portal as root, using SSH.Run the following command: portal.sh set_a ...

Configuring a Folder with File Locking

Wed, 13 May 2026 04:57:03 GMT

CTERA provides the following mechanisms to ensure that shared files remain consistent while still ensuring teams have the speed to collaborate locally without waiting on a network, but nevertheless keeping content in sync globally: Conflict files, described in Understanding Conflict Files. Global file locking whereby specific cloud drive folders are configured so that only one user at a time can access a file in the folder for editing and the file will be locked for all other users. In industr ...

Setting Up Antivirus Scanning

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:26:47 GMT

After adding the antivirus license, you include antivirus scanning in a plan at the global level. Any portal assigned to this plan includes antivirus scanning. You then add an antivirus server to the portal and enable the service. Note For details about adding a license key, received from CTERA, that includes antivirus, refer to Adding and Removing Licenses. If the portal is not licensed, the following is displayed when selecting Services > Antivirus in the navigation pane: To set up antivirus ...

Monitoring Antivirus Scans

Tue, 12 May 2026 09:22:26 GMT

You can monitor the antivirus scanning activity as well as the antivirus tasks. To monitor antivirus scanning: In the global administration view, select Main > Servers in the navigation pane. The Servers page is displayed. Click the server that has been configured as an antivirus background scanner. The server window is displayed with the server name as the window title. In the navigation pane, scroll to Activity. The activity graphs are displayed. Scroll to the antivirus graphs to monitor an ...

Background Scanning and Rescanning Files

Tue, 12 May 2026 09:09:43 GMT

Background scanning checks for files that were not previously scanned, for example, when the antivirus was disabled or not running on a server. Background scanning scans the following: Files that were not previously scanned. Cloud drive folders. Backup folders that are not passphrase protected. The background scan runs constantly, scanning new files. If there are no new files to scan, the scan stops for 30 seconds before checking again for new files to scan. If you need to run a scan on all th ...

Managing Antivirus Servers

Tue, 12 May 2026 08:53:19 GMT

You can specify how infected files are handled and suspend antivirus scanning. To configure how infected files are handled: In the global administration view, select Services > Antivirus in the navigation pane. The Antivirus page is displayed. Click Settings to configure antivirus settings. The Antivirus Settings page is displayed. When a threat is detected – Specify how to handle infected files: Block Viruses – The infected file is not downloaded and it is quarantined. Log Only – An email i ...

Replacing a Messaging Server

Tue, 12 May 2026 07:32:32 GMT

You can replace a messaging server with another server. Note When three servers are specified as messaging servers, you cannot add another server, but only replace an existing messaging server. To replace a messaging server: In the global administration view, select Services > Messaging in the navigation pane. The Messaging page is displayed. Select the row for the messaging server to replace. Note The Replace Messaging Server option is only available if there is a server that can be used a ...

Installing CTERA Portal Instances

Tue, 12 May 2026 05:33:54 GMT

Use the following workflow to install CTERA Portal. Creating a Portal Instance. The image is obtainable from CTERA support. Configuring Network Settings. Optionally, configure a default gateway. Additional Installation Instructions for Customers Without Internet Access. For the first server you install, follow the steps in Configuring the Primary Server. For any additional servers beside the primary server, install the server as described below and configure it as an additional server, as descr ...

Installing CTERA Portal Instances

Tue, 12 May 2026 05:33:02 GMT

Installing CTERA Portal Instances

Tue, 12 May 2026 05:32:24 GMT

Configuring Email and SMS Settings

Mon, 11 May 2026 15:37:59 GMT

You can configure global email and SMS settings that will be inherited by all servers. For information on overriding these settings on a per-server basis, see Editing Server Settings. Warning Microsoft have announced that they are phasing out support for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) connections that use basic authentication; username and password authentication. Attempting to send email using just a username and password, even with TLS, will fail and only modern authentication (OAuth 2. ...

Setting Up the CTERA Messaging Service

Mon, 11 May 2026 14:47:55 GMT

To set up the CTERA Messaging Service: In the global administration view, select Services > Messaging in the navigation pane. The Messaging page is displayed. To add a new messaging server, click Add Messaging Servers. The Messaging Service page is displayed, showing all the CTERA Portal Servers. Check the servers you want to use as messaging servers. In a production environment, you must select three servers to be messaging servers. CTERA allows a single messaging server in a small or test e ...

Using CTERA Insight

Mon, 11 May 2026 13:17:25 GMT

As a global administrator you can use CTERA Insight to monitor every team portal. To access CTERA Insight to monitor every team portal: In the global administration view select CTERA Insight in the navigation pane. The CTERA Insight page is displayed. Click Launch CTERA Insight. CTERA Insight is opened in a separate tab. CTERA Insight for a global administrator, monitoring every team portal, or for when monitoring a single portal is descibed in CTERA Insight.

Configuring CTERA Insight

Mon, 11 May 2026 13:15:45 GMT

After requesting CTERA Insight from CTERA you receive an email with a button to access a window to generate access keys to CTERA Insight. To get the access keys to CTERA Insight: Click Click for Certificate. The CTERA Welcome to CTERA Insight screen is displayed. Click Generate Keys. Warning You can only generate the access keys once. After clicking Generate Keys the button is disabled. If you lose the keys before setting up CTERA Insight, you need to get new keys from CTERA Support. Copy b ...

Working with Files in the CTERA Portal

Mon, 11 May 2026 11:38:46 GMT

The CTERA Portal user interface enables end users to work directly with cloud drive content from the Shared With Me folder. If the user was set up with a personal home folder, the default name being My Files, the end user can also work directly with cloud drive content from this folder, the Shared By Me folder as well as any folder or files that are created or uploaded. You can upload folders and files to the CTERA Portal and securely share these folders and files with your team members or exter ...

Migrating a Storage Node

Mon, 11 May 2026 11:16:47 GMT

CTERA Portal is a storage-agnostic platform that supports a variety of block and object storage vendors. By abstracting the backend storage using a software-defined storage architecture. CTERA Portal can migrate data between storage nodes, including between on-premises and cloud storage block/object storage nodes. This helps you to manage and implement infrastructure changes, hardware retirement policies, and business objectives. The migration does not require down time, as it is performed in th ...