Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is the Servers App?

The Servers App is the centralized server configuration management application for FlowState. It provides a dedicated interface for managing RxDB server connections, including adding servers, testing connections, authenticating, and switching between different server environments.

Who should use this app?

What is an RxDB server?

An RxDB server is the backend service that stores and synchronizes FlowState data. It enables:

• Real-time data replication across devices
• Offline-first data storage with automatic sync
• Multi-user collaboration on shared data

Server Configuration

How many servers can I configure?

There is no hard limit on the number of servers you can configure. However, only one server can be active at a time for data replication.

What do the configuration fields mean?

Can I have multiple active servers?

No, only one server can be active at a time. The active server is used for all data replication operations. To switch active servers, click "Set Active" on a different server.

What happens to my data when I switch servers?

When you switch active servers:

1. Local data remains intact
2. Replication starts with the new server
3. Any unsynced changes will sync to the new server (if authenticated)
4. Data from the new server will sync to your device

Authentication

Why do I need to authenticate?

Authentication is required to:

• Sync your data securely with the server
• Identify your user account across devices
• Access organization-specific data
• Enable multi-user collaboration features

How does email verification work?

1. You enter your email address
2. The server sends a 6-digit verification code
3. You enter the code in the app
4. The server issues a JWT token for your session
5. The token is stored securely in your server configuration

How long do authentication tokens last?

Tokens are automatically refreshed when they approach expiration. You typically won't need to re-authenticate unless:

• You explicitly log out
• The server administrator revokes your session
• You haven't used the app for an extended period

Can I be authenticated with multiple servers?

Yes, you can store authentication tokens for multiple servers. Each server maintains its own authentication state. However, only the active server's authentication is used for replication.

How do I log out of a server?

1. Find the server in the list
2. Click the Logout button in the Auth column
3. The authentication token is cleared
4. Status changes to "Not Authenticated"

Active Server

What does "active server" mean?

The active server is the RxDB server currently used for data replication. All FlowState apps will sync data with this server.

How do I know which server is active?

Look for these indicators:

• A star icon next to the server name
• An "Active" badge in the Status column
• The status bar shows the current mode

Why can't I delete the active server?

For safety, you cannot delete the currently active server. This prevents accidentally losing your replication configuration. To delete it:

1. Set a different server as active
2. Then delete the original server

Connection Testing

What does "Test Connection" check?

The connection test verifies:

• Network connectivity to the server URL
• Server is running and responding
• Basic health check endpoint is accessible

The test passed but replication still fails. Why?

A successful connection test only verifies basic connectivity. Replication may fail due to:

• Authentication issues (not logged in)
• Database name mismatch
• Server-side configuration issues
• Firewall rules blocking specific ports or protocols

Can I test connection without saving the server?

Yes, the "Test Connection" button in the Add/Edit dialog works before saving. This lets you verify your configuration is correct before committing it.

Troubleshooting Quick Reference

My server shows "Not Authenticated" unexpectedly

Your authentication token likely expired. Click "Login" to re-authenticate.

Connection test fails with "Network Error"

Check that:

• The URL is correct (including https://)
• The server is running
• Your network allows connections to that address

I see multiple copies of the same server

This can happen from migration or accidental duplication. Delete the duplicates after identifying which one is correctly configured.

See Troubleshooting for detailed solutions.

Technical

Which browsers are supported?

The Servers App runs within FlowState, which supports:

• Chrome (latest 2 versions)
• Firefox (latest 2 versions)
• Safari (latest 2 versions)
• Edge (latest 2 versions)
• Electron (desktop app)

Is my authentication data secure?

Yes, your authentication data is protected:

• JWT tokens are stored locally in encrypted storage
• Connections use HTTPS for transport security
• Tokens are never transmitted except to the authenticated server

Where is server configuration stored?

Server configurations are stored locally using the FlowState storage adapter, which provides:

• Encrypted storage on desktop (Electron)
• IndexedDB storage on web browsers
• Data remains on your device unless synced

Still Have Questions?

If your question isn't answered here:

• Check Troubleshooting for common issues and solutions
• Review Getting Started for initial setup guidance
• Explore Features & Capabilities for detailed feature documentation