--- schema_version: "1" id: 8ed1cd9b5a3811065e17f906b47261ca585d58a2902acbce513f110d6ade4323 title: tsm File Paths collection: tableau version: current locale: en-gb portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/tableau/current/en-gb/server/cli_default_filepaths_tsm.md canonical_url: https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-gb/cli_default_filepaths_tsm.htm source_site: help.tableau.com content_type: documentation content_hash: e90b19f25191ebc1b41b9c01269e5814bf737c5d72eb14b54d589efa0bd7ca90 description: View and change the default file path locations tsm commands use for backups and other files. --- [Skip to main content](#main-content) # tsm File Paths Certain tsm commands read files from or write files to default locations. These default locations are determined by `basefilepath` configuration keys defined for each command. You can use tsm to view the current value of the keys and to change the locations. ### NetworkService system account In some organisations, security policies are implemented that restrict file access from system accounts, such as the NetworkService account. If you change tsm file paths, then you should verify that the NetworkService system account has full permission (with permissions inheritance enabled) to the resulting path. In addition, if you change a file path that was originally in the `*\data\tabsvc\*` path, you must maintain the NetworkService permissions to the original path. This permission must be maintained because the NetworkService system account handles operations by Tableau Server Administration Controller, Tableau Server Client File Service and Tableau Server Coordination Service. ### Permissions for the backup/restore file location Required permissions for the backup/restore file location: - NetworkService: read/write/execute permission - Run As service account: read/write/execute permission ## Default locations for files During the `tsm maintenance backup`, `restore` and `ziplogs` processes, and the `tsm sites export` and `sites import` processes, Tableau Server uses default locations for the files created or used by these commands. For details on disk space requirements for backing up Tableau Server, see [Disk Space Usage for Backup](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-gb/db_backup.htm#BackupDiskSpaceReqs). By default: - tsm maintenance commands: - **Backup** – The backup `.tsbak` file is created in a temporary location in the data directory on the initial node and then saved in: `:\data\tabsvc\files\backups` By default, this is: `` `C:\ProgramData\Tableau\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\files\backups\` `` But if you installed Tableau to a non-default location this will be different. For example, if you installed to `D:\Tableau Server` the backup will be saved in: `D:\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\files\backups` **Note:** The tsm maintenance backup command does not support Microsoft Windows UNC (Universal Naming Convention) file paths, also known as "network paths" ( \\\\\\\\) as the path to the location where backup files are written. Instead, use local file system paths (:\\). - **Backup** – Temporary staging location. The backup `.tsbak` file is created in a temporary location in the data directory on the initial node. Beginning with version 2026.2.0 you can specify an alternative temporary location for the creation of the backup file. This can be useful if your backup file is large or you have limited space on the initial node. For more information, see [backuprestore.use\_custom\_staging\_dir.enabled](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-gb/cli_configuration-set_tsm.htm#backuprestore_staging). - Restore – The restore process restores a backup file from: `:\data\tabsvc\files\backups` By default, this is: `` `C:\ProgramData\Tableau\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\files\backups\` `` But if you installed Tableau to a non-default location this will be different. For example, if you installed to `D:\Tableau Server` the restore process will use a backup in: `D:\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\files\backups` - Ziplogs – The ziplogs file is generated in: `:\data\tabsvc\files\log-archives` By default, this is: `C:\ProgramData\Tableau\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\files\log-archives` But if you installed Tableau to a non-default location this will be different. For example, if you installed to `D:\Tableau Server` the ziplogs file is generated in: `D:\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\files\log-archives` - tsm sites - Export – The export .zip file is generated to the following directory: `:\data\tabsvc\files\siteexports` By default, this is: `C:\ProgramData\Tableau\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\files\siteexports` But if you installed Tableau to a non-default location this will be different. For example, if you installed to `D:\Tableau Server` the export .zip file is generated in: `D:\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\files\siteexports` - Import – During the import process, Tableau Server looks for files in: `:\data\tabsvc\files\siteimports` By default, this is: `C:\ProgramData\Tableau\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\files\siteimports` But if you installed Tableau to a non-default location this will be different. For example, if you installed to `D:\Tableau Server` the import process looks for files in: `D:\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\files\siteimports` ## Get the current file location You can see the current file location for a specific command using `tsm configuration get`: - For tsm maintenance commands: - backup and restore: `tsm configuration get -k basefilepath.backuprestore` - ziplogs: `tsm configuration get -k basefilepath.log_archive` - For tsm sites commands: - export `tsm configuration get -k basefilepath.site_export.exports` - import `tsm configuration get -k basefilepath.site_import.exports` ## Change current basefilepath locations You can change some locations used by TSM for file actions using the `tsm configuration set` command to update the `basefilepath` variables. For details about specific base file paths, see [tsm configuration set Options](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-gb/cli_configuration-set_tsm.htm). Changing a `basefilepath` variable does not move existing files from the original directory to the new directory. If you want existing backup, restore, log files or site export or import files to reside in the new directory you specify, you must move them manually. You are responsible for creating the new location and for setting the correct permissions to allow tsm access to any files that will be placed there, and to the directory structure containing those files. If you change the backup/restore base file path, you should run the [tsm maintenance validate-backup-basefilepath](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-gb/cli_maintenance_tsm.htm#tsmValidateBackupBasefilepath) command (available in version 2022.1 and later) to verify the permissions are properly set. The `tsm maintenance backup` command uses a temporary staging location in the data directory for file actions (assembly, extraction) before saving the backup file to the location specified by the `basefilepath.backuprestore` variable. Starting in version 2026.2.0, if you configure TSM to use the location specified by `basefilepath.backuprestore`, and the backup is assembled in temporary subdirectories under the location specified by `basefilepath.backuprestore`. For versions older than 2026.2.0, changing the basefilepath does not impact where the `tsm maintenance backup` command assembles the backup file. You cannot specify a `basefilepath.backuprestore` location at the root of a drive. It must be in a folder. - For tsm maintenance commands: - `backup` and `restore` To change the directory used by the `backup` and `restore` commands, run the following command: `tsm configuration set -k basefilepath.backuprestore -v ":\new\directory\path"` - `backup` staging location **Note:** The ability to change the staging location is available starting with version 2026.2.0. To change the temporary staging location used by `backup` to subdirectories under the `basefilepath.backuprestore` location, run the following command: `tsm configuration set -k backuprestore.use_custom_staging_dir.enabled -v true` When set to `true`, the `backup` command uses temporary directories under the location specified by the `basefilepath.backuprestore` value. - To change the ziplogs directory: `tsm configuration set -k basefilepath.log_archive -v ":\new\directory\path"` - For tsm sites commands: - To change the sites export directory: `tsm configuration set -k basefilepath.site_export.exports -v ":\new\directory\path"` - To change the sites import directory: `tsm configuration set -k basefilepath.site_import.exports -v ":\new\directory\path"` After you change a default file location you need to do the following: 1. Apply pending changes: `tsm pending-changes apply` If the pending changes require a server restart, the `pending-changes apply` command will display a prompt to let you know a restart will occur. This prompt displays even if the server is stopped, but in that case, there is no restart. You can suppress the prompt using the `--ignore-prompt` option, but this does not change the restart behaviour. If the changes do not require a restart, the changes are applied without a prompt. For more information, see [tsm pending-changes apply](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-gb/cli_pending-changes.htm#pending-changes-apply). 2. Stop Tableau Server: `tsm stop` 3. Restart the TSM Controller: `net stop tabadmincontroller_0` `net start tabadmincontroller_0` 4. Wait several minutes for the controller to restart. You can confirm the controller has restarted with this command: `tsm status -v` When you can run that command and the Tableau Server Administration Controller is listed as 'running' the controller has restarted. 5. Start Tableau Server: `tsm start`