---
schema_version: "1"
id: 38c5d995a856a24af3bb43e154bf311a9023865d508a2310c296dac5b572332d
title: tsm File Paths
collection: tableau
version: next
locale: en-gb
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/tableau/next/en-gb/server-linux/cli_default_filepaths_tsm.md
canonical_url: https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/server-linux/en-gb/cli_default_filepaths_tsm.htm
source_site: help.tableau.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 3e6e4ee068490a1ff896479f7c2b0e0031c3a23fa4e1e3dde3182677d6d2c915
description: View and change the default file path locations tsm commands use for backups and other files.
---
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# 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.

## 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/v0.0/server-linux/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:
        
        `` `/var/opt/tableau/tableau_server/data/tabsvc/files/backups/` ``
        
        - **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/v0.0/server-linux/en-gb/cli_configuration-set_tsm.htm#backuprestore_staging).
    - Restore – The restore process restores a backup file from:
        
        `` `/var/opt/tableau/tableau_server/data/tabsvc/files/backups/` ``
    - Ziplogs – The ziplogs file is generated in:
        
        `/var/opt/tableau/tableau_server/data/tabsvc/files/log-archives`
- tsm sites
    
    - Export – The export .zip file is generated to the following directory:
        
        `/var/opt/tableau/tableau_server/data/tabsvc/files/siteexports`
    - Import – During the import process, Tableau Server looks for files in:
        
        `/var/opt/tableau/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/v0.0/server-linux/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. For more information about permissions and tsm, see [Files and Permissions in TSM](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/server-linux/en-gb/file_permissions_tsm.htm). If you change the backup/restore base file path, you should run the [tsm maintenance validate-backup-basefilepath](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/server-linux/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.

- 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/v0.0/server-linux/en-gb/cli_pending-changes.htm#pending-changes-apply).
2. Stop Tableau Server:
    
    `tsm stop`
3. Restart the TSM Controller (as _tableau_ system account):
    
    `sudo su -l tableau -c "systemctl --user restart tabadmincontroller_0.service"`
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`