March 2021

Installation and User Guide

DaVinci Resolve
Project Server

DaVinci Resolve Project Server

Leading the Creative Video Revolution
Contents
DaVinci Resolve Project Server
Introduction 
3
Why Use a Project Server?  3
Multiple Users Sharing Projects  3
Using Collaborative Workflow  4
Setting Up Your Collaborative Network  4
Connecting two computers directly  4
Connecting multiple computers through a shared network  5
Installing the DaVinci Resolve Project Server  7
Setting up the Project Server  7
The DaVinci Resolve Project Server Interface  9
Using the Project Server Application to Manage Databases  10
Creating New PostgreSQL Databases  10
Backing Up and Restoring Databases  10
Upgrading Databases  11
Optimizing Databases  11
Reconnecting Databases You Previously Disconnected  11
Help 
12

2
Introduction
This installation and user guide describes how to install, set up and use a DaVinci Resolve
project server, and how you can administer DaVinci Resolve projects that are available to
multiple DaVinci Resolve workstations on the same network. The DaVinci Resolve Project
Server is a stand-alone application that lets you create, manage, backup, restore, and most
importantly share project databases on any workstation, without installing or launching DaVinci
Resolve to solely manage databases.

Why Use a Project Server?

DaVinci Resolve uses databases to manage and save all the project information, including setup
and configuration of projects, the timelines, links to clips and all the changes you make to the
clips, etc. The folder based disk database allows for a simple single-user management of
projects. The shared PostgreSQL database allows for scalable collaborative project databases
across a local network.
By default, DaVinci Resolve adds a default disk database at installation if one is not found, so
every system starts with a working database. Some facilities will want to use the PostgreSQL
database, particularly for feature film work or in facilities where you have multiple clients and
want greater separation, archive and overall project management at a much deeper level. The
DaVinci Resolve project server offers a simple installation and integration with DaVinci Resolve
for this application.
The Project Server offers an easy way to share projects across multiple DaVinci Resolve
workstations through one or more shared PostgreSQL databases over a local network. Once
set up, the collaboration toolset offers two ways of using a shared database and both offer
significantly better workflows when working in teams.

Multiple Users Sharing Projects

The simplest case is that users to open a project from the Project Server database and work on
it. If you ever have to change rooms, or switch workstations, you can easily open that same
project from another machine that’s connected to the server on the same network without
needing to export and import it first. For example, an assistant could be working with a colorist
to prepare files for the next reel by conforming shots, managing VFX replacements, doing dust
busting repairs, and so on in an unsupervised editing suite anywhere in the building, before
saving their work and closing the project so the colorist can immediately open that same
project in the grading theater across the hall.
Another way of taking advantage of shared Project Server databases is to split large projects
into sections, so multiple artists can work in parallel on different pieces of the whole in different
suites, handing them off when necessary. For example, a feature film may be split into reels, or
a film can be separated from the trailer and electronic press kit projects that it shares media
with. In this case, each project can be edited, mixed, and graded by different people accessing
the database. In these cases, the Project Server helps by making the database and project
easily accessible via keys and helping organize, review and sort projects and manage user
profiles at a higher level.
When opening a project already in use, a dialog informs you that it’s being opened in Read-only
mode to prevent multiple users from overwriting unsaved changes. If you load a Read-only
project and decide you want to make changes anyway, you’ll need to use the Save As
command to create a duplicate project using a new name to preserve your work.

Introduction 3
Using Collaborative Workflow
Alternately, you can use the Collaborative Workflow features in DaVinci Resolve to enable
multiple collaborators on multiple workstations in multiple rooms to open and work on the very
same project at the same time. For example, an editor can edit a project’s main timeline in one
room, while an assistant organizes media and adds metadata within the same project in another
room, and a colorist grades dailies in that same project in yet another room, all accessing the
same Project Server which allows them to work together in parallel. For more information, see
the “Collaborative Workflow” chapter in the DaVinci Resolve manual.

Setting Up Your Collaborative Network

After installing the DaVinci Resolve Project Server application it’s easy to set up a shared
project server on your local network. Please ensure that the following prerequisites are
adhered to:
‚ All workstations need to be connected to the Project Server on a local network.
‚ All network connections should be reasonably fast (Gigabit Ethernet or faster).
‚ The computer functioning as the project server should be reasonably fast, but it doesn’t
need fast GPU for image processing as no media is processed on the project server.
‚ If you plan to use the full collaboration features of DaVinci Resolve each system will
also need to be connected to a common media storage disk system. If two computers
are connected to a common storage system, or drive or SSD, that system has to
provide double the bandwidth that a single user system would need its common to use
optimized media so the disk bandwidth is greatly reduced for editing and then just one
system at a time when rendering. See the DaVinci Resolve user manual for details on
optimized media generation and use. While SAN and NAS systems can be specifically
configured for multiple users, please keep in mind the bandwidth considerations
needed for your workflow. As there are many different SAN and NAS systems available,
please look for these details provided by your storage vendor.

Connecting two computers directly

The DaVinci Resolve Project Server can be installed on the same computer as your DaVinci
Resolve application and this computer can also act as the database server and even media
storage for a second computer.

Connecting and setting up the computers is easy, simply follow the directions below:
1 Connect an Ethernet cable from the computer that will be both the DaVinci Resolve
system and a project server to the second computer. For Windows 10 computers this
should be a crossover cable.

Setting Up Your Collaborative Network 4

2 Ensure your IP setting on each computer is set up to use the same subnet but different
IP addresses. Your computer may already be in automatic mode and you may not need
to change any settings but if you do, in the network settings on your computer, enable
ethernet, and set the IP address setting to manual to enter the IP Address, Subnet Mast
and Default Gateway.
On MacOS you can do this from the System Preferences, Network Settings.
For Windows 10, Control Panel, Network and Internet, Network and Sharing Centre,
Change Adapter Settings. Then select Change Adapter Settings, right-click on the
connection and select Properties. and then on the Networking tab select Internet
protocol version 4 (TCP/IP4) to set the properties.
Here is an example configuration.

DaVinci Resolve 1 and Project Server DaVinci Resolve 2

IP Address 192.168.10.11 192.168.10.12

Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway 192.168.10.1 192.168.10.1

3 Often in this configuration the second computers uses media from the disk storage
system on the first computer. Make sure you enable file sharing on the host computer
so the second system sees that drive with the media.
On MacOS you can do this from the System Preferences, Sharing.
For Windows 10, right click on This PC and choose Properties, then Change settings,
Change, to see the work group details. Both computers need to be on the same
workgroup, which you can set to any name you like. Now right click on the drive you
want to share, scroll to the Give Access to option and under the Sharing tab click
Advanced Sharing, then select to Share this folder, and apply.

Connecting multiple computers through a shared network

As mentioned above, you can use the DaVinci Resolve Project Server on the same computer as
your DaVinci Resolve but normally you will run it on a dedicated system that connects to other
computers so each user can use the share database collaboration features in DaVinci Resolve.
We recommend this configuration and its necessary if you have more than two computers
working together.
Connecting your computer is still easy. Just follow the directions below:
1 Connect an Ethernet cable from the Project Server computer to an ethernet switch.
Do the same for each computer that will use DaVinci Resolve by using an Ethernet
cable from each to the same ethernet switch so all of them are connected together.
2 Ensure your IP setting on each computer is set up to use the same subnet but different
IP addresses. Your computer may already be in automatic mode and you may not need
to change any settings but if you do, in the network settings on your computer, enable
ethernet, and set the IP address setting to manual to enter the IP Address, Subnet Mast
and Default Gateway,
On MacOS you can do this from the System Preferences, Network Settings.
For Windows 10, Control Panel, Network and Internet, Network and Sharing Centre,
Change Adapter Settings. Then select Change Adapter Settings, right-click on the

Setting Up Your Collaborative Network 5

connection and select Properties. and then on the Networking tab select Internet
protocol version 4 (TCP/IP4) to set the properties.
Here is an example configuration.

Project Server DaVinci Resolve 1 DaVinci Resolve 2

IP Address 192.168.10.10 192.168.10.11 192.168.10.12

Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0 255.255.255.0 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway 192.168.10.1 192.168.10.1 192.168.10.1

NOTE  If you’re more technically minded and want check that each computer
can communicate with all the others, you can open the terminal program
and type
ping 192.168.10.11
and the terminal will try to reach the computer with that IP address. If it does it
will report the time it took for the connection and if it does not find the ip
address the report will say ‘Request timeout’. You can use Control + C to stop
the ping test. Do this from each computer to each other including the project
server computer. If you the computers are not connecting, you may have a
firewall blocking the connection or the IP Config above might not be set
up correctly.

Setting Up Your Collaborative Network 6

Installing the DaVinci Resolve Project Server
Before installing any software you will need administrator privileges.
1 Ensure you have the very latest version of the project server that matches your version
of DaVinci Resolve. Visit www.blackmagic-design.com/support
2 Open the “DaVinci Resolve Project Server” folder from the downloaded disk image
and launch the Installer.
3 Click Continue, Agree and Install buttons and the software will be installed on
your system.
4 Now start the application to see your connected databases and their projects.

NOTE  When installing the DaVinci Resolve Project Server the installer also
looks to see if you already have a PostGreSQL server installed. If so that
server application will automatically be seen by the newly installed DaVinci
Resolve Project Server so any DaVinci Resolve databases and projects you
have there will also automatically be seen. If not, a PostGreSQL database
server is also installed.

IMPORTANT  As of this writing you can not install the DaVinci Resolve Project
Server on a Windows machine that is part of a Windows Domain, due to a
PostGreSQL conflict.

Setting up the Project Server

The following procedures describe how to set up a shared database, and how to export an
access key with which to easily set up other workstations to connect to it. There are three
simple steps.

To configure the DaVinci Resolve Project Server:

1 Open the DaVinci Resolve Project Server application.
2 In the File > Network Interface menu choose the IP address you wish to use to connect
to the client workstations.

The Network Interface Menu

IMPORTANT  You must select the appropriate Network Interface IP address

that matches the network the client computers are on before you create and
share a database, or create an access key, otherwise a connection error
will occur.

Setting Up Your Collaborative Network 7

To share a database using the DaVinci Resolve Project Server:
1 Select or create a DaVinci Resolve project database you want to share, and click the
Enable Sharing button. It’s the left hand button on the top of the interface.
2 When a dialog appears asking if you want to authorize the configuration of your
PostgreSQL server. Click Authorize. That database can now be shared among other
Resolve workstations on the same network.

Once you’ve set up a Project Server, it’s easy to connect other machines to that server using
access keys that you can create using the DaVinci Resolve Project Server application.

To create an access key to enable easy connection to a Project Server:

1 Select a database that you’ve set up to share, and click the Create Access Key button
to the right in the toolbar.
2 Choose a location via the Create Access Key dialog, and click Save. An access key file
is saved to the location you chose with the file extension .resolvedbkey.
3 Copy the .resolvedbkey file to the workstation you want to connect to the
shared database.
4 Open Resolve, and when the Project Manager appears, open the Databases sidebar,
and then drag the .resolvedbkey file and drop it anywhere within the Project Manager.
The shared database should now appear in the Databases sidebar, and if you select it,
you’ll see all of the projects that are located in that database on the Project Server.

If necessary, you can also disable sharing for any database, preventing remote access to it from
other workstations on the network.

To disable sharing:
With the DaVinci Resolve Project Server application open, select a database you enabled
sharing for, and click the Disable Sharing button to the left in the toolbar.
When a dialog appears asking if you want to authorize the configuration of your PostgreSQL
server. Click Authorize. That database will no longer be shared.

IMPORTANT  If you enable sharing on a computer that is later moved to another

network (for example, if you set up Project Server sharing on a laptop), you’ll need to
disable sharing and then re-enable it before you create access key files that will
successfully connect to the new network location.

Setting Up Your Collaborative Network 8

The DaVinci Resolve Project Server
Interface
The DaVinci Resolve Project Server interface greatly resembles the DaVinci Resolve Project
Manager with the Databases sidebar open. However, a toolbar at the top exposes all of the
database management tools that are available for creating and managing databases, including
controls for sharing databases and creating access keys that are essential for quickly and easily
creating and connecting to Project Servers.

The DaVinci Resolve Project Server window

This window has three main UI areas:

‚ Databases list: The Databases list in the Project Server application shows every single
DaVinci Resolve PostgreSQL database on your machine; even ones that have been
disconnected. This makes it easy to find databases you that you want to reconnect. The
icon of an arrow pointing up lets you know which databases need to be updated before
they can be used with the current version of DaVinci Resolve. The icon of two arrow
pointing away from one another indicates databases that are currently shared.
‚ Projects browser: Shows all projects and folders within the currently selected
database, as icons or as a hierarchical list.
‚ Toolbar: A toolbar at the top of the window shows you all of the functions that are
available for managing DaVinci Resolve databases on your workstation.
– Enable Sharing: Selecting a database and clicking this button lets you turn the
workstation you’re on into a Project Server. When you select a database that’s
already shared, this button changes to Disconnect Database. This process is
described in greater detail in the next section.
– New Database: Lets you create new databases without needing to open Resolve.
– Optimize: Only available for PostgreSQL databases. Sometimes, databases in
DaVinci Resolve can become so large that the size affects performance. In these
cases you may need to optimize it to improve access speed by “vacuuming” the
database of unnecessary spaces and reindexing it. You can now also access the
Optimize Project command directly from the Project Manager window. Simply hover
the mouse over your project in the Project Manager, hold down the Option key, and
right-click. Then select Optimize Project in the menu.

The DaVinci Resolve Project Server Interface 9

– Backup: You can back up databases just like any other file. This provides added
protection should your system drive fail, but a database backup can also be used to
move multiple projects between systems (particularly if you’re using PostgreSQL).
Clicking this button exports the currently selected database, with all enclosed
projects, to a self-contained .resolve.backup file.
– Restore: Imports .resolve.backup files to restore a backed up database.
– Add Folder: Creates a project folder inside whatever database is currently selected.
– Create Access Key: Selecting a database and clicking this button exports an access
key file that you can send to other users to quickly connect their workstation to a
shared Project Server. This process is described in greater detail in the next section.

Using the Project Server Application

to Manage Databases
The DaVinci Resolve Project Server utility is useful for accomplishing all kinds of
administrative tasks.

Creating New PostgreSQL Databases

If necessary, you can create new PostgreSQL databases right within this utility.

To create a new PostgreSQL project database:

1 Click the New Database button in the toolbar.
2 When the New Database window appears, type a name for the new database into the
Name field. Because all projects in a PostgreSQL database are saved internally within
the PostgreSQL database, no other changes are necessary.
3 Click Create, and the new disk database will appear in the Databases list.

Backing Up and Restoring Databases

You can also back up and restore databases without needing to open Resolve. Furthermore,
you can back up databases from older versions of DaVinci Resolve, making it easy to back up
databases for safety before you upgrade them.

To back up a database for safekeeping:

1 Select the database you want to back up in the Databases list.
2 Click the Backup button in the toolbar.

The Backup Database

button in the toolbar

3 Choose a location to which to save the backup in the Backup Database dialog, and
click Save.

Using the Project Server Application to Manage Databases 10

To restore a database you’ve backed up previously:
1 Click the Restore button in the toolbar.

The Import Database button

2 Find the database you need to import using the file import dialog, and click Open.
The database you’ve restored should now appear in the Databases list.

Upgrading Databases
From time to time, new versions of DaVinci Resolve require changes to the way projects are
created, which requires databases created with older versions of DaVinci Resolve to be
upgraded before you can access the projects within. Fortunately, this is a simple process.

To upgrade a database made or used with an older version of DaVinci Resolve:

‚ Right-click any database with an upgrade badge to the right of the database name,
and choose Upgrade from the contextual menu.

Optimizing Databases
Sometimes, databases in DaVinci Resolve can become so large that their size affects
performance. In these cases you may need to optimize them to improve access speed by
“vacuuming” the database of unnecessary spaces and reindexing it. Using the Optimize
command can also be a valuable troubleshooting step in certain cases where you’re having
problems opening, importing, or otherwise using projects saved within PostgreSQL databases.

To optimize a database:
‚ Select a database, and then choose optimize database from the tool bar menu.
A dialog appears to confirm if you really want to optimize that database. Click Optimize
to proceed.

Reconnecting Databases You Previously Disconnected

Unlike the Project Manager in DaVinci Resolve, the DaVinci Resolve Project Server application
shows you every single DaVinci Resolve database on your computer, whether it’s connected to
Resolve or not. For this reason, it’s a good way to find the names of databases that have been
disconnected, either deliberately or accidentally, in order to reconnect them.

To reconnect any database on your workstation:

1 Open the DaVinci Resolve Project Server application.
2 Find the database you want to reconnect in the Databases list at the left.
3 Open DaVinci Resolve.
4 When the Project Manager window appears, open the Databases sidebar, and then
drag the database you want to reconnect from the DaVinci Resolve Project Server
window to the Database list of the Project Manager. That database is reconnected and
appears in the Database list.

Using the Project Server Application to Manage Databases 11

Help
Getting Help
The fastest way to obtain help is to go to the Blackmagic Design online support pages and
check the latest support material available for your DaVinci Resolve Project Server.

Blackmagic Design online support pages

The latest manual, software and support notes can be found at the Blackmagic Design support
center at www.blackmagicdesign.com/support.

Blackmagic Design Forum

The Blackmagic Design forum on our website is a helpful resource you can visit for more
information and creative ideas. This can also be a faster way of getting help as there may already
be answers you can find from other experienced users and Blackmagic Design staff which will
keep you moving forward. You can visit the forum at
https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewforum.php?f=21

Contacting Blackmagic Design support

Alternatively, click on the “Find your local support team” button on the support page and call
your nearest Blackmagic Design support office.

Checking the version currently installed

To check which version of the DaVinci Resolve Project Server is installed select DaVinci Resolve
Project Server in the menu bar and then About DaVinci Resolve Project Server

How to get the latest updates

After checking the version of DaVinci Resolve Project Server software installed on your computer,
please visit the Blackmagic Design support center at www.blackmagicdesign.com/support
to check for the latest updates. While it is usually a good idea to run the latest updates, it is a
wise practice to avoid updating any software if you are in the middle of an important project.

Help 12