News

HQbird 2024 R2 Update 7 Released

Performance Improvements in Firebird 5 HQbird

October 2025 – IBSurgeon announces HQbird 2024 R2 Update 7, delivering significant performance improvements in Firebird 5, simplified cloud deployment, and advanced replication features for enterprise database environments.

Update 7 brings core engine optimizations that directly impact your daily operations:
  • Bulk insert acceleration - Handle large data imports more efficiently
  • Up to 20% faster database restore - Minimize downtime during recovery operations
  • CREATE TABLE AS SELECT - New functionality for quick and safe creation of temporary and permanent tables from SELECT query results
Perfect for data warehousing, migration tasks, and backup/restore scenarios.

Advanced Replication Features

Better control for Master-Replica environments:
  • Duplicate control between VIP and group databases during auto-registration
  • Prevents conflicts when re-initialization files are in monitoring directories
  • Segment resending requests for group databases
  • Sequential re-initialization mechanism - processes one database at a time to prevent resource conflicts
  • Enhanced logging with file size information for incorrect segments
  • Improved error handling and diagnostic information
  • Better stability in multi-database environments

Group Tasks Enhancements

Group tasks in HQbird are designed for SaaS scenarios, when 1 server serves multiple databases.
  • New execution time limit parameter prevents tasks from running too long
  • Queue stops automatically when time limit is reached
  • Smart Filtering: register master databases by size: "larger than" and "smaller than" filters
  • Improved master registration with better error handling
  • Enhanced group backup verification with additional diagnostics
  • Better error resistance for complex batch operations

Web Interface Improvements

  • New tooltips and improved dialog texts for better guidance
  • Connection test button for pump-export tasks
  • Version control with automatic cache management
  • Browser cache prompts when web console version changes
  • Modify socket server parameters without restarting HQbird FBDataGuard
  • Automatic cookie and local storage cleanup on version mismatch
  • Better feedback for configuration changes

Security and Configuration

  • Password encryption for server properties
  • Password encryption for database properties (including group databases)
  • Passwords encrypted automatically when saved and on HQbird FBDataGuard startup
  • Automatic path calculation for firebird.log, firebird.conf, and aliases file, paths calculated based on Firebird server version
  • Deeper configuration validation on HQbird FBDataGuard startup
  • Detection and logging of unexpected directories in configuration

New Parameter:
- db.expecteddb parameter for trace creation, provides better trace management for monitored databases

Technical improvements

Under the Hood Enhancements:
  • Updated Tomcat 9 for extended monitoring viewer
  • Improved FTP export plugin with complex path handling
  • Atomic file rename operations to avoid antivirus and backup software locks
  • Enhanced HTTP notification delivery with failed-send retention
  • Better error handling when saving to log files
  • New pump-export task at server level for unified group database exports
  • Centralized file name constants
  • Improved installation process in Windows Installer with better error handling during setup

Who Should Upgrade?

Recommended for:
  • ✅ Users running Firebird 5 databases (performance improvements)
  • ✅ Administrators managing multiple databases (group task features)
  • ✅ Organizations using replication (stability and control improvements)
  • ✅ Teams planning cloud migration (Digital Ocean integration)
  • ✅ Linux administrators (simplified installation process)

Download and installation

  • Windows installer
  • Linux installers (unified installer and 1-step installation scripts)
  • Digital Ocean cloud images