While refdb-init does check for an existing installation of RefDB and offers to back up existing configuration files, it is not yet designed to upgrade an installation appropriately. If used to upgrade an existing installation, the administrator is responsible to back up and restore data that may be overwritten during the setup.

refdb-init performs the following tasks (you can interactively skip some of the tasks):

• Creates the main database refdb for the selected database engine. If a copy of the main database already exists, it asks for permission to delete this database before proceeding.

• Creates a configuration file for refdbd(1), the RefDB application server. If the file already exists, it will keep a copy of this version.

• Creates a configuration file for refdba(1), the RefDB administrative client, in the current login account. If the file already exists, it will keep a copy of this version.

• Starts refdbd, the RefDB application server

• Loads the bibliography and citation styles shipped with RefDB

• Creates a reference database

• Creates a database user with permissions to work with the reference database