# Where data is stored in local mission when SQL Server database is connected in ignition?

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/where-data-is-stored-in-local-mission-when-sql-server-database-is-connected-in-ignition/116349>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [July 10, 2026, 12:09pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/where-data-is-stored-in-local-mission-when-sql-server-database-is-connected-in-ignition/116349 "2026-07-10T12:09:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![adithya.karre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@adithya.karre](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/adithya.karre)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 12:09pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/where-data-is-stored-in-local-mission-when-sql-server-database-is-connected-in-ignition/116349/1 "2026-07-10T12:09:56Z")

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When Ignition is connected to a SQL Server database, where is the data stored in the local Mission?

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**Author:** ![michael.flagler](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/michael.flagler/32/26272_2.png) [@michael.flagler](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/michael.flagler)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/where-data-is-stored-in-local-mission-when-sql-server-database-is-connected-in-ignition/116349/2 "2026-07-10T13:10:56Z")

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What do you mean by mission?

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**Author:** ![adithya.karre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@adithya.karre](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/adithya.karre)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/where-data-is-stored-in-local-mission-when-sql-server-database-is-connected-in-ignition/116349/3 "2026-07-10T13:35:42Z")

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> [@adithya.karre](#):
>
> When Ignition is connected to a SQL Server database, where is the data stored in the local Mission?

local system?

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**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 4:36pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/where-data-is-stored-in-local-mission-when-sql-server-database-is-connected-in-ignition/116349/4 "2026-07-10T16:36:07Z")

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It depends on what you mean by 'data', and what version of Ignition you are using.

By default, we use the following installation directories per OS:

> **[Ignition Default Installation Directories​ - Installing and Upgrading Ignition |...](https://www.docs.inductiveautomation.com/docs/8.3/getting-started/installing-and-upgrading#ignition-default-installation-directories)**
>
> The installation process for Ignition is designed to be as simple as possible. You can find installers on our Downloads page: https://inductiveautomation.com/downloads/ignition/. | The installation process for Ignition is designed to be as simple as...

This is where all your persistent gateway and project configuration lives. We don't store that data in any external database, we own it ourselves.  
You can also configure any number of external connection points (tag history, audit logging, alarm journals, transaction groups, direct scripts, etc) to write data into an external database you're connected to, and most of these services have alternate connection options that will e.g. store on a SQLite database file in the installation directory as well.

The only answer to your question is "quite a bit, the exact edges of which depend on how you have configured Ignition".